The Old Cape Teapot (22 page)

I reached for a slender T-Bar that was leaning against a tree.
Peter had brought it along for the hike. With slow and careful steps, I kicked up leaves atop the ground and poked the iron rod into the soil before me and on either side of my feet in search of other rocks. One woman went ahead, opposite my path, using her boots to
uncover any odd protuberances that would mimic a circular stone formation.

After jamming the T-bar into the ground a few times, it stopped
with a thud. “I found one,” I cried out, bending over to pull at patches
of green moss. There it was, a flat stone, just a short distance from
where Peter had found the other rocks. My gloves were getting damp and black with the forest dirt but I didn’t mind; I was on a hunt. I pulled more moss away.

Peter encouraged the others with, “Keep looking,” before he
came over to me. “Nancy, this is wonderful.”

I was giddy about the stone that I had uncovered. I wasn’t sure
how important it was but it didn’t matter. According to Peter, I’d found something noteworthy. People had presumably walked over it, time and again, paying no attention to its significance.

By the time the other trekkers came closer, seven more rocks, including mine were uncovered, making the rough outline of a
complete circle. Intrigued, everyone gathered around, trying to guess at what lay before their eyes.

“A foundation to an old house?” one offered.

A man with ruddy cheeks added, “Pretty small house.”

Laughter erupted but quieted in seconds as Peter spoke up, “I know we came here to find evidence of the boundaries of the first
Cape
Villages but I think we’ve just located the site of an ancient
windmill.”

We all stood quietly dumbfounded and thrilled at the same time. I hopefully wondered if the little windmill drawing on the old map could be connected to this. It was a stretch, but there might be a link.

Peter glanced at the sky then gave his last command as we all stood around the rough circle of stones, “The snow is starting to
accumulate
so let’s disband until another day. Feel free to come back and explore the site but DO NOT touch or dig anywhere until we find some
answers.”

All agreed.

Peter tied a piece of yellow caution tape around a branch near
the site and another where we’d veered off the ancient walking path. It was right near the old foundation. I wondered who would have built a
house so far from the road. Our small group of explorers began to
retrace their steps out of the woods, led by Peter.

As I walked to my van, I was silly with the idea that the group may have uncovered a foundation. I pulled off my gloves, which
were all wet from digging. My numb hands fumbled through my pockets for the keys. God, it’s cold, I thought, walking a little faster.

The car opened with a click. I looked behind me for oncoming traffic so I could open the door safely, then I glanced across the street from where I was parked. A maroon Toyota was at the convenience
store opposite me. I slid onto the driver’s seat and slammed the door shut. Waiting for the engine to warm up, I looked across the street again. The driver was taking a big drag on his cigarette.

That’s weird, I thought, he looks like the guy from the library. I
wonder if he’s following me? Snowflakes started to stick to the grass and my windshield. My hands shook as I gripped the steering
wheel. Was I cold or was it the sight of the maroon Toyota? A lot of things began running through my mind. Had I found another clue about the old map? Could I have located the Davis Baker Mill?

Once on the road, I pulled ahead to turn around, then slowly drove past the Toyota. The driver stared at me with a look that was almost
menacing. I stopped for a red light and reminded myself to calm
down…take a deep breath. It’s just a coincidence.

As I sped along Route 6A toward Brewster, the car began to warm me up. I decided that the real news is that Peter’s group might have discovered an archaeological site and maybe I could find a connection to the old map. I couldn’t wait to tell Paul…it was
probably best to keep the maroon Toyota to myself.

***

The Toyota reached its destination an hour later, turning into a long,
winding driveway that led to the back of an old, run-down house. The driver parked his car near a wooden stairway, grabbed his backpack and climbed to the top of the stairs where he found a key above the side window. He entered the small studio apartment.
After opening the
vents on the heaters, he grabbed a cold beer from the tiny
refrigerator
and pulled a pair of binoculars from his bag. He had about 30
minutes before going back to work.

Present Day

CAPE COD

THE SNOW
didn’t let up for two days. After explaining to Paul we’d found the possible site of an old mill, he agreed with me that
there was a good chance it represented the drawing on the map. I had a feeling
he was just humoring me because he was busy with his painting. Then again, it didn’t matter; I knew I was on to something
important. I was
also anxious to go back to the site, but there would be no exploring for a while. The storm had blanketed the Cape with its first
snowstorm and Thanksgiving was next week.

I reached for my heavy coat and slipped on arctic boots to get the mail. With a dressing of new snow, even the messy house across the street looked picture perfect. The Christmas decorations would soon be up at our house. I relished what people would think as they
drove past our front parlor bay window, where the multicolored lights of our Christmas tree always sparkled through the old glass, like colorful
diamonds. The bucolic scene spoke of everything that’s winter in New England. It was an old-fashioned image that usually brought a sigh from whoever saw it, reminding them of cozy families, traditions, and sweet treats. I try my best to make a wonderful
Christmas for the family, but today, all I wanted to do was look for lost treasure.

***

The day after Thanksgiving, Nick showed up. “Mrs. C, it’s great to
see you,” he shouted into the doorway as he gave me a big hug.

“It’s good to see you, too.” I hugged him in return.

Molly and Danny came running in from the living room to say hello, curious as ever.

Nick crouched down to their eye level. “You two look just the
way your brother described you.”

The kids giggled and ran back to their toys.

“Are you hungry?” I asked.

“No, I stopped at Burger King on my way here.”

“Well, we’re happy to have you with us.”

“Thanks.”

“Let me show you where you’ll be sleeping.”

I led him to the spare bedroom off the front parlor. “This is the best room if you want privacy. You’ll be far enough away from the kids and all their noise.” I watched him lift his suitcase onto the bed. “When you’re settled, I’ve got some hot chocolate on the stove.”

“Thanks again, Mrs. C.”

***

Dinner was pizza and salad, nice and easy. Talk was all about Nick.
When I was in Antigua his conversations with me were always
questions concerning the treasure that I’d found in our woods. Now I wanted to know all about him. “What made you join the Corps?” I asked, passing the salad.

“I wanted to give something back. I’d graduated with a degree
in
archaeology and minored in math, but the higher-ups felt they
needed a math teacher more.”

“Minored in math?” Paul asked. “That’s an interesting
combination with archaeology.”

“I always liked numbers, plus there’s a lot of measuring and such with ancient discoveries. In the end, I liked digging better.”

“So what’s your project back on Antigua?” I started to cut
Danny’s pizza into narrow strips.

“Well, I’m not sure. The group I was working with disbanded. The Corps office said they would talk to me when I got back.”

I thought this was an odd answer. The Peace Corps doesn’t work
that way; they always have schedules planned well in advance.

“Hey, Mrs. C, I was reading on my cell phone all about the
Whydah
, pirates, and your discoveries as I waited for my flights. I’m still so curious.”

I smiled, thinking it was actually fun answering all of his questions.

He kept his stare on my necklace. “That’s so beautiful, Mrs. C.”

“Thank you, Nick.”

I decided to bring out the coffee, cookies, and ice cream as soon as the last piece of pizza was eaten. Casey excused herself: she had plans for a movie with her friends. As Paul and Nick talked in the
dining room, I began putting things away in the kitchen. I thought about sharing the new map with Nick and any details that I’d
already found. Paul was interested, but he’s always so busy. It might be fun
to have Nick as a partner in solving these mysteries that keep
appearing, like Holmes and Watson.

Present Day

CAPE COD

I WAS UP EARLY.
By the time I reached the kitchen, Paul had finished reading the morning paper and was working in his studio.
The sun sparkled through the bare trees in the eastern sky. Maybe some of its
warmth would melt the snow and I could get back to the old mill site. The coffee tasted good as I checked my email. One message popped up
from Brian. It had two attachments. What a good kid; he’d
remembered
my request to get pictures of the Julian family jewelry. Happy he’d photographed them before they were stolen, I opened the first
image.
They were beautiful. The second image was a close-up of only one piece to show the detail of its intricate flower design and color. I
glanced up at the wall calendar and remembered my hair appointment,
“
Crap.” I quickly printed copies of what Brian had sent and left them on the kitchen counter. I had fifteen minutes to get dressed and on the road.

Almost out the door, I stopped to take my necklace off, knowing the chemicals in perm lotions can wreak havoc on jewelry. I wasn’t going to take any chances of ruining this special treasure. I promptly placed it next to the emailed copies of the earrings. I couldn’t help but admire them again; they were such a perfect match.

***

A few hours later, as I pulled into our driveway, the sun was still
shining. Perfect, I thought, another couple of days like this and the snow will be gone. Once inside, I found Nick hovering over the
kitchen counter using his phone’s camera.

“What’re you doing?” I asked with my eyebrows raised.

“I didn’t think you’d mind if I took a few pictures of your
necklace and these photocopies of the earrings.”

“I guess not,” I said, hanging up my coat.

“Are these earrings from the treasure that you found?” He put his phone into his pocket.

“No.”

 “The patterns are almost identical to your necklace. They look like they could be a set.”

“Actually, I think they are.”

“Where did you find the earrings?”

“Antigua. You know Jim’s friend, John Julian, who owns the sandwich stand?”

Nick leaned against the counter. “Oh yeah.”

“The earrings have been in his family for centuries.”

Paul came in and interrupted us. The perm smell always bothered him, but he tolerated it. He gave me a hug while holding
his breath and said, “You look beautiful.”

“Thanks, you’re so loving. I’ll be in the shower.”

“Hey, Nick, I’ll be out in the studio, if you need anything,” Paul said as he headed out of the kitchen behind me.

Careful not to get my hair wet, I wrapped it with a towel and scrubbed my neck as well as I could. As the water fell down my back, I wondered if I should be worried that Nick was taking photos
of the jewelry. I imagined he must have a pretty big pirate collection, but why was he so interested in the jewelry?

***

Nick closed the door to his room then checked his luggage to make sure the bundled sweatshirt was safe under his clothes. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled out his phone as he stared at the detailed images of the earrings with the necklace beside them. After writing a short text, he pressed
Send.

***

The next day, Paul, Nick, and I were having coffee at the breakfast table, enjoying the fact that the kids were off to the science museum in Boston with their friends.

“I’m going for a walk on the beach to find scallop shells,” I said. “Anyone want to come?”

Paul stood up. “Sorry, I’ve got a frame that needs to be finished for my acrylic painting. A new client is coming tomorrow to take a look at it.”

Nick turned to me. “I’d like to go with you, Mrs. C.”

“Great. I’ll be ready in about an hour.” I glanced at the tide
clock. “We have plenty of time; it’s several hours before full tide. Do you need any gloves or a hat?”

“No, I came prepared. After all, we’re in New England, and thought that maybe we’d go exploring. Brian said you were an
adventurer.”

What a nice compliment from Brian, I thought. He’s right.

The sky was bright blue and there was only a slight breeze when we arrived at the deserted beach. The wrack line had crusted over in white snow that sparkled in the sunlight. The temperature, a chilly forty degrees, was bearable if you had the right winter clothes. Within seconds, however, the breeze turned into a gusty wind.

“Boy, Mrs. C, it’s getting cold out here.”