Page 32 of The Shell Collector
She wouldn’t be here forever, anyway.
“Maeve?” Becky had walked up to her. “I thought that was you. It is so good to see you. It’s been eons. You look great.”
“Thank you. I see you’re holding down the fort here.”
“Doing my best. I don’t know how Kimmy does it, keeping so many details about all this equipment in her head like she does. Frankly, I’m not sure I’m even helping.”
“I’m sure you are. How is she?”
“You must’ve heard.” Becky’s signature red-lipstick smile faded. She pushed back a wayward strand of hair. “I’m trying not to worry.”
It didn’t look to Maeve like Becky was succeeding. “Someone at the diner mentioned something about her being in the hospital. Twins?”
“Yes, twins. Can you believe it?” She blinked as if she were still trying to believe it. “Doesn’t run in either of their families. Surprise!”
“Very exciting. Does she know if they’ll be boys, girls? One of each?”
“No. She didn’t want to find out. The doctor assured her they’re healthy, and I guess that’s all that matters. She’s been on bed rest, though, and you know how hard it is to keep Kimmy still. They finally put her in the hospital to manage her blood pressure, but I can’t help but worry about my little girl.” Becky glanced around, then took Maeve by the hand. “Oh gosh, did you hear? I found one of those shells. I’ve always silently wondered over the years if that was a real thing.”
She tugged Maeve toward the counter. There, next to a bucket of colored zinc to protect the real sun warriors from skin cancer, sat the shell.
Almost fluorescent pink inside, the big conch looked polished.
Maeve reached out and touched it. The words had worn in places, but she could still make them out:
I can’t wait to be with you,
but until then know that I’m gathering
treasures and stories to share.
Becky clutched Maeve’s arm. “Isn’t that crazy? I mean, you can practically hear Kimmy say something like that.” Becky’s face lit up as she picked up the shell, cradling it in her thin hands. “I was a basket case until I found this. It made me feel so much better about the whole situation.”
Maeve leaned in and gave Becky a squeeze. “That does seem to fit the current circumstance.”
“What kind of shell is it? I knew you’d be able to tell me.”
“It’s a conch. Quite easy to find down in Florida, especially these with the pretty pink inside. Once in a while we’ll find them around here, but often they’ve had a rough trip. They’re seldom in this kind of shape.”
“Won’t it be cute in the nursery? It’ll be such a neat story to tell them. Kimmy’s been so anxious for those babies to be born. I can’t wait to hold them and squeeze them.” Becky looked like she could burst from all the joy.
“You’re going to be a wonderful grandmother.” Maeve hugged her, then paused. “I have to ask. Where did you find the shell?”
“That’s the craziest part. I’d gone down to the pier to give Kimmy’s husband, Nate, an update on her condition, and while I was waiting for him to paddle in, there it was, right in the sand by the pylon. It was the bright pink that caught my eye.”
“Right there at the pier? That’s amazing.” Maeve was surprised she hadn’t seen it herself.
“Some people are such skeptics. This lady yesterday just about accused me of writing the message myself. I told her this wasn’t the first shell someone had found around here.”
“Don’t let her bother you. That shell was found by the right person at the right time. Everything is going to be fine. I just know it.”It is a wonder how those shells make their way into the hands that need them most.
She looked up at Becky, knowing how precious Kimmy was to her. “May I leave a little note for Kimmy?”
“She’d love that. You know how much she adores you. You were one of her biggest fans when she was actively competing.”
Maeve wrote a note wishing Kimmy well and reminding her how lucky the twins would be to share her love for the beach and the ocean by living on Whelk’s Island. “Let me know when she’s accepting visitors. I’d love to see her. I’m so happy for the whole family.”
“Thank you, Maeve. I’d better get back to those customers and see if I can salvage a sale to pay for those twins. They require a ton of stuff.”
