“We offer a ship discount. Eight dollars each.”
“I’ll give you five bucks cash per person,” Lucy bargained.
“Cash.” The woman rubbed the end of her nose. “I suppose.”
“Sweet.” Lucy handed her the money before she could change her mind.
“I recommend touring the caretaker’s cottage first, where you’ll find a brief video about the lighthouse’s history.”
“Will do.” Ruth gave her a mock salute. “Thanks for the tip.”
They started to walk away.
“You’ll need to be out of the lighthouse before two forty-five, when I ring the bell,” the ticket taker called out.
Gloria returned to the counter. “Why?”
“Because I lock the door and you’ll be stuck inside.”
“I’m beginning to think we wasted our time and Lucy’s money,” Ruth grumbled under her breath.
“We’ll do a quick tour, power step to the top, snap a few pics and be on our way back to the ship before the three o’clock deadline,” Gloria said. “I bet the views are incredible.”
“Let’s get a move on.” Lucy propelled them toward the cottage. “The clock is ticking.”
Up the steps and through the front entrance they went, where a whoosh of cool air greeted them.
“This is wonderful,” Lucy sighed. “Whoever invented air conditioning was a genius.”
The trio meandered through the main room, studying pictures and reading captions about the lighthouse’s history, originally built near the shoreline but had since been moved after suffering damage from a hurricane.
Entering the second room, they discovered a video documentary offering a detailed timeline of the lighthouse’s history playing on the television.
Ruth started to sit.
Gloria grasped her arm and pulled her upright. “We won’t have time to watch the whole thing.”
“Figures.” Ruth trudged after her friends, entering another room, this one decorated with period furniture, household items and clothing displays from when the lighthouse was first constructed.
Lucy made a ticking sound. “We have half an hour to check out the lighthouse.”
Exiting through the back, the women made a beeline for the towering structure, pausing long enough to read the placard near the door,Constructed in 1852.
“This baby has been here a long time.” Lucy patted the painted concrete. “I bet she has seen a hurricane or two.”
“Let’s head up.” Gloria adjusted the straps on her backpack and began climbing the stairs.
Lucy was behind her while Ruth brought up the rear. Picking up the pace, they continued climbing, going higher and higher.
At the halfway point, Gloria noticed an open window shaped like an octagon. A brisk breeze blew off the water. She lingered, letting the cool air toss her hair. “I see Siren of the Seas. Check it out.”
She kept moving, giving her friends a chance to admire the view.
“How many more steps?” Ruth puffed.
Gloria leaned over the railing and lifted her gaze. “We’re more than halfway.”
“What time is it?”
