The CrisisI stared at Gardena in shock. "You did what?"
She began to laugh. "Oh, if you could see your face!" She signaled for the waiters to bring our food: lamb, spring greens, and new potatoes.
"Is this a joke? Because if it is, it's in very poor taste."
Gardena shook her head, contrite. "I wish it were."
Once the waiters refilled our wine glasses and retreated, Gardena cut her mother's food as she told me her story.
Hector Diamond was a kind and gentle man, at least to Gardena and her family. He was a younger son who took over the Business late in life. His main passion was mechanism, and he became the Diamond Family's Inventor, the youngest to rise to that rank since the Coup.
Hector and his brilliant soon to be daughter-in-law Rachel were friends immediately upon meeting. Rache
