Page 29 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

Nate grabbed two flashlights from the glove compartment, then walked around to join her by the railing. He was rewarded with one of her powerhouse grins.

“Do you ever get used to this view?”

He stared out to the sun sparkling on the endless blue before them. “I haven’t yet.”

She breathed deeply and tilted her chin to the wind. “I’m not sure there’s anything more perfect than this.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” he said, unable to take his eyes off Callie.

She inhaled deeply once more and looked at him. “So this is Mary’s Bluff?”

“You’re standing on it. Come on.” He gestured with his head. “I’ll take you to the cave.” They started down the steep path. “Watch your step through here,” he said as his boots lost traction on a stretch of smooth rock and slippery sand.

“Thanks.”

He led her to the bottom and through the crushed seashells and tangles of dried seaweed before he handed off one of the flashlights at the mouth of the cave. “Ready?”

She nodded and turned hers on as he did the same. “How are we doing with the water?”

He glanced over his shoulder toward the waves. “We shouldn’t have to worry about the tide unless you’re planning on spending three or four hours in here.”

Her laugh echoed off the walls as she shined the light around the space not much wider than his arm span. “Mary met William in here?”

“That’s what they say. Her friend, who also happened to be her maid, would help her sneak away from the main house whenever William came back from sea.”

“How old was she?”

“Fifteen or sixteen.”

“Why didn’t they marry if they loved each other?”

“Because Mary’s father forbade it. He’d betrothed her to a Boston man who he felt better suited the Carter name.”

“So they would sneak here and be together,” she said wistfully.

He winced as he looked around the cool, damp space. “It sounds good, but I’m sure it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.”

She frowned. “Why would you say that?”

“Beach sex isn’t that great. Trust me. The sand doesn’t belong in certain places.”

She grinned and swatted at his shoulder. “You’re awful.”

He laughed. “I can only speak the truth, but I’m sure it was good for them every time.”

She chuckled as she shook her head. “You’re ruining the romance.”

“Sorry. Maybe this will help.” He walked over to the barely visible initials worn away by time. “Supposedly William carved these.”

She stopped next to him and traced the M.C. then the W.A. directly beneath. “What was his last name?”

“Adams.”

She ran her fingers over them again.

“Mary was said to have done the same thing. When William’s boat didn’t come back, they found her in here on several occasions, tracing them over and over again.”

“That’s so sad.”