“Should we try the exhibit room first, then?” George asked.
Bess and I agreed. We fought our way to the exhibit room, squeezing past the other guests, murmuring, “Excuse me” over and over again as we made our way through.
When we arrived at the exhibit room, I spied Jenna talking to an older gentleman in a tuxedo in front of the display case that housed the figurehead. I realized that even though I had held the figurehead in my hands, I hadn’t really looked at it. I had been too focused on making sure it was returned safely to take the time to carefully examine it. In the display, under the shining lights, it was truly beautiful.
We hurried to greet Jenna, but at the last moment I noticed that the man she was chatting with was wearing a pin on the lapel of his jacket with the initials R.W.
“Wait,” I hissed, stopping George and Bess in their tracks. “What’s Mr. Whitestone’s first name?”
“Roger,” George quickly answered. “I saw his bio on the museum’s website.”
I pointed to his pin. “I think that’s him,” I whispered. “Let’s not go over until they’ve finished talking.”
We hung back and watched. It was too loud to hear what they were saying, but after a moment they shook hands, and Jenna’s face erupted into a huge smile. As soon as Mr. Whitestone walked away, we rushed over to Jenna.
“What did he say?” Bess asked.
“Did you get the job?” George piped up before Jenna even had a chance to answer the first question.
“I did!” Jenna gushed. “I got the job!” We embraced her in a giant group hug. “Mr. Whitestone said this was one of the best exhibits he has seen curated by someone of any age, and he would be thrilled if I worked here full-time.”
“That’s so great!” I said.
“You deserve it,” added Bess.
“Thank you,” Jenna said. “But I couldn’t have done it without all your help.”
“It was my pleasure,” I said.
“Ooh, mini quiches!” George squealed, eyeing a waiter walking by with a tray. We all laughed at how completely she had broken the sentimental mood.
“I’m still feeling a little queasy from the boat ride,” Bess said.
“Well, I’m starving!” George said, trailing after the waiter.
“Oh, there’s Kelsey,” Jenna said, pointing where Kelsey was standing across the room. “Let’s go congratulate her.”
Bess and I looked at each other, confused. “Congratulate her for what?” I asked.
“She’s starting her own business,” Jenna explained as we crossed to Kelsey. “She told Pete right before he opened the doors for the reception.”
She embraced Kelsey in a hug. “Congratulations!” Jenna said. “I know we had our differences this summer, but I hope we can put them behind us.”
Kelsey nodded. “I’m sorry I was such a jerk. I was under a lot of stress and I took it out on you, which wasn’t fair. Besides, I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation with Mr. Whitestone. You’re officially going to be a full-time islander!” Jenna nodded gratefully.
“What is your new business, if I may ask?” I asked.
“I’m dealing antiques!” Kelsey said excitedly. “I’ve been saving my money for the past year, and I just signed a lease for a space this week. In fact, today I finalized my first sale to Jeremiah Butler at the historical society.”
“That’s what you were doing in the alley!” I blurted out. “Completing the sale.”
“Yeah . . . ,” Kelsey said, obviously surprised that I had seen that exchange.
“That’s great!” Bess said. “That seems like a perfect fit for you.”
Just then I let out a huge yawn. “I’m so sorry!” I said, embarrassed.
“I’m tired too,” Bess said. “Perhaps we should think about going home and going to bed early. I have a big day planned for us tomorrow.”
“You do?” I asked.
“It’s our last full day on the island,” Bess said, “and I plan on beaching, hiking, and shopping! A full vacation in a day,” she said with a laugh.
“Yeah, I’m definitely going to need a good night’s sleep,” I said.
We said our good-byes, pried George away from the appetizers, and made our way back to Jenna’s house.
* * *
Two days later we were headed back to River Heights. Jenna waited with us at the ferry terminal. It was early in the morning, and there was a bite in the air. It officially felt like fall.
“I talked to Marni,” Jenna said. “She’s going to work at the museum for free to make up for what she did.”
“That sounds fair,” I said.
“She’s also going to add a section to my exhibit about everything her great-great-grandfather did for the island.”
“That is very generous of you,” Bess said.
“In this weird way, I’m grateful to her,” Jenna said.
“Why?” George asked incredulously.
“I think it was good for someone to teach me that the past isn’t just the past. It affects the present. I don’t know if I would have learned that without her, and I think it will make me a better curator . . . and person.”
George nodded. I wasn’t sure if she completely agreed with Jenna’s assessment, but she seemed to respect it.
“Now boarding, ferry to Hyannis!” a voice boomed over a loudspeaker.
“That’s us!” George said.
We hugged Jenna one last time and made our way up the gangplank to the ferry, waving good-bye as we walked.
A few minutes after we had shoved off, we noticed all the other passengers gathering on the left side of the boat.
“What’s going on?’ Bess wondered aloud.
“We’re getting ready to throw our pennies,” a woman carrying a toddler answered, overhearing Bess’s question.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“As we pass by the lighthouse, we each throw a penny and make a wish,” she explained.
As we joined the other passengers on deck, I rummaged through my purse for three pennies. I found them just in time, handing one each to George and Bess as we glided by the lighthouse.
I took a deep breath and threw my penny. I knew exactly what my wish was without even having to think about it.
“What did you guys wish for?” George asked.
“We can’t tell you that!” Bess said.
“Yeah,” I said. “Then it will never come true.”
George sulked, but after a moment she perked up. “Is that a whale!?” she shouted. I followed where she was looking, just in time to see a whale in the distance breach and land back in the water with a splash.
I smiled. My wish had come true.
Dear Diary,
* * *
* * *
* * *
So maybe it wasn’t the vacation I imagined, but I do love a good mystery, and this was definitely one of those! In a way, I feel like I know Nantucket better after finding the figurehead than if I had just done the usual tourist activities. I never would have known about the tension between people who visit for the summer and those who live there year-round, for instance. Who knew such a small island could be so complicated?
It’s sad that Marni didn’t try to talk to Jenna about the exhibit, but she was scared for her grandfather and she panicked. I think Jenna is right, though. What she learned will make her a better museum curator in the future. It’s important to remember that the past doesn’t just stay in the past; it also affects the present.
* * *
* * *
Read all the mysteries in the
NANCY DREW DIARIES
#1 Curse of the Arctic Star
#2 Strangers on a Train
#3 Mystery of the Midnight Rider
#4 Once Upon a Thriller
#5 Sabotage
at Willow Woods
#6 Secret at Mystic Lake
#7 The Phantom of Nantucket
And coming soon
#8 The Magician’s Secret
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ALADDIN
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This Aladdin hardcover edition September 2014
Text copyright © 2014 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Cover illustration copyright © 2014 by Erin McGuire
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The text of this book was set in Adobe Caslon Pro.
Library of Congress Control Number 2013954911
ISBN 978-1-4814-0016-9 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4814-0015-2 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-4814-0017-6 (eBook)
Carolyn Keene, The Phantom of Nantucket
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