Page 70 of Unspoken Love

“Do you have those letters?” Dr. Marsh asked.

“My brother has them,” Faye answered. “We found a few more, but Max wants them looked at first. They’re more delicate than the others.”

They had agreed to keep the letters they’d discovered in the box with the necklace in the safe until someone with more experience could look at them. Some of the pages were so damp, they were too fragile to touch.

“It’s a remarkable story—one I imagine the world will be quite eager to hear,” his mother chimed in.

“When the time is right for Max and Juliette to share it,” his father added firmly.

The man placed the necklace carefully back into the silk pouch, removed his gloves, and reached into his coat pocket for a card. “Please give this to Mr. Wilson when he returns home. I would strongly advise that he contacts me so we can schedule a full appraisal for insurance purposes.”

He glanced at Nate and added, “There are several institutions—European museums, mostly—that would be very interested in exhibiting the necklace on a short-term loan. Historically speaking, it’s priceless.”

“Do we need to do anything now?” Nate asked, still trying to wrap his head around it all.

Dr. Marsh closed his case and shook his head. “Nothing other than to ensure her safety. Be sure to lock her up somewhere tight. I can’t in good conscience sit on this discovery for long. Word will get out eventually. I’d recommend Mr. Wilson prepare a press release for the day he returns from Europe. Something simple, respectful. In fitting with the beauty of the piece and its history. The moment it’s public, there will be attention—some of it scholarly, some of it less so.” He frowned slightly before clearing his throat.

“Understood,” Nate said, stepping forward to shake the man’s hand. “Thank you, Dr. Marsh.”

“My pleasure. Finds like this—legends made real—they don’t come around often. Protect it well,” he added with a nod.

With that, the man slipped out the front door, his dress shoes echoing softly down the porch steps.

The silence left in his wake was filled with unspoken questions.

His mother was the first to break it. “Well, this calls for a toast.” She walked over to the wine fridge and pulled out a bottle of champagne.

Nate laughed and walked over to the cabinet to grab some glasses. As his father poured them each a glass, his gaze landed on Faye again. She was still staring at the pouch on the table, as if she was unable to process what had just happened.

He handed her a glass. “Are you okay?”

She nodded slowly. “I think so. It just feels bigger than us.”

He smiled and then surprised her by pulling her into his arms and kissing her right in front of his parents.

Chapter Twenty-One

Faye stood at the window, coffee in hand, watching the growing crowd gather on the bluff outside Max and Juliette’s home. The sun was just beginning to break through the morning mist that had surrounded the people setting up cameras in the yard. The sound of seagulls circled above, as if they, too, had shown up for the event.

She glanced over her shoulder. Nate was behind her, buttoning up his shirt in front of the mirror, his expression a mixture of pride and nerves.

She had moved out of her brother’s place and into Max’s house two nights before when Max and Juliette had returned home.

Somehow it already felt easy and right living with Nate.

“Everything is going to be great,” Nate said, crossing the room to press a kiss to her temple.

“I know.” Faye smiled, setting her mug down. “I think Max would rather be anywhere other than getting ready to stand in front of a sea of reporters,” she said as her brother paced in the hallway, mumbling to himself as he practiced his speech.

They both chuckled.

It was strange, watching her brother transform into his work alter ego and make national headlines. But this wasn’t just about Max. It was about history, love, and a long-buried story finally brought to light.

Max had wanted them both to get the credit for finding the lost necklace, which meant he wanted them standing up behind him when he gave his press conference.

When it was time, they stepped outside into the salty breeze, and Max, Juliette, Nate, Faye, and his parents all stood in front of the iconic lighthouse. A podium had been set up just off the path, flanked by microphones and a velvet-draped display stand that held the Ocean’s Heart necklace, which was protected by at least six local police officers. The velvet curtains would be opened on cue, revealing the necklace to the world at the appropriate time.

Flashbulbs were already snapping. A half-dozen news vans lined the coastal road.