Page 56 of Captiva Café

In town, the walls of Captiva Café stood waiting for their vision to bring it to life. And on the edge of Isabelle's property, a small cottage waited too, ready to become not just a house but a home—Gretchen's first real home in longer than she cared to remember.Now, if I can just keep from going broke, that will be a miracle.

CHAPTER 19

HISTORICAL TREASURES UNEARTHED AT LOCAL CAFÉ RENOVATIONBy Linda St. James, Chronicle Editor

Construction workers at the site of the soon-to-open Captiva Café uncovered what appears to be a collection of Calusa Indian artifacts while excavating for new plumbing. The findings include pottery fragments, tools, and what preliminary examination suggests might be ceremonial items dating back several centuries.

"The quality and quantity of artifacts is remarkable," said Dr. Eleanor Reyes, archaeologist from Florida Gulf Coast University, who was called to the site. "This collection suggests we may be looking at a previously undocumented Calusa gathering place, possibly connected to their extensive network throughout the region."

The Calusa were the dominant Native American tribe in Southwest Florida before European contact, known for their sophisticated shell mound constructions and maritime culture. While Captiva and neighboring Sanibel Island have yielded occasional Calusa artifacts over the years, a concentratedcollection of this significance is unprecedented in recent memory.

Café co-owners Isabelle Barlowe and Gretchen Lawrence were initially concerned about potential delays to their renovation timeline but have embraced the historical significance of their discovery.

"We're honored that our little café seems to be sitting on such important history," Barlowe told the Chronicle. "We're working with the archaeological team to preserve and document everything properly."

Lawrence added that they plan to incorporate a display of some of the findings (with proper permissions) into the café's design, "to honor the island's original inhabitants and share this piece of Captiva history with our customers."

The discovery has already attracted attention beyond island borders, with representatives from the Florida Museum of Natural History expressing interest in the findings.

Meanwhile, curious onlookers have begun gathering at the construction site, hoping for glimpses of history emerging from the ground. Island authorities remind the public to respect the boundaries of the active construction zone.

Work continues under the watchful eye of both construction contractors and archaeological monitors, with café owners still hoping for an early fall opening, though Barlowe acknowledges this timeline may need adjustment in light of the historical significance of the site.

Maggie folded the paper with a knowing smile. Linda St. James had a flair for the dramatic—the article read like the opening of a historical mystery novel rather than a straightforward news piece. But that was Linda's charm, and partly why the Chronicle remained a beloved island institution despite the digital age.

"I give it twenty minutes before Chelsea arrives with the paper," Maggie said to Paolo, who was arranging freshly baked croissants in a wicker basket.

"Ten," Paolo countered with a grin, glancing at his watch. "She was at the post office when I picked up our mail, already telling everyone who would listen about 'her sister's archaeological discovery.' As if Gretchen planned the whole thing."

As if summoned by their conversation, the back door swung open, and Chelsea burst into the kitchen, her face flushed with excitement and a slightly crumpled newspaper clutched in her hand.

"Have you seen this?" she demanded without preamble, waving the Chronicle. "Linda's article about the café? It's on the front page!"

Paolo glanced meaningfully at his watch. "Twelve minutes. Not bad."

"I've just read it," Maggie confirmed, pushing her own copy across the table. "Linda certainly didn't underplay the significance."

"That's because it IS significant," Chelsea insisted, helping herself to coffee from the pot on the stove. "Dr. Reyes told Gretchen some of those pottery fragments could be over five hundred years old. Five hundred years, Maggie! And that ceremonial piece they found—the one with the etching that looks like a heron—apparently there's nothing quite like it in any of the current Calusa collections."

"It's certainly exciting," Maggie agreed, watching her friend with amusement. Chelsea had always been prone to enthusiastic embrace of whatever new island development captured her attention, but her sister's involvement had clearly amplified this tendency. "How are Isabelle and Gretchen handling the unexpected attention?"

Chelsea's expression shifted slightly. "Well...that's actually why I came by. There's a bit of a situation developing at the construction site."

"What kind of situation?" Paolo asked, pausing in his breakfast preparations.

"The kind that involves half the island showing up to gawk, three different archaeology enthusiasts offering unsolicited opinions, and a documentary filmmaker from Jacksonville who's already setting up equipment," Chelsea replied. "Steven tried to establish some order, but you know how island people are about being told where they can and can't go."

"Oh dear." Maggie sighed. "I imagine Isabelle isn't taking this well."

"That would be an understatement," Chelsea confirmed, sipping her coffee.

The back door swung open once more, and as if conjured by their conversation, Isabelle Barlowe herself appeared in the doorway. Despite the early hour and evident stress, she was impeccably dressed in cream linen pants and a silk blouse the color of the Gulf on a clear day. Her dark hair was swept into a chignon, but a few strands had escaped—the only visible sign of her agitation.

"This is insanity," she declared without greeting, striding into the kitchen with the purposeful gait of a woman at the end of her patience. "Absolute madness. There are people with folding chairs. Folding chairs, Maggie! As if we're putting on a theatrical performance rather than trying to install kitchen equipment!"

"I see you've read Linda's article," Maggie said mildly, rising to pour Isabelle a cup of coffee.

"Read it? I've had it quoted to me by no fewer than twelve people this morning, including the UPS driver who couldn't get close enough to deliver our espresso machine because someonehas parked a Winnebago across the loading zone!" Isabelle accepted a coffee with a grateful nod before continuing her tirade. "And now there's a man with a metal detector who keeps telling everyone that Dr. Reyes is 'missing the good stuff.' The contractor is threatening to walk off the job if we can't control the spectators, and Gretchen—" She broke off, throwing her hands up in exasperation.

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