Chapter 6

The next morning,as I lay in bed thinking about Rose and Jacob, Ilistento the sounds of the birds chirping outside the window.

Given that the name of the cottage is ”Rose Cottage,” it does not take a lot of creative thinking to deduce that Rose is the person for whom the cottage was named. She also has the same last name as Thomas; could she be his sister? Thomas had stated that he had changed the name after the passing of his father. He referred to a sister who had passed away. It would most definitely explain Thomas”s response to seeing the diary if this were the case.

I am perplexed, so I shift the quilt to the side of the bed and climb out. After a speedy shower, I get dressed and then head down the hall to check on Lucas before beginning to prepare breakfast in the kitchen downstairs.

Not even five minutes later, Lucas asks, ”Auntie Mack, when will Thomas be here?”

When I turn around, I see Lucas standing in the doorway. He is completely dressed, and the water from his morning shower is still on his face. ”I had no idea you were awake, and I”m surprised you”ve already showered and dressed.”I try to cover up my grin. ”He is expected to arrive later on today. Come and have some food.”

After Lucas has taken a seat, Iset his breakfast on the table in front of him. ”Hot cereal… Are you absolutely certain that”s how it”s supposed to be made?” As he puts his spoon into the bowl of white mush, Lucas asks with a look of disgust on his face.

”You”re right, Lucas, this is hot cereal. Combine it with some syrup or natural yogurt and see how you like it.”

”I”m not sure if I like eating hot cereal.”

”Be thankful that I didn”t include any prunes or apricots in your portion.” While I am putting yogurt and syrup in my own bowl, I force myself to suppress my laughter at the horrified expression on his face.

”Oh, my goodness. Could we have something more substantial to eat... maybe a burger for lunch?” Lucas whines.

”If you eat your breakfast, we”ll find some greasy food for lunch as a treat on the way back from shopping.” I can”t help but laugh as I watch him quickly shovel his breakfast into his mouth while making a face of disgust with each spoonful that he puts in. ”You”re going to get a stomachache if you don”t slow down.” I give a satisfied shake of the head while smiling warmly.

* * *

Once we’vegrocery shopped and purchased some books for Lucas, I pullinto the driveway of Rose Cottage to find Thomas stepping up to the front of the cottage.

I open the door of the vehicle for Lucas, and he immediately jumps out and runs over to Thomas to tell him all about the water fight that took place in the grocery store as well as about the fact that we stopped for actual food on the way home. From the sound of Thomas”s laughter, I can infer that he found the situation to be just as amusing as I did.

There was no damage done, despite the fact that as the responsible adult I should have included a reprimand somewhere in what was said. In addition, it seemed as though each of the parties involved was equally to blame, so I chose to ignore it.

”Thomas, I was wondering if you”d be interested in coming in for a glass of lemonade.” I inquire as I take a hold of one of the shopping bags from the trunk of the car.

He then helps me into the kitchen by saying, ”Don”t mind if I do,” as he opens the door for me. After following us into the kitchen, he takes a seat in what seems to be his preferred chair in the vacation rental cottage. After that, he makes himself comfortable and invites Lucas to sit on his lap.

The question he poses to Lucas is, ”Can you swim, boy?”

”I can swim two hundred meters without stopping, and I have a badge at home to prove it,” boasts Lucas with a sense of accomplishment.

”Good, because I was thinking, if you didn”t have anything planned this afternoon, I might take you fishing with me for a couple of hours if it”s okay with your aunt.”

”That”s not a problem. He participates in swim team practices three times a week at his hometown, where he is known to be an excellent swimmer.”

So that I can have a private conversation with Thomas about the journal, I turn to Lucas. ”While Thomas is finishing up his lemonade, I think it would be best if you went and played your new game.”

As soon as Lucas enters the living room, Thomas immediately turns his attention to me. While he takes another sip of his drink, heasks, ”Something on your mind, Miss Mackenzie?”

”To begin, why don”t you just refer to me as Mack?”

He nods.

“You know who Rose is, don’t you?”

Suddenly, he pushes himself to his feet and places his cup on the table in front of him before making his way over to the window. ”I haven”t brought her up in conversation in the past seventy years, and I have no plans to start doing so now. He exclaims in a frantic tone, ”It”s time to go fishing!”

I was taken aback by the nature of the response to my inquiry, but I will avoid further discussion of the matter...at least for the time being.

* * *

“Thomas, what’s in that tub?”Lucas asked because he could see something moving inside it.

“Bait.”

“I thought I was bait.” Lucas paused. He was bewildered and asked, ”What”s bait anyway?”

“When a fish tries to take a bite out of the bait that is attached to the end of the line, it becomes entangled on the hook that is holding the bait because the fish like the flavor of the bait.” When Thomas saw the look of shock on Lucas”s face, he couldn”t help but laugh.

“You’re not really going to use me as bait, are you?” Lucas took a few steps backward.

Thomas was roaring with laughter to the point where he needed to sit down in order to prevent himself from falling over. Tears ran down his face, and every time he looked at Lucas, he started laughing all over again.

”Oh, my dear boy,” he said with a chuckle while dabbing at his eyes with a tissue. ”I don”t know when the last time was that I laughed so hard.”

Thomas was successful in regaining control of his actions. ”You”re safe, Lucas. Please take a seat next to me, and I”ll demonstrate how to bait a hook.”

After taking a seat, Lucas awaited Thomas”s instruction as he explained fishing techniques, including how to bait a hook, for the next ten minutes. Lucas was disappointed that he couldn”t test it out on his own, but Thomas was concerned that his little fingers might get caught in the hook.

While Thomas and Lucas relaxed and waited for the fish to bite, Thomas offered Lucas a cheese sandwich and a glass of homemade lemonade.

”How long have you been fishing?” In between sips of his lemonade, Lucas asked.

Thomas casted a quick glance in Lucas” direction before leaning back against a tree and reminiscing about the time his father went out of his way to buy him something during the summer, rather than delegating the task to his mother or the housekeeper. Lucas was visible in the distance. ”For my eighth birthday, my father surprised me by purchasing a fishing rod for me. That happened roughly seventy-two years ago at this point. I went fishing with my two best friends, Levi and Walt, throughout the entirety of that summer.”

While Thomas was talking, Lucas continued to eat his cheese sandwich. After a moment, it was clear that Lucas had given some thought to what Thomas had just told him, as he then asked, ”Are they still your friends, or have you had a fight? I get into fights with my friends on a regular basis.”

Thomas let out a chuckle. ”Oh yes, we”re still friends, even though back then we were more like partners in crime because we used to get into all kinds of mischief together,” he said. ”I was grounded a lotwhen I was younger.”

Thomas strolled to the bank of the river to check the line, and after doing so, he turned around to look at Lucas, who was staring intently in his direction. ”I”ll never forget that after one fishing trip, we were walking back to my house when we saw my neighbor putting some shoes outon the porch. It was right as we passed by. We hid ourselves behind some bushes, and as soon as she went inside the house, we crept up to her front porch and hid fish in three of her shoes. During that day, we caught approximately eight fish total. I seriously doubt that we will ever be so fortunate again. It was the only time my father ever laughed at one of my shenanigans, but he put me in time out for a week because of it. After he had finished correcting me, I could hear him laughing as he closed the door to my bedroom and headed downstairs.”

Lucas giggled. ”I think I need to pee.”

Thomas appeared to be rather startled and expressed his hope that he wouldn’t require any assistance. “Are you all right going behind that bush?”

”You mean I get to peeoutside?”

Thomas made a show of nodding his head while suppressing an attempt to laugh.

“Yeah!” Lucas disappeared in the cover of a bush.

”Don”t get too far ahead of yourself, Lucas.”

”I won”t. I’m peeing now.”

”Okay, buddy.” As Thomas watched the fishing line being cast out across the water, he couldn”t help but let out a chuckle.

After a moment, Lucas caught up with Thomas. ”I feel better now. I”d really appreciate it if you could get me one of those chocolate bars.”

”Yes, you can. First, let me help you clean your hands with a wipe, and then I”ll give you some chocolate. ”

Not too much longer after that, Lucas”s bobber began to bob up and down on the water as the line performed an erratic dance back and forth. They both leap to their feet and howled with glee, and in their haste, they came dangerously close to losing all of their belongings in the river. Thomas was successful in bringing in a yellow perch while Lucas was jumping up and down and cheering.

”Well done, Lucas. Would you like to give it another shot to see if we can land enough fish for supper?”

“Yes.Auntie Mack is able to prepare them. It”s possible that you”ll have to empty out the insides first because she”s a girl and is likely to scream and run away if she saw them. That”s what I remember Daddy saying, in any case.”

”Are you sure about that?” Thomas attempted to cover up his grin.

* * *

After spending about an hour baking,I write a note and tack it to the back door. This lets Thomas and Lucas know where I am in case they get home before I do.

After resolving that issue, I take a stroll along the same beach path that Rose had used so many years ago. As soon as I get to the beach, I look around at the few bright beach towels that have been laid out on the sand by parents who are watching their children play. I make a U-turn and head for the cover of the rocks, all the while wondering if the two people who are in love have ever laid claim to this section of the beach.