In the next morning’s edition of the Beaufort Gazette, there was a story about the accident. Seth was cited for his heroism in saving the life of the driver, Maggie Reynolds. Jenks was still nervous from last evening’s events and embarrassed about her behavior. She cringed as she thought of the accusations she had made against him. She felt fortunate he was still speaking to her. And Gigi—she dearly loved her twin, but at times she had been envious of the ease at which Gigi was accepted and accomplished her goals. Last night, her jealousy had been evident, and she regretted allowing her emotions and poor judgment to show.
The summer heat and humidity was now stifling, and she found that if there were to be any outdoor activity, she needed to accomplish it during the morning. This morning, she weeded Gigi’s flower beds, which were planted with an abundance of perennials.
From next door, David Bernstein called out, “Good morning.” She put down her trowel and walked over to his yard. Noticing his pink geraniums, she said, “These are lovely. I’ve never been able to grow them.”
“They need a little fertilizer. I’ve always found that helps.”
Jenks inhaled the fragrance of a rose by bending a large pink blossom over to her before saying, “David, I had a visit from Crawford Forrest recently. Gigi thought that she and Marvin were husband and wife, but she told me that he was her twin. Did you know that?”
“Yes, I did. I try to stay out of discussions on other people’s business. When I was growing up in Brooklyn, my father set a strict family policy of not getting involved in other people’s affairs. He said that you avoid trouble that way.”
“I felt badly for her. It’s as though she has sacrificed the better part of her life taking care of an alcoholic.”
“Jenks—you’re just in your mid-twenties. There are harsh matters in life that you will experience as you age. Marvin, no matter what he has done, is her fraternal twin. I’m not sure how she deals with her struggles, and I’m not sure that I could endure what she has. But, I can tell you that I admire her greatly. She could have very easily walked away from here and never looked back, but she didn’t. I think she’s very brave.”
“Yes, sir, I agree.”
David trimmed the dead head of a rose from a bush with his garden scissors and then said, “She must feel comfortable with you if she confided in you.”
“She said that she didn’t realize Gigi had a twin and knew that I would understand her feelings.”
“You’re both familiar with loss,” he solemnly replied.
Before they finished their conversation, Jenks told him that they had a new neighbor. David was unaware that a man had rented the house behind them.
When she finished her work, Jenks looked over the garden with pride and then went inside for a shower. At two o’clock, she met Seth at the downtown marina. He was wearing khaki shorts and a white polo shirt. His left arm was bandaged from the elbow to the wrist.
“How are you today?” Jenks asked.
He smiled and said, “I’m fine, Jenks, and I hope you are.”
“Yes, sir . . . and your arm?”
“It hurts a bit.”
“I’m sorry.”
He smiled, and within a few moments, the Pattersons arrived in their boat. They pulled up to the pier, and Seth and Jenks got on board. They greeted each other, and Dave Patterson came forward and shook Seth’s hand. “I heard about the accident last night on Carteret. You were very brave.”
“Thank you, Dave.”
“Candice and I will be extra careful while diving today. I would hate the thought of your having to come into the water to save one of us. I think the salt water wouldn’t feel too good on that arm today.”
Before they left the marina, Dave rigged a Bimini top on his boat and they set out for Woodward Point. Once they arrived at the site, the Pattersons prepared for the dive, checking each other’s equipment and testing their regulators.
They went into the water and Jenks walked close to Seth’s side. They were both under the shade of the Bimini top and she said, “Seth, I feel bad about my behavior last night.”
“Jenks, forget about it. We all have bad moments.” A slight frown crossed his brow, and then he added, “There were times when I felt jealous of Steel. I think it’s normal for siblings to experience that type of emotion. I bet you haven’t considered that she was probably envious of you over certain aspects.”
She paused as she considered what he had said. “No—I never thought of that—your explanations make me feel better.”
“That’s what I hope for.”
“And my comments about Frank Hiller?”
“Please forget about it,” he said as he patted her on the back.
Jenks pointed to an island that was just east of their location. “What’s the name of that island?”
“That’s Palmer’s Island, but it has a nickname.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s called Skeleton Island by locals.”
“Why?”
“About twenty-five years ago, an archaeologist uncovered the skeletons of three bodies. They were chained together and staked out. No one knows who they were or why they were treated so unmercifully.”
“Those poor people,” Jenks responded.
“The facial features of the skulls were reconstructed and scientists determined the bodies were of African origin.” Seth shook his head and said, “Slavery was a brutal institution.”
They spent the next thirty minutes talking. In the western sky, dark clouds were beginning to build up and a distant rumble of thunder sounded. The Pattersons emerged near the boat and Dave said, “Miss Jenkins, I didn’t come across anything new on this dive. We’ll go down one more time, but that’s it.”
He looked to the west and said, “We may have to make this a short dive.”
After the couple started the next dive, Jenks put her hand on Seth’s shoulder. “Have you heard any more about Maggie Reynolds’s condition today?”
“Thomas phoned me and said she was improving. I’m thankful that I was able to get her out of the car.”
Another rumble of thunder sounded in the west, and the sky was beginning to take on an unusual deep-green to black appearance.
“I don’t like the look of those clouds. The color is strange,” Seth observed.
A cool wind suddenly caught the Bimini top, and it flexed up and down in the breeze. The storm was approaching their position from the west. “I hope they come up soon,” Jenks said in a concerned voice.
A cloud-to-ground lightning bolt burst from the base of the thunderhead, followed by a loud crack of thunder. Feeling the electricity in the air, Jenks anxiously looked over the side of the boat for the divers. Within a few minutes, they both surfaced, empty handed. They swam to the side of the boat, and Jenks and Seth helped them with their diving tanks.
Dave turned his head to the west and said, “I think we should get off the water.”
He drove the boat to the pier at Hunting Island State Park and tied the watercraft off at the dock. The winds were now howling, and rain was pelting them with heavy drops. The foursome ran to one of the bath houses and stood inside as a terrific storm descended upon them. Visibility was next to nothing; the rain was so heavy that Jenks lost sight of the Pattersons’ boat.
“Miss Jenkins?” Dave said, raising his voice above the storm.
“Yes?”
“I think somebody’s trying to tell you something.”
That evening, Jenks and Seth made dinner together at the Walker’s home. They grilled shrimp and vegetables and then sat down at the kitchen table to dine.
“Have you given up on the Elliott treasure?”
“I’ve concluded that we could look in that area every day for the next one hundred years and never find anything.”
“I’m thankful you’ve realized that.”
They looked into each other’s eyes for a moment, and then Jenks asked, “Have you spoken to Rory lately?”
“No, not in the last few days. As far as I know, he still hasn’t had a job offer. I’m going in to work early tomorrow, and we can go out to see him in the late afternoon. I’ll let him know we’re coming.”
After dinner he played several songs on the piano for her. Then they danced to jazz music until a sultry rendition of “At Last” performed by Etta James began to play.
At last
My love has come along
My lonely days are over . . .
Seth began to kiss her passionately as they danced. His hands caressed her back, and she felt her entire existence become fiery hot.
In a trembling voice she said, “Seth—I’m in love with you. I’ve been waiting for you.”
He tilted her head back from his chest and looked into her eyes. “I’m in love with you too.”
She could feel his hardness against her, and she hugged him even closer. “I want you, Seth.”
He continued to kiss her repeatedly on the mouth, and between kisses he whispered, “Baby, I don’t want to get you pregnant. I’ll use protection.”
“I went to see Dr. Wray for birth control.”
“You’ve been thinking about this for a while,” he said as he ran his hand up and down her back.
She blushed, and her face felt extremely hot. “I have.”
With those words he lifted her in his arms and carried her into his bedroom. He gently placed her on his bed. After removing his shirt, he pulled her tightly against him and his hands roamed her body with strong caresses. She cried out with excitement as he pulled her shirt over her head and then fondled her breasts. Gradually, they removed their clothing. She was in the throes of passion as he ran his tongue from her throat to her breasts, gently kissing her nipples. With his touch, she felt deeply moved by desire. She gasped for breath as their naked bodies came together, and she felt the hard muscles of his chest against her own. As she lost herself to him, she cried out his name and wept tears of pleasure. When he stilled against her, he gently wiped the tears from her face and held her until she fell asleep.
Jenks woke in the morning to light tickling on her face and arms by Seth’s fingers. She looked into his eyes, which were gleaming golden-brown with the first rays of sunlight shining into the room.
“That feels good,” she quietly said.
“I have to leave you soon,” he whispered.
She turned and put her arms around him. “I don’t want you to go.”
He kissed her and softly said, “I’ll see you this afternoon. I’ll pick you up around five at your house.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He paused as he looked into her eyes. “Loving you last night was beautiful.”
She brought his fingers to her mouth and kissed them. “I’m certain you’re the man I’ve been waiting for.”
He smiled with her words and stroked the side of her cheek. After kissing her again on the forehead, he rose from the bed. Captivated by his well-toned physique, Jenks thought his muscular build reminded her of the statue of a Roman youth she had seen years before, on a trip to the British Museum with Gigi. The youth had a perfect physique and thick curly hair. He was in the course of a hunt and his determination showed vividly in his eyes. What would Seth’s hair look like if he grew it out?
When she returned home, Jenks took a long walk around the Port Royal community. Even in the early morning hours, the humidity was oppressive and sweat ran down her chest and back. Ladies are supposed to perspire—but this is sweat. After a shower, she started cleaning Gigi’s house, but found that she could not keep her mind off of Seth.
He had deeply stirred the passions within her. During lovemaking, his caresses had stimulated her into breathless desire, and new sensations enveloped her existence with deep pleasure. There had never been any of this in my relationship with Alex Conners. Jenks had declared her love for Seth, and she only knew that she wanted to be with him again.
Seth rang the doorbell at five o’clock and when she answered the door, she bounded into his arms. Holding him tightly for a few moments, she leaned her head back and looked up into his eyes.
“I’ve missed you today.”
“I’ve missed you too,” he said as he kissed her repeatedly on her face.
“What time is Rory expecting us?”
“I told him around six.”
She let go of him and retrieved her purse. After locking the front door, Jenks held his hand as they walked down the path to his car. He opened the door for her and then closed it once she was seated.
“Seth, do you think we have enough time to stop by and speak to Miss Meta and Miss Ida?”
“We’ll have to make the visit a short one.”
They drove out to Coffin Point and Seth parked his vehicle in the grass yard near the house. He opened the door for Jenks, and they walked together up the steps. The sound of cicadas in the trees was almost deafening as they stepped to the front door. They went inside, and Jenks rang the bell. Within a few seconds, Jenks heard Ida Mae’s voice from the rear of the house. “I’s comin.”
As soon as she stepped into the foyer, a smile swept across her face and she said, “Miss Jenkins, how nice to see you . . . and who is dis with you?”
“Miss Ida, this is my friend Seth Mason.”
“Mmm mmm,” she said. “Meta, come to de front of de house!” she called out. “Miss Jenkins has come by for a visit.
“Mr. Seth, nice to meet you. Those were beautiful roses that you sent to us, Miss Jenkins. You didn’t have to do dat.”
“I wanted to send you the flowers. You were so kind to allow me to read through your ancestor’s journals.”
Seth came forward and shook her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Miss Andrews.” Jenks noticed how intently Ida Mae gazed into his eyes.
“Come into de parlor,” Ida Mae gently said.
They walked into the room and the ceiling fan was operating at full speed, filling the room with a circulating breeze.
“What brings you out dis way dis afternoon?”
“We’re going to see a friend, but I wanted to come by and give you an update on the gold cross I was attempting to locate.”
“Did you find it?”
“No, ma’am.”
Meta Jane entered the room, and she smiled warmly at Seth and Jenks.
“Miss Jenkins, is so nice to see you agin. De roses you sent us were lovely. Who is dis handsome man with you?”
Seth stood and shook her hand. “Thank you, I’m Seth Mason. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Andrews.”
“Likewise,” she responded.
“Meta—Jenkins has someting to tell us 'bout de cross she look for.”
“I thought I had calculated the area where the ship Defiance went down near St. Helena Sound.” Jenks glanced at Seth. “I hired a professional diver to search for any remnants of the ship. He and his wife performed several dives, but all they could find was marine debris.”
“It like looking for de needle in de haystack,” Ida Mae commented.
“Miss Jenkins, maybe it better dat de treasure stay where it is. It in a place of rest.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Meta looked closely at Seth and Jenks. “May I tell you two someting?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Miss Jenkins, after de first time you come here, I told you I felt de presence of an aura ’bout you. I feels dat same energy round you today, but I feels an almost identical energy from you . . . Mr. Seth. You know live peoples gives off dere own unique energy pattern. Dis is like de energy I sense when I around identical twins.”
Seth’s face turned pale and he asked, “Miss Meta . . . how could that be possible?”
“De energy in an aura is from de soul of someone who is not at rest. Dey may not have accomplished someting important dat dey’s here to finish, or dey may have died violently before dere time. One other reason is—dey’s here to protect a live person from harm.”
Seth removed his handkerchief from his pants and wiped his brow. Even with the ceiling fan running, the room was warm. He took off his coat and laid it on the settee.
“Let me get you both a glass of ice tea,” Ida Mae said.
Seth looked at his watch and said, “I apologize, Miss Ida, Miss Meta, but I told my friend, Rory, that we would be at his house at six.”
“Come back when you have more time,” Meta said.
“Yes, ma’am.”
They walked to the front door together, and Jenks and Seth said their good-byes and started down the steps. They had reached the front walk when Meta called, “Miss Jenkins, I forgot to tell you someting. Could I speak to you for jus a moment more?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Jenks turned and walked back up the steps. Meta opened the screen door for her, and she stepped back into the foyer.
“I hope I didn’t upset your young man. He have a look of shock in his eyes.”
“I—I don’t know.”
“Dere is one more ting I want to share with you. Dere is tremendous energy comin’ from de two of you.” She smiled a beautiful full smile that showed in her eyes, but said nothing more.
As Jenks descended the front steps, she considered the meaning of Meta’s observation.
On the short drive to Rory’s house, Seth was silent until Jenks asked, “What are you thinking about?”
“What Meta said about the energy she senses. Her interpretations are disturbing. Did you mention to either of the sisters that I had an identical twin who passed away?”
“No, I didn’t.”
As they got out of the car at Rory’s home, the aroma of garlic and tomato sauce lingered in the air.
“Something smells good,” Seth called out as he and Jenks stepped inside the house.
“Lasagna!” Rory exclaimed. He held up the article in the Beaufort Gazette that covered the automobile accident on Carteret, where Seth had saved Maggie Reynolds’s life. “You’re my hero,” Rory said with a broad smile.
“Thank you,” Seth replied. “Can we help with dinner?”
“You can set the table. Jenks, how are you this evening?”
“I’m well.”
They sat down at the table and dined on Rory’s lasagna. “This is delicious,” Jenks commented.
“I’m so glad you like it,” Rory replied. “You know the Beaufort Water Festival is coming up in a few weeks. I’d like to go to talent night.”
“Why don’t we three plan on attending?” Jenks said.
Seth took his first bite of lasagna and said, “Sounds good to me.”
“The start of law school is just around the corner too,” Rory commented.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Seth.
Jenks remembered that the start of law school would also mark the time that she would return to Raleigh and start teaching the fall semester. She did not want to leave Seth.
“You know, Jenks, Seth is the darling of every woman’s club in Beaufort County.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have received excellent support from the community with scholarship funds,” Seth admitted.
“You never told me that,” Jenks said.
“Now don’t get mad, Seth,” Rory said as he gestured with his hand toward his friend. “He doesn’t like to brag on himself, so I will. He’s already been offered a job in the Beaufort County Solicitor’s office.”
“That’s wonderful,” Jenks said with a smile.
“The solicitor told me to complete a year of law school, and then I could work part time in their office. I was told that when I pass the bar, I could come on board as a staff attorney.”
Jenks squeezed Seth’s hand and smiled. “I’m proud of you.”
Seth changed the subject. “I found out today that I’m going to be in Columbia for a couple of days for firearms training. I usually attend the class in the fall, but my course has been moved up because of law school.”
“When do you leave?” Jenks asked.
“I’m leaving tomorrow, and I’ll return Friday afternoon.”
“That will give me plenty of time to put the moves on Jenks,” Rory said teasingly.
“Nothing doing,” Seth said. He put his arm around Jenks and kissed her on the forehead.
“Oh, by the way, Jenks, Seth has a birthday coming up.”
“When is your birthday?”
“Next Thursday.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Seth gave her a shy smile, but remained quiet.
“I want to have both of you over to my house for a birthday dinner!”
“I’ll look forward to it, Jenks—thank you,” Seth responded.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Rory said with a smile.
After they finished eating, they cleaned up the dishes and then played several hands of cards before calling it a night.
As Jenks stood on the outside deck waiting for Seth, she heard Rory say, “I haven’t had any nightmares for a couple of weeks. I hope they’ve stopped.”
“I do too, Rory,” Seth quietly responded.
They said good night and Seth opened the car door for Jenks and made sure she was comfortably seated before he closed it. They both waved good-bye to Rory, who was sitting in his wheelchair on the deck.
On the way home Jenks said, “I heard Rory mention he suffers from nightmares.”
“Yes, he has a reoccurring nightmare about Sarah Humphries, the young woman who served with him in Afghanistan.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
Not wanting to be nosy, Jenks did not ask what happened in the nightmares. She concluded that Seth would tell her if he thought that further disclosure was proper.
When they arrived at Port Royal, Seth came into the house with Jenks. They began to kiss each other. He disrobed her, and she unbuttoned his shirt as they moved toward the bedroom. Jenks felt a deep ache of desire for him run through her body. They lay down simultaneously on the bed and wrapped their arms around each other. She cried out with pleasure as he made them one again, and she held him close, wrapping herself around him. He was deep within her and he kissed her on her mouth and throat. When he finally relaxed against her, they held each other in breathless exhaustion.
After a period of quietness, Jenks said, “I’m going to miss you while you’re away.”
“I’ll miss you too, but it’s just for a couple of days.”
She was quiet for a moment. “I don’t know what I’m going to do when I have to go back to Raleigh.”
“We can see each other on weekends.”
“You’re going to be working many weekends with the sheriff’s department.”
“Jenks, we’ll make it happen. Please don’t worry about our relationship.” He raised his head up on his elbow and looked into her eyes. “I love you.”
“I want to hear you say it often.”
“When I was growing up, I would have never thought myself capable of being close to a beautiful, well-educated lady like you.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I thought a lady like you was out of my league.”
“That’s silly. I think you’re wonderful. I meant it when I said you’re my hero. I love you too.”
He smiled at her. “I have a couple of surprises for you.”
“Can you give me a hint?”
“No, but I think you’re going to really enjoy yourself.”
On Thursday, Jenks went to the downtown library to read with the children’s group. Amanda Stevens was not present. Jenks read with each child and helped them with the words they had trouble pronouncing. When it was time for the children to adjourn to the playground, she went to the table where Ellen Madison was seated and said, “Amanda Stevens is not here today. Do you know where she is?”
“Her grandmother phoned and said that her car was broken down. She can’t bring Amanda until her neighbor has a chance to repair her vehicle.”
“Do you think she would allow me to pick Amanda up and bring her to the next session?”
“I’ll call her and see if that suits. That’s very gracious of you to offer to give her a ride.”
“I don’t mind at all. When I first started reading with her, she seemed to be shy. We read poetry during the last session. She read well, and then beamed with confidence and satisfaction.”
“I’ll call you after I speak with her.”
Jenks drove to her home in Port Royal when she left the library. The phone was ringing when she opened the front door, and on the line was a real estate agent who wanted to show the house. She explained that she and her client had driven past the house, and they’d like to see the inside. Jenks told them she’d go for a walk, and they could use the lockbox to enter.
She put on a straw hat to shield her from the sun and set off on foot to Sands Beach. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead and ran down her body. When she reached the beach, she began to hear the Marine Corps trainees at Parris Island practicing firearms proficiency. She listened to the rapid fire of the guns and watched the boat traffic on the Beaufort River. Sitting on the beach, she thought of Seth and how much she loved him. An hour passed, and she believed she had given the real estate agent and her client enough time to look at the house.
On her route back home, Jenks walked through the neighborhood, exploring streets she had never been on before. She was not far from the old shipping terminal when she passed several older cottages. One of the houses was in need of paint and had the look of abandonment. There were a couple of old fabric chairs on the front porch and the screen wire was dark and had numerous tears.
She paused in front of the home. A feeling of overwhelming sadness gripped her as she looked at the aged structure. She also felt as if someone were watching her. Looking around from house to house, Jenks did not see anyone in their yards or sitting on a porch.
Glancing back to the graying, wood-sided dwelling, Jenks’s eyes searched the downstairs windows for an onlooker, but no one was there. She noticed the venetian blinds were bent, and some of the blades were missing. As she gazed upward, the feelings of being watched went deeper into her soul, and suddenly she realized the reason for her anxiety.
In an upstairs bedroom window, a young woman with piercing blue eyes and straight golden hair was staring out of the window at her. Jenks felt relieved to see that her intuition was correct, and she smiled and waved to the girl in the window.
The young woman did not return the smile or the wave. Jenks felt an unexplainable sadness as their eyes met. A car was coming in Jenks’s direction, and she took her eyes off the girl and stepped into a driveway to stay out of the path of the automobile.
When the car had passed by, Jenks looked back up at the window, but the young woman was no longer there. Cold chills descended upon her as she continued her walk home.
When she reached home, the real estate agent and her client were pulling out of the driveway and they waved to Jenks as they passed by. When she reached the house, the phone was ringing. She quickly unlocked the door and ran to answer it.
Ellen Madison was phoning to tell her that Amanda Stevens’s grandmother accepted Jenks’s offer to give her granddaughter a ride to the library for the next reading session. Ellen gave her Amanda’s address and phone number. The next session would be the following Monday.
That evening, Jenks sat on her screened porch and read from one of Gigi’s poetry books. When the phone rang at nine p.m., she dashed to answer it. Seth was on the line, and she was happy to hear his voice.
“I’ve missed you today,” she confessed.
“Yes, I’ve missed you too. I got most of my requirements out of the way today, so I should be able to leave Columbia by three. Why don’t you meet me at the Walker’s around six?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
When she hung up the phone, the sounds of the night were all around her. Crickets and cicadas sang out their nighttime melodies. She opened a bottle of wine and sat on the porch thinking of Gigi. She missed her terribly. The thought of Frank Hiller drowning her sister brought anger and thoughts of revenge, but there was no way to prove that he had caused her any harm.
Her thoughts then went to Seth and the love she felt for him. She didn’t want to leave him and return to Raleigh. Taking another sip of her wine, she rose from the wicker couch and went into her bedroom to lie down.
She rested her head against the pillow and thought of Gigi once again. Meta Andrews’s advice went through her mind: look closer. But at what? She pulled the sheet up over her chest and closed her eyes.
Jenks was surrounded by darkness. She could hear her sister telling her to wake up. Suddenly, Gigi was standing before her. A deep frown was etched in her brow.
Jenks sat up on her bed. She stared at the place at the foot of the bed where her sister had been standing, but Gigi was no longer present. Jenks looked at the clock on the nightstand. It was three-thirty in the morning. She wiped perspiration from her forehead, and then she heard what she thought were faint footfalls on the hardwood floors.
Picking up her flashlight, she quietly walked into the living room and turned on the outside floodlights. The eight-day clock on the mantle chimed the half hour. She sat down on the living room couch and listened for noises. There were only the night sounds of the crickets. She returned to her bed, but had difficulty falling asleep again.
Seth returned from Columbia Friday afternoon, and they spent the late afternoon fishing on the Chechessee River. They stayed on the river until twilight, and then grilled their catch of redfish over a charcoal fire on the grill at the back of the Walker’s house.
As they sat down to eat, a distant rumble of thunder sounded to the west.
“How did the firearms training go?”
“It’s always good to have a refresher course, and I passed the proficiency test.”
“I’d like for you to teach me how to shoot a handgun.”
A frown crossed his brow. “Is there something wrong?”
“Several times now I’ve heard walking in the middle of the night at Gigi’s, and a few times I’ve seen shadows. When I investigate, there’s no one there.”
The ceiling fan in the kitchen rotated slowly sending a light breeze through the kitchen. Lightning flashes appeared in the windows, followed by the rumblings of thunder.
Seth took her hand. “Why haven’t you mentioned this to me before?”
“It’s just happened lately.”
“I don’t want you to ever be frightened. You can stay here with me . . . or I could stay with you several nights in a row to see if we hear anything.”
“Thank you. I’ve wondered if I’ve been dreaming the walking sounds.”
“That’s a possibility. I’ve heard noises in my sleep before that I thought were very real. When I awakened, I discovered the sounds were just part of my dream.”
Another flash of lightning illuminated the nighttime sky, followed by a rumble of thunder.
“I had a very odd experience today,” Jenks said shaking her head.
“Tell me about it.”
“A real estate agent came to show Gigi’s house, and I walked to Sands Beach. On my way back, I walked on some streets I had never been on before. I started to have this strange feeling that someone was watching me. I was in front of a house that looked abandoned, and I saw a young woman in an upstairs window looking down at me. I smiled and waved at her, but she did not respond. She only looked at me with such a sad expression.”
“What did she look like?”
“She was lovely, with bright blue eyes and straight blonde hair.”
“There must have been something troubling her for her not to respond.”
Jenks reflected on the experience for just a moment and said, “I bet you’re right. I feel badly for her, whoever she is.”
Seth rose from his seat and, taking Jenks by the hand, he pulled her up, into his arms. “Let’s not talk of sadness anymore tonight.” He started a CD player, and they danced slowly to piano jazz in each other’s arms. “Bill Evans?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he whispered in her ear.
As they held each other, Seth kissed her on the mouth. Jenks could feel her body begin to ache with desire for him, and she whispered back, “Please—I want you.”
He lifted her in his arms and carried her into his bedroom.
After making love, Seth gently whispered, “I want to show you a special place in the morning. We’ll need to wake early, and get there before the day becomes too hot.
“Is this my surprise?”
“One of them.”
“Please give me a clue?”
“You’re going to taste something wonderful,” he said as he gently stroked her face with his fingertips. Outside, rain was falling, accompanied by occasional thunder. Lulled by the sounds of the storm, Jenks wrapped her arms around him and fell asleep.
By six a.m., Seth had prepared a large breakfast for the two of them. She could smell the delicious aroma of bacon when he gently woke her. Pulling her up from the bed, he helped her put on her robe.
“Okay sleepy girl, this way,” he said as he steered her toward the kitchen. “We’re going to work very hard this morning, so I want you to have plenty to eat.” She felt hungry and ate all her breakfast.
After cleaning the dishes, Seth gave her a bottle of insect repellant and told her to be liberal with the application. They both put on blue jeans, and Seth gave her a pail.
“What am I going to need this for?”
“You’ll see. Let’s head to the path behind the house that leads into the woods.”
In the field, near the overseer’s cabin, was a large blackberry patch with very ripe fruit. Seth started to pick the fruit, placing the blackberries in his pail.
“Have you ever picked blackberries before?”
“When I was a little girl,” she responded.
“Watch the thorns on the bush.”
“Yes, sir.”
They stood side by side and picked the berries for over thirty minutes. Seth quietly whispered to her, “Look to your right, but make gentle movements.”
Jenks turned her head slowly, and standing about ten feet away from them was a doe that was feasting on the berries. The deer glanced in their direction and then continued to eat.
“Looks like someone’s having breakfast. I suppose the blackberries taste better than the usual diet of acorns and fresh shoots of plant growth,” Seth softly said.
“It’s nice of her to share with us,” Jenks whispered back.
The doe continued to eat the fruit, and after another fifteen minutes, she walked away in the direction of the overseer’s house.
“I can’t believe I just saw that,” Jenks told Seth.
He smiled at her and continued to pick the berries. When his pail was full, he assisted Jenks until both containers were full.
“Are you ready to make blackberry jam?” he asked.
“Yes, sir.”
The rest of the morning was spent making jam and canning the cooked blackberries. By the time they finished, they had made twenty jars of jam, and they smiled at each other in satisfaction.
When the work in the kitchen was complete, Seth said, “Now are you ready for the second part of my surprise?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Hale Branson said he would take you flying this afternoon. He said for us to meet him at Frogmore International at two.”
A feeling of exuberance coursed through her body. She smiled broadly and responded, “Really! That’s so exciting. Frogmore International?”
“Remember? That’s the old nickname for the Beaufort County Airport. A lot of the locals still call the airport by that name.”
Jenks ran to Seth and flung her arms around him. “Thank you for arranging this. Aren’t you going up with us?”
“I don’t think so. He said he was going to show you what flying was all about, so I expect he’ll be taking you up in one of his acrobatic airplanes, which are two seaters.”
“Wow, I’m thrilled! I’m ready to go whenever you are.”
“All right, young lady, after you,” Seth said as he opened the back door in the kitchen for her.
On their drive to Lady Island, they passed Hiller’s Barbells. A large Sold sign was mounted across the top of the For Sale sign.
“It looks like Frank has had success in selling his business.”
“Amazing . . . and Gigi’s house has only had a few showings.”
Seth parked his truck in front of a hangar at the Beaufort County Airport. He came to Jenks’s side of the vehicle and opened the door for her. Together, they walked in the direction of a side entrance to the building.
Seth knocked, and within a few moments Hale Branson opened the door, greeted them, and invited them inside. The two men began to converse, and Jenks took the time to look around the hangar. Brightly lit with fluorescent lamps, the concrete floor of the hangar was painted gray and appeared polished to perfection. There were several handsome aircraft inside the building; the paint on the airplanes gleamed brightly. Her eye focused on a cherry-red biplane that had a rear tail wheel.
At a pause in the men’s conversation, Jenks turned to Hale, “Thank you for offering to take me flying this afternoon.”
“Yes, ma’am, I’m glad to do it,” he responded.
“All your airplanes are beautiful. What type of aircraft are they?”
“Let’s start over here.” He led them to a polished red-and-white airplane that had a tail painted like the beams of the rising sun. “This is a Citabria. I fly this airplane in a number of aerobatic competitions in the United States. If you spell Citabria backwards, it spells airbatic.”
He ran his hand along the side of the fuselage, and then led Seth and Jenks to the biplane that had caught her eye when they entered the hangar. “This is a Pitts Special. The aircraft was designed by Curtis Pitts and got the nickname Stinker because Pitts put the drawing of a skunk on some of his early designs. Many pilots believe that the Pitts Special is the ultimate aerobatic aircraft for competition.”
“Wow, this biplane is gorgeous! This is the airplane you were flying the day you flew near the Walker’s property!” Jenks exclaimed.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied.
They looked at a third aircraft that Hale explained was an Aeronca Champ, and lastly at a sleek plane that he said was a Mooney 231 and used for cross-country travel.
“Which airplane are we going up in?” Jenks asked.
“I’m going to take you flying in the Citabria.”
Hale raised the hangar door and then went to a wall phone and placed a call. Within a few minutes, two young men wearing mechanic’s suits arrived in front of the hangar with a tug and pulled the Citabria out onto the tarmac. Hale thanked them for their assistance, and then Jenks and Seth watched him preflight the airplane. He checked the oil and then ran his hand down the sides of the propeller. Jenks was offered the back seat in the airplane.
Suddenly feeling nervous, she said, “Now, remember, I’ve never been up in a light airplane before. Please don’t do any scary maneuvers.”
Hale smiled back at her; his handlebar mustache seemed to curl on the ends. “I’ll tell you a saying that I heard when I was learning to fly airplanes. My flight instructor always said, ‘There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots.’”
He smiled again, and then Seth and Hale helped her into the airplane, fastening her seat belt and shoulder harness. Hale handed her a headset with a mike and then demonstrated how they could hear and talk to one another. After the engine was started, Hale taxied out to a place on the tarmac that he called the runup area and did mechanical checks on the engine. When this was complete, he taxied the airplane out to the runway and announced his intentions to take off on Runway 25.
“Here we go,” he said through the headset.
Jenks felt butterflies in her stomach as he applied power to the engine. Rolling down the runway, the airplane took flight in a short amount of time.
She gripped the handles of the seat as the airplane went airborne. Looking over the side of the plane, Jenks marveled at the waterways and marshes, which shimmered in the sunlight. She noticed the town of Beaufort on the right side of the airplane; the structures appearing to diminish in size as the aircraft ascended.
Hale placed a radio call to the controllers at the Beaufort Marine Station. Jenks listened as he told them his intentions and the controller responded that the Beaufort Military Operations Area was not hot. After he finished speaking with the controller, Hale explained through the headset that not hot meant there were no military aircraft operating in the practice area. He then said in a reassuring voice, “I promise to be gentle, but it’s time to have some fun.”
They flew to an area where waterways were underneath them, and then Hale began to do a series of dives, pulling up into a sharp bank above the marsh. With each one, Jenks felt exhilarated, like she was on a rollercoaster.
“Hang on now,” he exclaimed before he executed a barrel roll above the waterway.
“Wow, that was outstanding,” she told him as they completed the maneuver.
After he finished the aerobatics he had planned, they flew along the coastline. She recognized the lighthouse at Hunting Island State Park, and sunbathers on the beach waved to them as they went past.
When the flight was over, Hale landed the airplane on the runway they had departed on. She felt the right gear touch down first, followed by the left, and then the tail wheel. She still had butterflies in her stomach from the excitement she felt during the flight. Hale taxied the Citabria to the tarmac in front of his hangar, and Jenks saw Seth standing near the building with a smile on his face. He came to the airplane, helped her dismount, and then put his arm around her.
“Did you have a good time?”
“Fabulous!”
“I knew you would,” he said as he kissed her on the forehead. His hand went to her back, which was damp.
“Do I detect a bit of perspiration? I hope not from nervousness.”
“I was just so excited!” She turned and faced Hale. “I had a wonderful time. Thank you for taking me flying.”
“It was my pleasure,” he said with a broad smile. “We’ll go again sometime.”