Emma glanced over her shoulder and nodded at her friend.
Jules came to stand next to her, and they stood opposite Marie, who peered over Henry’s shoulder. For a long moment, Henry murmured unintelligibly and traced the outside of the box over and over. He sucked in a harsh breath, tucked the box against his chest, and curved his body around it.
Little by little, bright yellow light was beginning to come back.
The eclipse began to wane, and still, Henry sat there, holding the box as if it were the most precious thing in the world. Finally, when a few more minutes had passed, he sat up straighter and propped the box open. No one wanted to rush him, not during a moment that was years in the making.
Her father deserved to savor it, but impatience welled up inside Emma.
She resisted the urge to fidget, and her eyes darted around the park, taking in the foliage all covered in white and the smell of snow lingering in the air.
Finally, Henry took out a few of the scrolls and handed them to Marie, who unrolled them after a brief hesitation.
Henry removed what looked like an astrolabe turning it over and over in his hand.
“I’ve only ever heard about these,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I didn’t think they actually existed. I can’t believe he managed to find it.”
Emma knelt down beside her father and placed a hand on his lap. “What is it?”
“It was used in ancient times for celestial navigation. It was thought to be lost over the years,” Henry replied without looking at her. “I can’t believe we found it.”
The two of them exchanged a quick look before Emma took the scrolls from her mother’s outstretched hand. She laid them down on Henry’s lap, and in silence, they peered at them, the words in front of her swimming in and out of focus as her heart raced.
“This is going to change things,” Henry realized in a choked voice. “We need to call someone and tell them about this.”
“I guess Grandpa dedicated a lot of time and effort to this.” Emma rose to her feet and tucked the scrolls and astrolabe back into the box. She snapped it shut. “Should we keep this at the library for safekeeping?”
Henry shook his head and snatched the box out of her hand. “Now that we’ve finally found it, I’m not letting this out of my sight. The future of astronomy could depend on it.”
Emma chuckled and patted his back. “Okay, just don’t store it in the attic.”
Henry flashed her the barest hint of a smile. “That we can agree on.”
“You need to rest,” Marie scolded before gesturing to Kyle to help her with the wheelchair. “That’s enough excitement for today.”
Together, the two of them wheeled Henry off, with Jules trailing beside him, smiling as her grandfather spoke a million miles a minute.
Marley came to stand next to Emma and squeezed her shoulders. “You did good. I’m sure you must be proud.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you and Jack.”
Marley waved her comment away. “You would’ve been just fine. Anyway, I have to get going. They need me at the library.”
Emma frowned. “Are you sure? Do you want me to drive you there?”
Marley smiled and took a few steps back. “No, I can walk. I need the exercise. See you later, Jack.”
In all of the commotion, Emma had almost forgotten he was still there.
Jack was always there.
Even when they were kids, he’d been there on the sidelines for as long as she could remember, and it had taken her far too long to realize what it meant.
Whathemeant.
When Marley disappeared, Jack came to stand next to her, and they looked up at the trees together.
Little by little, the shadows receded, and the midafternoon sun emerged, brighter than before. Emma’s chest felt heavy as she lowered herself onto the grass and tightened the coat around her shoulders. Then, she lifted the collar and rubbed her hands together. Emma wasn’t ready to go home and deal with the aftermath.
