Bradford followed Bea and Charmaine down the narrow, winding trail that ran through the rocks and along the cliff face to the opening. It wasn’t far to the mouth of the cave. They stopped outside and looked it over before climbing inside.
The opening was short, but wide. Bradford had to duck his head to get inside. “Why would Betsy come down here? Didn’t you already take the box to the police? There wasn’t anything else left behind, was there?”
Bea stopped and surveyed the darkened cave. The floor was sand, and there was a narrow trickle of water running through the centre of it to a pool in the back where the roof sloped down to meet the sand. “I don’t know. I should’ve looked around more, I suppose. But I was so excited to find the box, I didn’t think to look for anything else.”
Charmaine stepped around the cave cautiously, careful not to get her brand-new joggers wet. “Where was the box?”
Bea tapped the sand with one foot. “Right here.”
Charmaine took her time wandering around the edges of the cave. She found a place where the sand had been dug up recently. There were small footprints all around it, and the sand was disturbed in an oval shape. “Look at this.”
“I bet she dug something up,” Bradford said when he reached Charmaine. He squatted, reached out a hand, and began shovelling the loose sand aside. It was damp, but easy to move since it’d already been loosened. After a while, he stopped. “Nothing there.”
“Whatever it was is gone,” Bea said.
They searched the cave for a while longer and were about to leave when Charmaine squealed in surprise and bent at the waist to look more closely. She was beside the rear wall of the cave, and something had sparkled when she moved. She reached for it and picked it up. It was nestled in the palm of her hand when Bradford and Bea arrived on either side of her.
“What is it?”
“I think it’s a diamond,” Charmaine whispered, eyes wide.
“Wow, you’re right—it looks like a diamond. I wonder what it’s doing in here.” Bradford touched it with a fingertip. “You should keep it.”
“Or report it to the police,” Bea added.
“I suppose someone might’ve lost it.” Bradford scratched his chin. “But if they don’t claim it after a month or so, I think you get to keep it.”
“I’m not going to get excited yet. I’ll give it to the police, and I’m sure they’ll test it to see if it’s a diamond. If it is, it’s a big one.”
“Very big,” Bea agreed. “Several carats, I’d say.”
They headed back outside. Charmaine blinked in the glare of sunshine. She held the diamond closer to her face. It was dull, not as shiny as she’d thought it would be — it looked old. Now that she could see it more clearly, it was shaped as though it’d been set in a necklace or ring once upon a time.
They climbed the track again and headed for Bea’s cottage. She poured water into three glasses.
“I’m sorry I can’t offer you more than this. Everything is over at Aidan’s now, although I’m leaving these glasses, kitchenware and some of the furniture behind. Since we don’t need it and I bought it to match the cottage.’”
Then the three of them sat on the porch overlooking her quaint little beach.
“This is beautiful,” Charmaine said. “I can see why you like it here.”
“Thank you. I hate to give it up to a renter,” Bea replied.
Bradford shot Charmaine an encouraging look. She drew a deep breath. “I’m interested, if you’re willing to consider me.”
“Really? I would love that. It would be a huge relief to have someone I know living here rather than a perfect stranger.”
“I’m not sure if I can afford it, but if I can, this place would be perfect for me.”
“We can work something out,” Bea replied. “I don’t want it sitting empty. That’s the main thing. Someone should enjoy it, and I’d hate to see it fall into ruin after all the work I put into it. But what about your flat? Will Betsy mind?”
“I don’t think it will matter to her. Yes, I’ll miss the flat and the free rent, but it’s probably time for me to get something a little bigger. A place of my own. I can’t rely on Betsy’s goodwill forever. And I need a little more space and a place outside to sit and think. I love being out here on the porch. I can’t do that at my flat. I have to look out the window instead.”
If she had a new place to live, perhaps she could finally start the life she’d always dreamed of having. She was happier than she’d been in years. Bradford sat beside her, and a thrill of anticipation over the future ran through her body as she looked at him. He was warm and kind, positive and gentle. The kind of man she needed in her life. She didn’t know how things would proceed between the two of them, but no matter what happened, she was stronger, more grounded and more capable than she’d ever been.
All she wanted was to put down roots on Coral Island and stay for a long time. If only her brother would leave. His presence on the island kept her uneasy, even though she hadn’t seen him again since she kicked him out of her flat. Perhaps he’d moved on, but it wasn’t likely, given his threat. There must be a way to get him to leave. But she’d always wonder if he would return, and the thought of that made her stomach churn.
Twelve
