Page 89 of Finding Yesterday

“And why rubies of this mine were used to make them.”

He looks at me, his face puzzled. “But it’s impossible for this to be in this kind of shape from the twenties.” He goes wide-eyed before wagging a finger at me. “But it’s not impossible for this to be in this kind of shape, closed up tight, for say, eighteen years?”

I bite my lip. “The plans.” I continue to scan the room. “Ms. Hannah and Mama’s surprise. They were planning on reopening this as a restored speakeasy.”

“I wish I’d had the chance to know them better. Look at how cool they were.”

“Me too.” I run my finger across the dusty table. “So much.”

When I look closer at the bar, my breath gets caught in my chest. “Look.” I point to two purses sitting with an apron and a sweatshirt.

We both rush over, grabbing the purses. I bet Mama’s is the one that’s a funky shade of lime. When I open it, there’s a wallet, and sure enough, Mama’s driver’s license is tucked inside. “Jack, we found them. Finally.”

He holds up his grandmother’s license, an unreadable expression on his face. “I just…I can’t believe it.”

I’ve waited eighteen years to find out why they could never find my mom’s purse. Now I know. “This is everything.”

“It is.” His hand trembles as he reaches inside Hannah’s purse and pulls out a figurine. “Maw had a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle of mine. In her purse.” A sad smile spreads across his face.

“Which one?”

He shakes his head, a chuckle escaping as he turns it over in his hand. “Donatello.”

I peer at the figurine. “He was my favorite too. He’s the smartest.”

“Brains over brawn.”

I tip my mom’s purse and dump the rest of its contents on the bar. A wallet, her flip cell phone, some Kleenex, a toy rabbit, and pictures. Tons of pictures of me, Emma, Nate, and Daddy. I pick them up and study them, vaguely familiar with each.

Jack walks to a table, his fingers shaky when he points to something in the center. He touches it, and it crumbles apart. “Moonflowers.”

I race over to see withered petals scattered on the table. “They used moonflowers for the centerpieces. Because they could bloom without light.”

“Right.” His words are labored when he says, “You finally found my moonflowers.”

“Wefound your moonflowers.”

Jack flashes me a misty-eyed smile, and warmth radiates through my body.

After a beat of catching our breaths, Jack continues to wander. “Pops had no idea what they were doing. How could he not know about this?”

“Daddy doesn’t know either.” I look at Jack. “Clearly, Mama and Ms. Hannah were planning a big surprise—for everyone.” Then a thought almost knocks the wind out of my chest, but I manage to ask, “Does any of this look familiar?”

“I think so.” His tone is light. “I’m pretty sure I’ve been down here.”

With excitement tingling through me, I touch his shoulder. “So, you don’t remember the mine, but you do remember it here. Maybe you were here and not there. This was the last place Mama and Ms. Hannah were with their things before they died. For some reason, they left this place to go into the mine.”

Jack is staring at nothing, his eyes glazed over. “I was looking for them. I heard their voices.”

I cup my hand on his cheek before running my hand over his hair. “That’s great, Jack. Keep going.”

“There’s more rooms back there.” He nods to the far wall with swinging doors.

I smile. “We’re going to figure this out.”

Hope sparks in his eyes. “I think we just might.” He extends his hand. “Walk with me?”

“Sure, of course.” I take it.

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