Page 124 of Sterling Fight

Genie is packed and standing in the great room when Vale arrives first.

“I don’t want to go,” Genie says, her voice hesitant, as she peers out at the lake.

I didn’t want her to leave either, but her meeting is important. She’ll be gone only one night, maybe two. “I’ll be right here.”

She steps up to me and leans against me, but I’m granite. To be anything otherwise would cause me to collapse.

I must find the ring.

It represents everything I’ve been through to become the man I am today.

No family member ever complained that I wore the rings around my neck. In many ways, I felt like the keeper of the rings. The last shreds of our parents, representing the good and bad in them. The yin and yang of the lightheartedness of our mother and the darkness of our father.

The loss feels irresponsible, and I feel responsible to right the loss.

As Vale enters my place, she says, “What can I do?” Her eyes search mine knowing what this means for me.

“Take Genie to the airport?”

“What?” Vale and Genie say in unison, glancing at each other and then back to me.

“Genie’s meeting with Greetings Ambassador was moved up. I need you to take her to the airport. Someone else can help me look for the ring.”

Vale steps closer to me. “Judd, it’s only a ring.”

“It’s our mother’s ring,” I state loudly, feeling the edges of my composure begin to fray.

Vale briefly looks at Genie who has stepped away from us. “Some things are more important, Judd.”

My heart hears her. Genie is the most precious person in my life. She is important to me. But my head, my thoughts, take over.

Vale looks between Genie and me once more, but Genie is no longer looking at me. Her eyes are aimed toward the open front door.

“Just go,” I whisper to Vale, nodding at Genie.

Vale takes Genie’s rolling suitcase by the handle and struts forward while Genie gives me a final glance. “Good luck, Judd.” Then she’s shutting the door with a soft click.

The words hold finality. Goodbye.

The soft nick of the door nearly echoes but it sounds like the metal clang of an iron gate closing around my heart.

She didn’t kiss me. The thought hits me too late, like a sucker punch to the gut.

Couple goals dissolved.

“How’s it going?” Knox calls out as he storms across the grass toward me, where I’m waving the metal detector I own back and forth over the lawn.

“Where’s Genie?” Sebastian asks next as he accompanies Knox.

“She left.” I don’t bother glancing up at them, but I sense Sebastian stumbling to a stop.

Knox whistles low. “What happened?”

“Greetings Ambassador moved up their meeting to tomorrow.”

“Why didn’t you go with her?” Knox asks and I finally glance up.

“Because she . . . we lost the ring.” I can’t fault her. In my heart, I know she didn’t do it intentionally. But I still cannot reconcile that it’s gone. The last talisman of my mom. Vanished.