Page 276 of The Romance Adventure

We all chuckle.

Lally reads the last part. “It will require careful thought, collaboration, courage, and strength. Think of any setbacks as opportunities. Learn while you wait and learn to wait. You win if you don’t quit. Go forth and find her. Godspeed, and may the wind and tide be ever in your favor. The end.”

“Find who?” Harley asks.

Taking her hand in mine and noticing her ring finger is still bare, I say, “That’s what we’re all wondering.”

“I started this by saying This is what we know. But we’re after what we don’t know.”

“Yeah, yeah, Captain Obvious,” Magnus says.

CJ leans over, and whereas I think he’s going to dip a chip, he sets the diary on the table. “Chip left Ryan a journal.”

“And a pen with a plume,” I add.

“But it’s not just any journal,” CJ says. “The first half contains entries from Márcia Sousa.”

“The pirate queen?” Magnus says.

Royal shivers. “The Devil’s Charm.”

“And our grandmother,” I finish.

There’s a room-wide moment of thoughtful silence as if we still can’t fathom the enormity of this.

“What does the diary say?” Isla asks.

“It’s in Portuguese and is very hard to read,” Harley says.

Taking charge, Harley says, “We’ll go through word by word. CJ, you read. If any of you brothers know the translation, tell us. Isla, set yourself up with a translation app and verify that it’s correct. I will take notes and write down what they say word for word in case it’s more of a matter of interpretation than direct translation.”

We get started and learn about the Sousa’s exciting departure from Portugal and their adventures on the high seas. Márcia discovered she was pregnant during the voyage, but the rocking of the ship somehow offset her morning sickness.

When we get to the end of the passage about the family’s journey, because we all know the betrayal from the Royal House of Sousa back in Portugal that’s coming, we discuss what we’ve read so far.

We continue, with Lally reminding us to slow down. “Not everyone understands Brazilian Portuguese or McGregorese.”

The diary corroborates everything Chip told us about João, the heir to the throne in Portugal, and his twin, Adão’s, ploy to get rid of him.

“Don’t get any wise ideas,” Royal calls to me from across the room.

“You either.” I playfully glare.

“It’s so tragic that João was killed, leaving Márcia in a faraway land to take care of the family,” Harley says, likely thinking of her ex deserting her.

“For better or worse, Márcia figured out a way to make sure the family survived,” I say, knowing Harley has a lot of fight in her.

“By trading with pirates and then becoming the captain of her own ship,” Magnus says.

“She made the Coroa de Lágrimas and swore revenge on the House of Sousa. Chip picked up where she left off,” CJ adds.

“But I don’t think he intends for us to take revenge,” I say.

CJ shrugs in a way that makes me think he knows something we don’t. Because we teased or withdrew from him for insisting our parents weren’t entirely who we thought and aren’t dead, maybe he has a secret. He was closest to Chip, and yet our grandfather left me the diary. I add questions to my questions.

“But we will recover the crown if we can,” Magnus says.

“So, do you believe all this?” Harley whispers.