Charli reached into the box and pulled out another folded piece of paper with familiar handwriting scribbled on the back and jagged edges. “This looks like the paper from her diary.” She glanced at Miriam. “The last page of the final diary had been ripped out. I wondered what had happened to it.”
Miriam nodded, giving Charli a solemn look. “Read it for us.”
Chari blinked and bobbed her head, took a deep breath, and began to read.
March 4, 1871
I never thought I would feel love again after losing my Ian, but I now know that I am wrong. Malcolm Ian Kennedy was born early this morning, and he is simply the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. His hair is dark like his father’s and he already has Ian’s beautiful golden eyes. I have never experienced such horrible pain as I did this morning, but now as I watch Malcolm nurse at my breast, I feel nothing but a deep peace. This moment is truly bittersweet.
The group was silent as Charli finished the entry. She turned the page over and stared at the writing.
“Go on,” Hazel urged.
March 24, 1871
I didn’t think my heart could break any more than it already has, but I was wrong. Terribly, terribly wrong. Mother has written that Malcolm and I are to return to Key West within the week. Upon arrival, I will prepare for marriage to a new suitor and Malcolm will go to Elizabeth and Timothy to be raised as their son. I do not think I can bear anymore.
Gasps sounded around the room as the meaning of that entry sank in. Stunned, Charli glanced up at Jack. He stared at the paper in her hand, his face stony.
“My grandfather was really Ian Kennedy and not Timothy Sullivan,” he said slowly.
“I think we’ve found the final piece of the puzzle.” Charli paused for a moment, holding Jack’s gaze. “Amelia was your grandmother, not your aunt. That’s what we were supposed to uncover.”
“How could she stand it?” Charli shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Losing her fiancé only to have her family force her to give away her baby? I can’t even comprehend that.”
“It explains why she jumped,” Miriam replied, sagely. “She lost everything and couldn’t take anymore. She took her life to end the misery.”
Jack pulled her into his chest, his hand rubbing her back soothingly. “You did it, baby. You figured it out.”
Charli sobbed into his shoulder. “But it’s all so sad,” she cried.
“We knew it would be. This was never going to have a happy ending,” he soothed. “But at least now we know what really happened.”
He eased back and smoothed her hair from her face, staring down at her. “What really matters now is that we have each other.” He placed a soft kiss on her lips. “And we can start working on our own happy ending.”
Cheers erupted throughout the room.
Miriam held up a shot glass. “We need a toast.” She waited until everyone had their drink in the air. “May Amelia finally be at peace.”
“Cheers!” shouted the group, as everyone took a drink.
“And here’s to Jack and Charli’s happy ending!” shouted Flora.
“CHEERS!” came the resounding reply.
Charli laughed and cried as she drank the toast, knowing in her heart that as long as she and Jack were together it was definitely a happy ending.
Epilogue
Key West, Florida
Six months later
Charli hurried home from the library, stunned at what she had found. One small comment from Art earlier that morning had reignited Charli’s curiosity about Amelia’s story. She had assumed that the mystery was over, that there was nothing else to find, but she had been wrong. So very, very wrong.
Rushing into the house, she dropped off her bag and pulled out the file folder that held the key papers containing what she’d found. Turning, she practically ran across the street to the back compound gate.
Work on Paradise West was mostly completed except for a few minor fixes to the Widow’s Walk in the main house, and the other houses in the compound were receiving a final coat of paint. The resort was scheduled to reopen in three months, which was wellahead of schedule, and the town was excited about the new addition to the Register of Historic Places.
