Queen of Diamonds Read Free

diamond on her finger to dance around the cab bringing her mind back to business. She pulled out her phone and once again hit speed dial.
    “Hello.”
    “Ralph?”
    “Yeah, how are you, Red?”
    “I’m fine.” She glanced again at the ring. “Just fine. Can you see me this afternoon?”
    “Sure can. Got something for me?”
    “I do.”
    “What’s the magic number?”
    She rubbed her thumb across the band and stared at the beautiful cold stone. “A nearly perfect five worth eighty,” their code for a five carat diamond worth eighty thousand. She glanced at her watch. “It’s four-thirty now. How about six?”
    “See you then.” He clicked off.
    The taxi stopped in front of a red brick building mellowed with age. Wisteria, no longer blooming, draped a wrought iron fence and peppermint azaleas grew beside the veranda.  She paid the driver and strolled briskly up the walk, the lemony scent of the bushes greeting her. Once inside, she checked in and headed for the elevator.
    Stepping out on second floor she walked to two-ten. As she reached for the knob, a nurse came out of the room. “Hello, Ms. Theron.”
    “Hello, Ann. How’s my mother?”
    “She’s having a good day. Enjoy your visit.”
    Kendall nodded and stepped into the suite.  A woman with snow-white hair sat in a rocking chair staring out the window.
    “Hi, Momma.” Kendall walked over to her mother and gave the paper-thin cheek a kiss.
    Her mom looked up and smiled, the green eyes so like her own it hurt her heart. Still smiling, her mom turned her attention back to the window. 
    A hard lump formed in Kendall’s chest. To see her vivacious, beautiful mother reduced to this nearly empty shell was almost more than she could bear.
    She cleared her throat and looked around. The living room was light and airy. A water color she’d bought for her, hung on the pale blue wall. Her feet sank into plush, gray carpet as she settled into a cream-colored chair beside her mother.  It was all she could do for her: give her the most comfortable surroundings possible and donate bucket loads of money in hopes of finding a cure.
    “How are you today, Momma?” She reached over and took the cool, limp hand. She rubbed it lightly between her own. “Caroline’s growing like a weed. You wouldn’t recognize her. She looks just like James, except around the mouth. She has our smile, Momma, yours and mine. And I think she’s going to have our build, the way she’s shooting up. She’s going to look like a willow tree, just like you.” She lifted the flaccid hand and kissed it. “You know I named her after you. Caroline.”
    Her mother’s head turned and for an instant, Kendall thought she saw recognition in her mother’s beautiful, vacant eyes. Then once again, her mom returned to staring out the window.
    “It doesn’t matter. I know for a moment you were with me, Momma.” She swiped at her eyes impatiently. Crying wouldn’t do one damn bit of good. Instead, she chatted about inconsequential things for another twenty minutes. Finally, she got up to leave. Her legs heavy, she felt more tired than she should. Her visits with her mom always affected her like this. She sighed and inhaled the scent of aerosol overlaying the musky sent of age, powder and urine.
    “I’ll be back soon, Momma.” She bent and kissed her. Her shoulders squared and her back straight, she left the room.
    The nurse she had seen earlier approached her. She must have seen something in Kendall’s face because she patted her arm, compassion in her eyes.  “I mentioned you by name, Ms. Theron. I swear her eyes lit up and she smiled.”
    For the second time in less than an hour Kendall fought back tears that threatened to spill over. “Thank you for telling me that,” she whispered. “I treasure that information.”
    “I know somewhere deep inside, she loves you very much.”
    Kendall bit her lips, nodded and hurried out.
    When the taxi she’d called a few minutes before pulled