“I combined the information Chloe sent me from the Smithsonian with the postcards and journal entries we already had.Mom found some more information at the library and in the archives in Polson.It took a lot longer than I thought to sift through everything, but this is as accurate as I could make it.”
Katie left her half-eaten bowl of ice cream on the table and sat in front of the television.“This is amazing.What I don’t understand is why our great-grandmother stayed in Sapphire Bay.She could have traveled around America with her husband or gone back to Europe with him.”
Charlie’s face was dangerously close to the ice cream, so Barbara nudged Katie’s bowl into the center of the table.“I don’t know why she stayed here, either.Maybe she thought she’d have a better life in Montana?Her sewing business was going well and she had friends who lived around Flathead Lake.If she’d joined her husband, she would have had to start again.”
Katie nodded.“That’s true.Even so, it must have been difficult when her husband left.”
“There’s something else you should know,” Barbara said.“Chloe and I haven’t found any record of our great-grandfather after 1932.His name wasn’t on any passenger ship records or military records.There’s nothing that tells us where he went.”
Diana absently rubbed Charlie’s ears.“It’s almost as if he disappeared off the planet.”
“Or died.”Katie wiggled away from the television.“He could have fallen off a horse or been involved in a train accident.”
“Or someone he owed money to found him,” Barbara said.“I checked the hospital records in the cities he visited and he wasn’t admitted under his legal name.Chloe checked a database that has all the registered deaths, but nothing was ever issued for Patrick Kelly.”
“It doesn’t matter how he died,” Katie said.“I’m more interested in what he did while he was alive.Look at all the places he visited.He must have been a true adventurer.”
Diana shook her head.“You’re romanticizing him.He abandoned his wife and baby to get away from his gambling debts.His lasting legacy was a letter he somehow acquired from Abraham Lincoln’s son.I’m not sure that’s how I’d like people to remember me.”
Photos of steamboats sitting on Flathead Lake appeared on the television.
Barbara sighed.“That wasn’t his greatest legacy.The best thing he ever did was create our grandmother.Without that happening, none of us would be here.”
Katie picked up her bowl of ice cream.“From what our great-grandmother said in her journals, I don’t think he regretted what happened in his life.It’s just a shame grandma didn’t spend time with her father.”
As more photos of gambling halls appeared on the television, Barbara glanced at her sisters.She only wished she’d been able to find more information about their great-grandfather.“At least we know more about him than we did two months ago.We might have to accept that we’ll never know everything about him.”
“Talking about mysterious men,” Katie said.“You’ve seen Theo a few times this week.Is there something you’re not telling us?”
“I’m helping him develop a social media presence.”
Diana grinned.“There’s another word people use for spending time with a single, handsome, male.”
“We’re working together, not dating.”
“That’s what you say now, but is it the beginning of something wonderful?”
A blush heated Barbara’s cheeks.“Being engaged has warped your brain.I’m not looking for romance.”
Katie laughed.“You’d better get used to it.Mom was making some not-so-subtle hints about her last two single daughters the other day.”
“Don’t listen to her.”
“I’ll try not to.I had an idea about another workshop we could advertise at the inn.With the amount of research we’ve done, we could have family history retreats.”
Barbara handed the television remote to Diana.“That’s a great idea.The librarian we spoke to in Polson was really helpful.I’m sure she wouldn’t mind answering any questions our guests might have.”
“While we’re talking about questions, has Chloe said anything about the press release the Smithsonian her team is writing?”
“I’ll ask her if they have a date when I next speak to her.”
The living room door opened and Penny joined them.“What have I missed?”
“Only the most amazing adventure of our great-grandfather’s life,” Katie said with a smile.“But if those little boxes contain what I think they do, I’ll happily sit through the powerpoint again.”
Penny handed them all a white cardboard box.“I thought you’d enjoy tasting the cake flavors we’re having.We chose one layer of vanilla and raspberry for Wyatt and me.Chocolate fudge for Barbara and Katie.And, last but not least, traditional fruitcake for Diana and our parents.”
Diana lifted the lid on her box and sighed.“You’ve just become my favorite sister.”
