Chapter 13 #2
Charli shook her head. “She hasn’t mentioned him yet, but Jack and I are only through the first three diaries which take her through 1869. I’d guess that if she revealed him, it’ll be in the next diary. So far, they’ve been a fascinating read.”
“It’s mostly about Amelia’s family life,” she continued. “Her father was very wealthy and expected his daughters to marry well. She talked quite a bit about Elizabeth’s marriage,” she added and then grinned. “She didn’t think much of Elizabeth’s husband.”
Miriam grunted. “Well, keep reading.” She sat down with her back to the wall, eyeing the structure. “This is in amazing shape considering how exposed it has been over the years.”
Charli grunted. “I thought the same thing.” She stood and pointed toward the opening. “Come outside.” Charli walked out and stopped at the railing, facing south, and took a deep breath. “The view is incredible out here.”
Miriam hummed. “It certainly is.” She ran her hand along the railing. “I can imagine Amelia standing right here, waiting for her sailor.”
Charli nodded, but remained silent, enjoying the peace and the light breeze.
“Have you made up your mind yet?”
Charli blinked and looked at Miriam askance. “What?”
Miriam stared at her, her gaze shrewd. “You know what I’m talking about. Have you made up your mind about staying?” she repeated. “I know you’re torn. But I’ve also seen how close you’ve grown to Jack and how attached he is to you. The boy is in love with you if you haven’t noticed.”
Charli’s eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. Had Jack told Miriam that?
Miriam’s lips twisted to the side. “No, Jack hasn’t said anything to me if that’s what you’re thinking. But I know him, and you two haven’t exactly hidden your little romance—everyone has noticed.”
She waved her hands. “But that’s not a bad thing.
Being with Jack,” Miriam continued, “is a good thing. You won’t ever find a better man or a better partner.
” She threw her arms wide. “Hell, I know you have an entire life in Boston, but this is where you need to be. This is your home now.” Her arms dropped and her expression turned serious.
“I’m just wondering if you’ve figured that out yet. ”
“Home...” Funny that Miriam would use that word when Charli had been wondering about that herself just minutes before. Charli turned her gaze back to the horizon. “Did Jack ask you to speak to me?”
“Nope.” Miriam’s answer was swift. “But I do know that boy is worried sick that you’ll hightail it out of here at some point.” She snorted. “He could have had the pick of anyone on this island, but he always held out. You know, for a while we all thought he might be batting for the other team.”
Charli threw her head back with a laugh. “I’m glad I’m not the only one.” She gave Miriam a side glance. “I thought that too—he was too pretty to not have women flocking all over him. He kissed me senseless when I asked him about it.”
Miriam chuckled and patted Charli’s hand. “I bet that threw him for a loop.”
Charli turned toward the side, facing Miriam. “What makes you say this is where I need to be? Because you’re right—I am torn. I don’t know where home is anymore.”
Miriam shrugged. “It’s not anything specific, just gut instinct. And I think you know where home is. Where does your heart want to be?” She smiled and reached over to tuck a piece of long blonde hair behind Charli’s ear. “You look so much like Dottie. The resemblance truly is incredible.”
Charli tilted her head. “I do?”
Miriam pursed her lips. “Mmmhmmm. Even Art mentioned it to me.” She smiled and patted Charli’s hand. “Remind me to show you some pictures of Dottie when she was your age. She was a real heartbreaker in her day—absolute hell on wheels,” she added, her voice melancholy.
Miriam cleared her throat abruptly. “What was in the box?”
The swift change of subject made Charli blink. “I don’t know yet. It’s locked, and we didn’t want to damage it, so we’re trying to find the key.”
Miriam grunted. “I wonder where it could be. Do you know what it would look like? That would help.”
Charli shrugged. “No idea. But everyone is on the lookout as we work through the house.” She gestured toward the structure. “You know, we should probably head back down before they find us up here. There would be hell to pay.”
Miriam followed Charli into the enclosure and stared out the far window for a moment. “Do you think Amelia approves of what you and Jack are doing?” she asked absently.
Charli opened her mouth to reply. But before she could say a word, a cold blast of air shot through the room, rattling the windows. Charli jolted, knowing what was coming, and Miriam shrieked, her eyes bulging.
“Shit!” Charli exclaimed. “I think she does! Let’s get out of here.”
Miriam didn’t argue and followed Charli down, both nearly tumbling in their haste. As soon as they reached the floor below, a shout came from their right.
“Hey!” Gus came powering out of one of the bedrooms after spotting their rapid retreat from the Widows Walk. “I’ve told you at least three times to stay out of there.” He shook his hammer with one hand as he chastised them. “That’s it, Charli. I’m telling Jack this time.”
Charli snorted and planted her hands on her hips. “Is that supposed to scare me? You tattled on me last time, Gus,” she reminded him.
His face pinched in frustration. “That’s beside the point.”
“Oh, don’t be such a nincompoop, Gus,” Miriam chided. “And since when did you turn into a little snitch? We were only doing some exploring. Nothing to get in a tizzy about.”
Gus huffed and rubbed his forehead, then met Charli’s gaze. “I’ve told you several times that it’s not safe up there.” He paused for a moment as if afraid to ask, then leaned in. “Did you see anything?”
Charli pursed her lips, wondering how much she should tell him. “Well, we didn’t actually see anything. It just got really cold.”
“Mierda!” Gus crossed himself again. “That’s it. I’m barricading this staircase off.”
“What’s got you so worked up, Gus?” Miriam asked, exasperated. “You’d think you’d seen a ghost or something,” she teased.
He turned a serious look on her. “It’s not funny.” He shook his hammer again. “I was up there the first time when Amelia decided to make an entrance. Fucking scared the shit out of me, so that’s not something to joke about.”
Miriam cocked a hip and mimicked Charli’s stance. “Yeah well, all we felt was a big gust of cold air. Nothing to get your knickers in a twist about.”
Gus huffed, then gave Miriam an evil grin. “You know I don’t wear knickers.”
Miriam cackled. “Yeah, I guess I do.” She pointed over their head at the landing. “Now don’t do anything crazy and board this thing up. We still have a mystery to solve.”
“You two are plain loco.” Gus scoffed and raised his hands. “What mystery is there to solve? This place is just haunted.” He crossed himself again.
“No.” Miriam gave her a firm shake of her head. “There’s much more to it than that. But don’t worry, Gus. We’ll figure it out soon enough.”
* * * *
Charli took a sip of her water and turned the page on the diary. She had just started the fourth diary and was thoroughly engrossed in Amelia’s detail of the Key West harbor and boats.
February 12, 1870
I finally convinced Gordon to take me with him down to the docks today, and I don’t know if I have ever seen such an amazing spectacle.
The piers jut out far into the bay and are continuously surrounded by tall-masted ships.
There were so many clustered around the piers that I couldn’t begin to count, and there were even more ships anchored outside the port awaiting their turn to unload.
Dock workers and sailors were everywhere, and we had to be careful where we walked.
Gordon even allowed me to accompany him onboard one of our father’s ships as he inspected the cargo.
It was such a wonderful adventure! At one point as I followed Gordon across the deck, my shoe caught on a rope and I was rescued from a humiliating fall by a very handsome sailor with deep brown hair and golden eyes.
My heart was truly in my throat at that moment and he was so strong, tall, and gallant that I could barely thank him for saving me.
He told me his name was Ian and that I was one of the bonniest lass he had ever seen.
As Gordon and I left the docks that day, I looked back and found Ian high in the rigging, watching me leave.
He waved a goodbye, and I felt my heart skip a beat. I do hope I see him again!
Charli was so mesmerized in this entry—Amelia finally mentioned her sailor!—that she didn’t hear the sound of muttered cursing and the crunch of gravel under a shoe until it was almost directly beneath her.
She peeked over the balcony railing to see Jack marching up her short driveway from the compound, a determined and grim look on his face.
Charli chuckled—Gus must have been true to his word and snitched to Jack the first chance he got.
“You look upset, Jack,” she shouted down to him. “Is something wrong?” Her voice light and teasing.
She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing when he stopped and glanced up, his hands on his hips. His eyes narrowed as he took in her expression and barely concealed laughter.
“You stay right there,” he ground out, pointing at her.
Oh boy...he’s really mad this time...
She sucked her lips in and scrunched up her nose, nodding her head in agreement before he continued toward the back door. It was obvious she about to receive a stern lecture, but the look on his face was hysterical.
There was a small part of her that rebelled against the notion of a man telling her what to do, but this was Jack...sweet, thoughtful, protective Jack, who made her insides turn to jelly when he turned all alpha-male. And if Miriam was right...