Triple Diamonds (Mystic Nights #2)(44)

Both Jewel and Joseph thoroughly enjoyed the locally caught fish and oysters, and they lingered over drinks before leaving. It was just such an amazing atmosphere, both were reluctant to leave although Joseph knew the rest of the night was full of promise as well. “Shall we take a walk along the river,” Joseph suggested. It was cool but mild.

“That sounds wonderful.” Jewel was thoroughly enjoying herself. Their easy banter over dinner had put her even more at ease with Joseph. The more time she spent with him, the more she got to know him, she knew she was falling in love with the man. She hoped he was feeling the same way, but it was still too soon to express those feelings.

Taking her hand in his, they walked slowly along the old ancient paths made by his people hundreds of years before Europeans arrived in the new world. “Our people were one then,” he reflected referring to the Pequot nation before they became divided into two distinct tribes. “United. Now, not so much.”

Jewel nodded. “I noticed the tiger and dragon at war on your sleeve.” She was referencing one of his many tattoos. He wore a V-neck t-shirt, and could see a hint of those images.

Jewel guessed their meaning correctly, but he elaborated anyhow. “The tiger is our tribe, and the dragon theirs. It would have been so much easier for all of us had we stayed as one.”

“That’s always not so easy. The land given to us by the government couldn’t sustain all of our people.”

He nodded knowing the story well. “But later, if we had come together. . .” He shook his head knowing this was a grievous situation for all his people. All the Pequot.

“Some don’t want that. There is too much hurt and anger over the years.”

“I know. But it’s still one of my hopes. To see us all united once more. The success of The Mystic could do that. If we hope to grow and become stronger as a people, reuniting would make us stronger. We need to put the past behind us.”

“That’s easier said than done,” Jewel agreed. “But people hold grudges, and then there is the fact that the western tribe feels we have had too much assimilation. That our bloodlines have been too diluted.” This was a sore spot between the two tribes still.

She glanced at Joseph and noticed his grim expression. She immediately felt guilty knowing that his father must be white due to his fair skin. And that this was personal for him as well.

He glanced her way and saw the sympathy in her eyes. He didn’t like it. “I’m native in my heart. I think that is what is most important.”

“I agree. It’s how you are raised. My great grandmother was African American,” she surprised him with that detail. “I may not look it, but I’m mixed too, and so I do know how you feel.” She didn’t mention that his light skin tone probably had caused him a great deal of grief growing up. That didn’t need to be stated.

He looked up in surprise. “I didn’t know that.” He knew her father was western Pequot, and mother eastern. But he hadn’t known she was also interracial like him. It was yet another thing that they shared.

She nodded. “And when she married my great grandfather she embraced the life style, but kept her own as well. She felt it was important that her children had both histories, two halves to make a whole, she would always say. She was a remarkable woman. Her parents were slaves and she shared many stories they told her with us. She passed away when I was seventeen, but I’ll always remember her, and share those stories with my own kids someday.”

Joseph looked at the remarkable woman before him. “That’s exactly how I feel about the western Pequot. Perhaps someday they will come around. I know our tribe would embrace it. I hope to work towards that if I win the election.”

“Ah, I see, you have your own mission, other than your mother’s.”

“They go together. I think it is something my mother has always wanted too.” They had stopped walking and stood by a rail that kept walkers away from this section of the river that was moving particularly fast.

“I think you are going to win. I have heard many say they plan to vote for you. Harrison has not been campaigning like you. I think his ideas are out of date. It’s not what is right for our people in these times.”

He pulled Jewel closer to him, and bent down to plant a soft kiss on the top of her head. He appreciated her encouraging words and insightfulness. “Thank you,” he murmured as he turned them to head back towards his car which was still parked at The Oyster Club. This amazing woman beside him was perfection. He began to picture her beside him more permanently. She would be his perfect life partner. They shared a lot, a mixed parentage, and dreams and goals that would advance their nation, their people.

She interrupted his thoughts to add, “If the casino does as well as everyone hopes, and it has so far, I think you will have real negotiating power to maybe make reuniting a possibility.”

He hoped so, but the robberies that were happening could really hurt their reputation. He hoped they caught someone soon. That worry was never far from his mind. “That is my dream. I hope to see it in my lifetime.”

Jewel remained quiet for a moment. “Well, it would definitely help the case. We will come in on equal ground. The other tribe wouldn’t have as many reasons against a reunification.” He just nodded his agreement silently as they continued to walk back towards the car, her hand was now entwined with his. And it felt right. Again, she got quiet. “But with our success also comes problems. Problems that both our tribes will have to deal with. Like gambling, drinking, drugs, corruption.”