Treasure Beach: Chapter Five, Part One

Not sure why you're here or what to do?  Visit this page for enlightenment and instructions.  And don't forget to visit quilter Pat Sloan's website to sew along on the charming Happiness Key quilt that goes along with the series.

Chapter Five debuts this month.  Do you prefer to read  in one big gulp instead of having the story doled out in parts?   Look for a complete chapter pdf on the last Tuesday of each month through July.  In the meantime, i f you're new and you've missed the first four chapters?  Here are links to those pdfs:  Chapter One.  Chapter Two.  Chapter Three.  Chapter Four.   

Treasure Beach: Chapter Five, Part One

Wednesday night Tracy didn't sleep as well as usual, and not because Marsh was in Russia, and there had been no bedtime phone call. Because, despite doing everything she could to cheer up Olivia, the girl had still seemed dejected when Tracy took her back to Alice's in the late afternoon.

Finally, just as they passed the entrance to Happiness Key, Tracy had broken down, pulled to the side of the road, sworn Olivia to secrecy, and told her what she could about Dana and Lizzie's situation. Dana had done something courageous but dangerous, and now the two Turners had to move frequently to prevent detection. The other neighbors would have been stunned to know Tracy had broken their promise of silence. But she hadn't been able to let Olivia keep on believing that Lizzie had just left without a real goodbye, for no good reason.

Olivia had listened gravely, promised not to tell anybody what Tracy had said, and insisted that yes, she was happy to know Lizzie was really okay, just somewhere safer with her mother. Only judging from her expression, the news hadn't done much to improve her mood.

As she was getting out of the car Olivia had finally shown some animation. "Will you let me know when Marsh comes back? He knows all about tides and stuff. I bet he can tell me how that bottle washed up here."

"The bottle with the message?"

Olivia stared at her, as if Tracy had dropped a notch in her estimation. "That bottle. Right."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you were still trying to track down. . . you know."

"Somebody has to care," Olivia said.

Tracy knew better than to point out all the reasons why this time, nobody really had to. To Olivia, the message was a plea for help not a joke. If nothing else, that concern showed she was still connected to something and somebody. That had to be a good thing.

"I will certainly tell him," Tracy'd said. Olivia had smiled her thanks, the smile of someone pretty sure that no help was actually on the way, and went straight inside.

Now, just after dawn, Tracy had an idea. Everybody was worried about Olivia, but they had all missed the obvious. The girl was interested in one thing right now, and instead of showing interest themselves, they had tried to persuade her to forget it. Didn't Tracy know from her own life that a real friend supported you even when you were being illogical or overly emotional? Look how they had all turned out for Wanda on Tuesday. They hadn't questioned whether firing her assistant was a good idea, they had just showed up to help as needed.

She went for her usual early morning run, but on the way back, with a plan in mind, she knocked on Wanda's door, panting as Wanda came to open it.

"You just caught me," Wanda said. "I'm about to leave. What's up?"

Tracy told her. Wanda rolled her eyes. "Tonight?"

"Sooner's better than later."

"I'm in."

Tracy waved goodbye and headed to Janya's. Luckily Janya, too, was an early riser. As she waited, Tracy did a few stretches.

"Will you be joining us for breakfast?" Janya asked as she opened the door.

"No, but I need you tonight." Tracy explained her plan, and Janya nodded sagely.

"Yes, that is what's needed," she agreed, when Tracy finished. "I will be in town painting today, but I will be ready tonight. Is there a special way I should dress? Doesn't Sherlock Holmes wear a certain hat and carry a magnifying glass?"

Tracy turned to finish her run, waving goodbye as she did. "Skip that part. Just be comfy."