Charli nodded. “Yes, that is a possibility. It would help if we had Malcolm’s full date of birth rather than just the year. But they didn’t keep official birth records in Key West until the 1890s. If only they had recorded everything in a family bible.”
“Hmmmm,” Faye hummed. “Well, maybe the box I brought you might help with your search. It doesn’t contain a family bible and I don’t think it has Malcolm’s date of birth. But there are a bunch of photos and other odds and ends that might help with your search.”
“The shoebox you put on the kitchen island?” Charli perked up.
Faye bobbed her head. “It’s full of very old family photos and some records. I know there are a few photos of Elizabeth, Timothy, Malcolm in there, but I don’t think there are any other details on the Brown family.” Faye shrugged. “I thought you might like to see what we had. It’s been sitting at the top of my closet gathering dust. I’ve meant to do something with it for years but never got around to it.”
Charli blinked. “I’d love to see what Elizabeth looked like. Amelia described her on Elizabeth’s wedding day, saying how beautiful she was. From the entry, we know Elizabeth had white-blonde hair.”
Faye bobbed her head. “Oh yes, it’s a black and white photo. But you can tell Elizabeth was a blonde. Timothy was very handsome as well.”
Charli grinned. “In her entry, Amelia described him as old, smelly, and paunchy.”
Faye laughed. “I guess that would be a teenage girl’s perspective.”
“Yeah, I need to finish that last diary,” Charli agreed, her voice drifting off. She sighed. “It’s just so heartbreaking that it’s almost tough to read. I had to take a break from it. But I know I won’t find any peace until I figure this whole thing out.”
“I agree,” Fay assured her, then waved her hand over the desk. “It looks like you’ve made a great start.” She grabbed Charli’s arm. “Come on. Let me show you those pictures.”
* * * *
February 24, 1871
It’s so unbearably cold today. I do not think I have ever felt such cold in my life. Aunt Celia said she had seen snow in Jacksonville a few times, but I never believed it was possible until now. It does not help that Aunt Celia’s house is right on the St. John’s River because the cold wind coming off the water never seems to stop. I miss my home in Key West and my heart aches unbearably for Ian every day. But I do take peace in knowing that there will be somethingleft of him in this world. The doctor says that the baby could come at any time and that is good news because I do not know how much bigger my stomach can get. I feel so huge and miserable, but my Aunt Celia says that is normal for a woman who is expecting. She helps the local midwife on occasion and has taken such good care of me. I do not know what I would do without her.
Charli stopped and put the diary down.
“This is the last entry, so we don’t know what happened with the baby—if it survived, if it was given away for adoption. It looks like the last few pages of this diary were ripped out. See?” She ran her finger along the jagged edges of the inner spine.
She pressed her lips together and met Faye’s gaze. “I’m sorry,” she added. “I know this all seems pretty pathetic. But once I dig into something like this, I’m like a bulldog. I won’t stop until I’ve figured everything out.”
“Oh, don’t be sorry, dear. This is all quite fascinating,” Faye reassured her. “I’m thrilled that you’re researching this for the family, and I can’t wait to read the diaries myself. They’re definitely a treasure.” She paused for a moment as if deciding to say the rest. “And I have to say that I’m thrilled Jackmet you. It makes my heart feel better knowing that he’s with such a beautiful and smart young woman.”
Heat bloomed through Charli’s body and she started to push off the compliment. Instead, she pressed her lips together and gave Faye a swift nod. “Thank you. That was very sweet of you to say. But all the credit goes to Aunt Dottie. She made sure Jack and I would be partners for quite a while.”
Faye smirked. “Dottie had a way about her. I’d swear that woman had the second sight.” She grabbed Charli’s hand. “You and Jack should come to dinner tonight. I told Dennis all about you.”
Charli grinned. “I think we’re available tonight but let me doublecheck with Jack.” She glanced toward the door and then looked back at Faye. “You know, I’m being completely rude. I can’t imagine that you came for a visit just to see this place. Would you like a tour of Paradise West?”
“Oh, I’d love that!” Faye bounced on the balls of her feet. “I can only imagine what you and Jack have done so far.”
“Well, it’s mostly Jack and his crew,” Charli replied. “He and Gus only let me help with the light stuff, like painting or cleaning after they’ve finished a section. They’re fairly particular about that, and I can’t blame them. I want Paradise West done right as much as they do.” She looped her arm through Faye’sand grinned. “Come on. Let’s go see what they’re up to today.”
* * * *
“Oh, I’m so glad you two could make it!” Faye clapped her hands as Jack and Charli walked through the door. His mother leaned in to hug Charli and then stretched her cheek up to him expectantly. He grinned and gave her cheek a quick peck.
He held up a bottle. “Here’s a bottle of wine. Does dad need help?”
Faye waved her hands. “Oh you know your dad. No one can interfere when he’s grilling.” She leaned toward Charli. “We’re having steaks for dinner. Is that okay? You’re not a vegetarian, are you?”
Charli chuckled. “Steak is just fine.” She glanced around the front room. “You have a lovely home.”
Faye beamed. “Thank you! We’ve been in this place for decades. I don’t think we’ll ever move.” She waved her hand toward Charli. “Let me show you around.”
Jack grinned as he watched his mother lead Charli upstairs. He’d been afraid his mother’s natural exuberance would be too much, but Charli seemed to be eating it up. Truthfully, he was thankful for the dinner invitation because there was something he had been thinking about and he wanted his parents’ opinion tonight.
He walked out onto the back deck overlooking the canal and spotted his dad hovering protectively over the grill, the smell of a charcoal fire and grilling meat thick in the air.
