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"Yes, there certainly is more to the story," a loud voice boomed as a man entered the study escorted by Ted, Jonah’s butler. It was Ernest Jackson, the third. The man had on a black overcoat. He had dark black hair, obviously dyed to hide the gray, and olive skin. His facial features were not as friendly as Jonah Belmont’s and he had bushy eyebrows and dark green eyes with a thick mustache and beard.
"Ernest Jackson. It's been a while," Jonah said while seated by the fireplace. He nodded to his longtime business-acquaintance-turned-enemy.
"I wouldn't have even come here tonight but I’ve heard about your situation and I'm sorry about that,” he said sharply in a business tone of voice. “Anyone can get ill. Illness is not a respecter of persons. I know that. But let's make this brief."
"I understand," Jonah said. "We’ll make it brief. I just want you to know, Ernest, that I know how you feel about my family. And though I may not have long on this earth, I want us to set things straight.”
"Set things straight?" Ernest echoed.
"First of all, please have a seat. Would you like a drink?"
Ernest hesitated at first. "I'm good for now, thank you," he said sharply.
Chase and his brothers got on the defense and looked as if they were ready to defend their father at any cost. Chase was sure Ernest got that vibe. His father might have wanted to bury the hatchet with him but they were not going to let their guards down. And they would fiercely protect their father whom they loved more than anything in this world.
"Very well then," Jonah said. “As I was trying to say, I found my father's letters. My daughter-in-law, Faith,” he said, pointing to Brandon’s new wife, “is a professional organizer and she helped me sort through a lot of documents from the past and found some in the archives. I want this feud between the Belmonts and the Jacksons to end here and now. Let’s bury the hatchet." Jonah’s voice was shaky but strong and had an air of defiance to it.
"Bury the hatchet?” Ernest chuckled humorlessly. “You seriously want this feud to end right here and now? You've got to be kidding me. First of all, there is no way in hell that I'm going to bury the hatchet when my father is buried six feet deep and is not able to be vindicated. You know that brass bucket belongs to the Jackson family. Your family pretty much stole it from my family. Not to mention that $12 million and my grandfather’s girl. Your granddad stole Elizabeth Grenton from my granddad and you know it.”
So this was what that was about? Chase thought to himself. A woman—his great-grandmother—a love triangle and some curse on a family’s bloodline?
"That's ridiculous. There is no documented proof or evidence of that. Besides, that was many years ago."
"Yet the effect lingers even to today. Her father, the famous explorer and relic hunter, Tom Grenton, left land for whomever she was going to marry. Not to mention that special ancient brass bucket. My grandfather was so heartbroken that he never got over it—he grew ill over the years until his suicide, not long after he married my grandmother. Sure, he got married but then shortly after that his life was consumed with bad luck. They had nothing. We had nothing.”
"But you did get something. Look, your family’s doing well with the Jackson's motel chain."
"Ha. That's nothing compared to what you people have. You know full well that your family stole that blessing."
"Man, are you crazy? How do you steal a blessing?” Brandon chimed in.
"Brandon, please,” Jonah hushed his son. “I can handle this.”
"If you want to make things right,” Ernest said, “hand over the brass bucket and admit what your family’s done. And we want that piece of land out in British Columbia. I, too, have seen love letters Elizabeth sent to my grandfather. They were in love and were about to be married. In fact, we have pieces of a letter that said she was fearful and had to go with your grandfather. What did he do to her? Threaten her? Do the right thing, Jonah, or mark my words, I don't care how many boutonnieres you fill in that stolen brass bucket; that will not stop any future bad karma befalling your family. You and I both know that family curses can be real. We’ve seen how some famous families topple from curses and tragedies on their sons—it’s not a coincidence."
"Hey, don’t you dare talk that way to my father,” Leo warned.
"It's okay, Leo. I said I can handle it,” Jonah reassured again. Then he turned his attention back to Ernest. "Ernest, I do hope you'll see that what I'm saying is the truth. Trying to mess up our family name is not going to help you in the least bit. It’s true that none of us were there at the time but it’s just not worth it. I’m hoping we can just be friends or at least civil to each other."
“I'm sorry, Jonah. I know you want to rectify things before you pass on. We all have to travel that road some time. But I’m not going to let you get away with it that easy. We’re still going to fight for that land in British Columbia. And that brass bucket is worth probably more than the Hope Diamond because of its ancient value. That alone is worth the fight. That belongs to my boys."
"It's not the monetary value of the brass bucket you should care about. I don’t care about that,” Jonah said. "It's the moral and spiritual value that matters. The good that can be handed down generations. If it’s money you want, I can give you money."
“Ha. Figures, the Belmonts want to buy their way out of everything. Even pay off their conscience. Well, it's not going to work with me. I don't want your dirty money. I want what's rightfully ours. The Jackson family’s rightful heirlooms. And we will get it."
"We’ll get it?” Jonah parroted Ernest. “That's just it, Ernest. You don't get it. You’re still the same as when we were younger. You just don't get it."
With those words, Ernest Jackson excused himself and left the study. Leaving so many unanswered questions.
"If I knew that's what you were going to do when he got here, Dad, I would've told you to cancel the meeting," Leo said, a frown affixed to his face.
"I needed to speak to Ernest." Jonah sighed heavily. "But this is far from over. There are a lot of things I need to talk to you boys about. But always do the right thing. And it's not just about an ancient curse or blessing. It's much more than that. I've seen things happen with my own eyes. It's better to be on the safe side. Especially when you're in the game of business and fame and fortune like we are. You have to respect the laws of the universe if you want it to work for you. I'm sorry Ernest didn't want to hear the full story, but I have a feeling he'll be back soon."
"You do?"
"I do. There’s something important I left out. And I'm so glad that Faith here, the wonderful professional organizer, discovered a valuable piece of documentation that will clarify a lot. But right now, the most important thing is I really do need to see you guys settle down. All of you. I do wish I had a grandchild right now. It would mean the world to me to hold a grandbaby in my arms while I’m around. Never mind family blessings and curses, this is the special wish I’ve always desired. Because it’s not the money you make or the changes you realize in this world that really count. It's important to have a family of your own to love and to care for and to nurture. I just hope you boys will all see that. Not just for my sake, but for your own sakes, too.”
Chapter 8
During the night, in the hospital room, Hope closed her eyes and drifted to sleep with Cole and Mia on her mind. But her recurrent nightmare came back…
Hope Morgan entered the college dorm room. It was only the first week before school. Some students were already on campus. She was new to Canada. She was lost, and she was dazed. School would begin next week, then the dormitory building would be completely filled with international students but for now she felt alone. A student told her she was in trouble and her father would harm her if he found out what she did.
There were only few students there, but she had to do what she had to do before the first day of classes began… Nervously, she approached the student and spoke with her about her plan and told her how desperate she was, that her life was in danger…then the student paused for a moment and said to her that she needed help, too. Hope was relieved and thought they could both help each other. She couldn’t believe her luck, then…Julius Morgan came into the picture and he stormed the dormitory with his bodyguards…the dream ended in Hope screaming….
“Hope, are you all right?” Cole’s voice interrupted her nightmare.
Hope woke up, drenched in perspiration. Her heart pounded in her chest.
It was early in the morning. She could hear the hospital equipment beeping. Her daughter was sleeping soundly on the hospital bed. Cole was by her daughter's side during the entire night.
"I'm fine, thank you," she reassured. Hope didn't want to get into the terrible dream and the incident on that fateful night six years ago when she was in college.
"You’re sweating, baby," he said softly as he rubbed her shoulders. His soft, gentle touch sent waves of warmth flowing through Hope. He then got up to grab a cloth to dab her forehead. "You had a really bad dream, didn't you?"
