Perspiration tumbled down Dax’s spine as he rolled the uncut piece of Alexandrite between his thumb and forefinger. One of the most valuable gems on earth, more expensive than diamonds, sapphire, rubies, or emeralds, this rare mineral had made his mother’s family rich. He held the rock up to the natural light, examining the green hue that would change to red in incandescent light. One of three birthstones for June, it had been discovered in only a few countries, Brazil now the leader in its mining and exportation.

Dax had spent the last few days learning about the complex gem he would someday mine, or cut, or sell, dependent on which branch of the family business he chose to enter. He wiped the sweat from his brow with his upper sleeve. The workshop, where the gems were selected before being sent to the cutter, didn’t have air conditioning. The front of the building that housed the bulletproof, glass-walled jewelry store maintained a more comfortable temperature, but Dax found working with the affluent, snobby clientele intolerable. And he thought Park City snobs were difficult. They had nothing on the wealthy individuals who traveled to Brazil thinking they could get a “deal” on the precious stone.

A light breeze cooled Dax’s neck. He turned when the essence of peppermint and lemongrass met his nose. “Hi, Mom.” He swiveled his chair around to face her, a microscope latched to his forehead like a scientist.

“So much for trying to sneak up on you.” She placed a hand on her hip in disappointment, but her singsong intonation was light and soothing. “I even took my heels off.”

“You could never startle me.” He carefully placed the stone back in the safe and removed his headset. “I have the instincts of a Jedi Master.”

She rolled her eyes. “Okay, master, let’s go get some dinner. I have less than a day left with you and want to enjoy every last minute of it.”

The visit had been a pleasant one, probably the best he had had with his mom since before his parents had split. She was in her element here in Brazil. He couldn’t remember ever seeing her happier. Her thin frame bounced as she walked, causing her thick black curls to spring with her step. She was more petite than Julia, if that was even possible.

She linked arms with him as they walked out to catch a cab. Ironically, riding in a cab was safer than driving in this part of the city. They didn’t speak on the way to the restaurant. He still hadn’t asked her why she had deserted them. He hadn’t wanted to spoil the pleasant visit, but the conversation couldn’t be postponed much longer.

The hostess greeted them with a bright smile and quickly led them through the dimly lit restaurant with its dark, clustered furniture to a private table with a window that overlooked the city. Dax’s stomach grumbled when he caught the aroma of grilled steak and cheesy bread.

After they ordered, his mother reached across the table and took his hands. “Why are you here, Dax? I love that you are, but I can sense you have something to tell me.”

He took in a deep breath. “I met someone.” The thought of Julia being alone without him when she had a possible stalker caused his blood pressure to spike. He took in a deep breath. Stone was on it. He had promised Dax that he would watch out for Julia and Abi and the private investigator should have info for Dax within the next day or two.

With a reluctant smile, his mother slowly tipped her head down, her eye moistening. Dax fought back his own tears. He hated to see a woman cry, especially his mother. She held her hands out in front of her then carefully removed a ring from her finger.

“You’ve met lots of girls, but something tells me this one has claimed your heart.” She took his hand and turned it up to an open palm. “A mother is never ready for this moment.” She blew out a breath through puckered lips. “I saw you in the showroom this morning examining the engagement rings. This one has more value than the rest for several reasons; one being, your grandfather gave this exquisite ring to me before he died.” She placed the ring in his hand. “It’s one of the first gems he mined. It symbolizes our family’s rebirth and independence. It’s nearly a carat, has the deepest hues, and finest color changes I’ve ever seen. It rivals the Russian Alexandrite.”

“No, Mom.” He shook his head, handing the ring back to her. “You can’t. It was a gift from grandpa.”

“It’s also a symbol of eternal love and I want you to have it. Please.” Her long, delicate fingers pushed his to close over the ring. “Take it. When she says yes, this ring will again be given new life and purpose.” She pointed at his chest pocket. “Keep it in your inner pocket when you travel. I’ll write a certified appraisal, naming you as owner. That way customs won’t give you grief. They’ll think you came down to Brazil to have it appraised by the experts. It’s now yours, and I’ve appraised it, so you won’t be lying.”

Dax examined the princess cut solitaire. It could have passed for a ruby in the ambient lighting. Tomorrow morning, in the sunlight, it would transform into a deep emerald green. “Even if she does say yes, what’s to say she’ll stick around?” That was the softest way Dax could think to bring up the subject of her abandoning him.

She rested her forehead into her palm momentarily before rubbing her face. She looked up at him, her deep brown eyes welling with fresh tears. “I’m so sorry, Dax. I should have never left you. And when I returned, I should have fought harder to keep you.”

The years of pain returned with vengeance, wringing his heart and crippling his speech. He took in several deep breaths before speaking. “You fought for me? I thought you just fought for the money.”

“I never wanted to burden you with the details, but it’s time you saw the full picture. It doesn’t excuse my behavior and I take full responsibility, but you deserve to know everything.”

The waiter placed their sizzling steaks on the table in front of them, but Dax couldn’t imagine eating, not yet. “Everything?”

“I married young, before I knew who I was. I met your father in my first semester of college as a foreign exchange student at the U. I was so head over heels and naïve. I turned eighteen a month before leaving home.”

“Didn’t you guys elope?”

She nodded. “Your grandfather didn’t give his consent. He thought I was too immature, your father too old, and it progressed too quickly.” She shrugged. “Turns out fathers do know best.”

Dax had never known his grandfather to be cruel. “Grandpa disowned you?”

“No. In fact, after we were married, he transferred me enough money for us to buy your father’s parent’s home at full price.”

“I thought they gave you guys that house.”

She raised her eyebrows. “So did everyone else.”

“They lied to me?” The anger swelled in his gut.

“Eat your meat.” She cut a piece of her steak and moaned as she chewed. “Nothing like a Brazilian steak.”

Dax reluctantly cut into his meat and took a hearty bite. He caught himself before he released his own satisfied moan. The buttery steak practically dissolved as he chewed. “How do they do it?”

“Patience,” his mother said with a smile. “This meat is hung and dry-aged for several weeks. Time intensifies the flavor and tenderness but also shrinks the meat, so you won’t find this in your grocery stores in America. It’s too costly to process.” She snapped her fingers. “That’s one difference in our cultures. Americans want everything in an instant, but with patience comes tenderness.”

“I like that statement.” With food in his system, he found himself more positive and better able to handle the difficult conversation.

“The cultural differences between our families was the difficult part of my marriage.”

“Is that why you left?”

She cringed. “It was one of the many things your father and I couldn’t work through. From the beginning, I felt like I was placed in a box that I didn’t belong in, the doting wife who lives to care for her husband. I felt trapped. Looking back, I can see how I also placed myself in that box. I wasn’t strong enough and hadn’t experienced enough of life to know who I was and what I wanted.”

He popped a warm, cheesy roll in his mouth. “You left to find yourself,” he stated somberly.

“Yes. I was lost.” She pushed around the steamed vegetables on her plate. “And I couldn’t get over Baker’s death.”

“Baker?” Memories of his dog being pulled from the icy water shot chills through his body.

“My brain couldn’t process it.” She shivered. “We were out of town at your soccer tournament in Las Vegas and your aunt hosted the family Thanksgiving dinner at our house while we were away.”

“Why would Aunt Carrie use our house when we were gone?”

“Exactly. When I told her we wouldn’t be there, she said they would miss us. It was no use arguing with your dad about it, so we gave them instructions not to let Baker out of his kennel. I had a neighbor coming by to take care of him. Your grandfather grew impatient at his barking, and, with the assistance of Carrie, let him out. She later explained to me they assumed the neighbor would let him back in.”

“That was a few days before my fifteenth birthday.” Suddenly his mother’s pain was his own.

She wiped the tears from her face. “Do you remember your fifteenth birthday? Aunt Carrie took you to lunch. When she dropped you at home, I could smell alcohol on her breath. That’s when I lost it.”

“Was Dad upset?”

“Yes—but he was more upset with me for having argued with Carrie over them taking advantage of us, killing our dog, and nearly killing you.” Her face lit with satisfaction. “I did let her have it, maybe I was a little harsh, but I had hoped that your father would stand up for me, stand up with me, cleave unto me. I did find out later that Carrie had been pregnant at Thanksgiving.” She waved her hand in the air. “And a child can change a person. Perhaps she isn’t as selfish as she used to be.”

Aunt Carrie hadn’t changed much.

“Something burst open in me,” his mother continued. “I broke free.”

“I had no idea.” Suddenly Dax saw his father in an entirely different light.

“You’re hearing my side.” She shook her head. “Your father would tell it differently. He’s a good man and has always wanted what’s best for you. When I calmed down from my fit and finished mourning Baker, I came back to make amends, but the locks on the house had been changed and I found my belongings in the garage with a note that I was never to speak to you again. I hired an amazing attorney, but I could see how the divorce battle was hurting you. You had told me you never wanted to see me again, so I dropped everything and left.” She placed her hand over his. “I shouldn’t have given up that easily, but I needed that time of introspection to realize who I was and where I belonged. In hindsight, I should have stayed. I should have fought harder for you, even if you didn’t want me.”

“Want you?” Dax had said those things to his mother, but it had been a defensive mechanism. He didn’t want her to leave. “And the house?”

She cupped his cheek in her hand. “Do you really think I cared about that stupid old house? All I ever wanted out of the divorce was you.”

Tears burned his cheeks as they flowed unabated and unashamed. An indescribable love for his mother filled his soul. He stared into his mother’s dark eyes and witnessed sparks of light glimmering to the surface which continued to light her face in a soft glow. He had an epiphany; to see light in others, he had to seek and impart charity, the purest love.

“To go back to your question about this girl sticking around, you need to ask yourself if she knows herself, if she can and will promise to commit to you, but most importantly if you are willing and ready to cleave unto her and no one else. I believe there is wisdom in the bible that a man should leave his family and cleave unto his wife.”

He leaned over and kissed her forehead, “I’m proud to be your son. Thank you for helping me see the light in others.”