Page 90 of Finding Yesterday

We wander, studying the art on the walls, which is a set of black and white photographs of old Blue Vine. We make our way through the doors where there’s a pantry stocked with cooking supplies, which makes no sense until we find it—a small kitchenette. “This is where my mom was probably going to make her small appetizers. Serve them to customers down here.”

“Right.”

We continue on, seeing one of those circle tunnel doors, like something you’d see on a submarine. I point. “I bet that leads somewhere.”

Jack gulps. “I know it does.”

We rush over and turn the wheel until the door unlatches. Then we pull it open and flip the light. This time it’s one of those industrial caged lights, a heavy-duty bulb inside. It works, and we find ourselves peering into a very old distillery.

“Here it is. Wow.” I crawl through the door and the scent of must and dirt floods my nose. The shelves are filled with bottles of alcohol, barrels are stacked everywhere, and a drip of water echoes off the bricked walls. I shiver.

“This is mind-blowing.” Jack clears his throat. “And terrifying.”

“Yeah, I’m in awe, but also a little spooked. Sure you want to keep going?”

“I’m sure.” He flashes me a pained smile. But when he looks at the end of the room, his face pales. I follow his gaze to see another tunnel door at the back of the distillery.

A red door.

As Jack stares at it he starts to shake. “That’s it. From my nightmares.” His voice is hoarse, and he looks like he’s seen a ghost. In some ways, he has.

“We don’t have to do this today, Jack.” I touch his hand. “This is a lot. Let’s wait.”

“No way.” His lips tremble. “I have to know what’s behind that door.”

“Are you sure?

Jack’s face grows paler. “Yeah, but I need a minute.”

“Sure.”

After he takes some deep breaths with his eyes closed, he walks over, touches the wheel, and studies it. When he finally turns it and unlatches the door, all that’s behind is earth and crumbling rock. “This is where Maw and Millie went into the mine. And where it collapsed.”

I rush up, looking closer to see broken pieces of brick mixed in with dirt and rock. The wind is sucked from my chest, and I struggle to inhale. I know Hannah and Mama haven’t been here in eighteen years, but the sight is fresh to me. I finally exhale, looking away from the rubble to focus on Jack.

He’s lost in his own thoughts, blinking. “Maw and Millie were checking to see if the mine was stable enough to become another entrance to the speakeasy. They wanted people to experience the history before entering, walking through the tunnel and the distillery first.”

“See?” I cover my mouth with a trembling hand. “It’s coming to you, Jack. And this makes sense.Thissounds like Mama.”

His eyes glazed over, he continues, “Maw was mad that I rode my bike here, especially since I wandered down and found the speakeasy. They wanted to blow everyone away with their grand opening, and Maw made me promise on my life I wouldn’t tell a soul. Then she had me wait at this red door while she and Millie went into the mine. They were just going to be a minute. Things shifted.” He gasps. “It was so loud, Claire.”

I swallow the bile rising in my throat. The room goes hazy, but I force myself to keep focused on Jack. I take his hand and squeeze it.

“I stepped into the rubble and fought with everything in me to get to Maw and Millie. But all I did was shift more earth, causing a rock to fall in front of the red door. I was trapped and could barely move. The air was thin. Maw and Millie didn’t know I was stuck, and they were begging me to go to the mine’s entrance and get help. They said they saw an opening, and that they were having trouble breathing. I told them I was on my way because I didn’t want to admit I’d gone into the mine after they’d ordered me not to. I don’t know how I did it, but with all the adrenaline, I managed to slide the rock over just enough for me to slip around it and fall back through this door. I couldn’t let them down, and I was so scared. I scrambled my way up and ran around to the mine, never stopping.” He puts a hand up. “Except to return the trap door to the stairs and latch the rotating shelf to the wall. I did that because I couldn’t be the one to blow their secret. I remember that being very important.”

“That’s why you knew how to unlatch the shelf. That’s great, Jack, keep going.” I move closer, rubbing his back. I’m dreading to hear what’s coming next, but I know he has to say it, and I have to hear it.

“When I got to the mine’s entrance, I heard people inside. I couldn’t find anyone outside because they’d all gone in. I took a few steps into the mine to see a team of guys trying to move rocks. They said they saw it collapse and heard Maw and Millie’s cries for help.”

He scrubs a hand over his tattoo. “I hid in the bushes and waited. The team was frantic, saying the air quality was really bad. I don’t know how much time passed. It felt like forever, but it probably wasn’t that long. Then…I saw them, Claire. I watched the men bring Maw and Millie out over their shoulders, lifeless.” He blinks slowly, tears forming in his eyes. “I ran. I ran to the bike and raced back to Pops’s, never wanting to see any of this. Ever again.”

I pull him into a hug, and he squeezes me tighter. His tough shell is gone, and he melts into me.

As we fall deeper into each other’s arms, his tense body relaxes, I’m sure because the weight—the one he’s carried inside for all these years—has finally lifted.

When he finally pulls away, I utter, “It means the accident wasn’t your fault. In fact, you went to get help.”

“I did. I tried—harder than I’d ever tried in my life. I watched and waited. But the people were there. Ambulances were there. No one saw me.” He inhales. “Except for Mr. Larry. He was there, helping with the rescue. He must’ve seen me hiding when he stepped aside to have a cigarette. Then he thought I was the reason Maw and Millie went into the mine.”

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