There’d been so many disappointments before, Tucker didn’t want Ginny to get her hopes up only to have them dashed again. Yet maybe, just maybe, this was going to actually happen. “So what did you get?”
Dustin pointed to the page, then lifted the entire album in the air so everyone could see.
Cute as anything, eight-year-old Dusty showed off a gap-filled smile made of a mix of baby and adult teeth. Against his cheek he held a stuffed calico cat.
“That is eerily lifelike,” Tucker said.
“I remember that thing,” Ginny said. “You hauled it everywhere forever.”
“I still have it,” Dustin confessed, quieter now. “I put it in the box along with the rest of my baby stuff Mom had saved.”
Caleb laid a hand on Dustin’s shoulder, but didn’t say anything.
Luke held up fingers. “Okay, work together was the clue. Caleb got straw bales and I got a horse. Add in Dustin’s cat, and the first place I think of is the barn.”
“God, I hope not. I don’t see how anything could still be hidden in there after all these years.” Ginny leaned harder into Tucker’s side.
He curled an arm around her and squeezed. “Keep going. Walker—how does your treasure box fit into the barn theme?”
Her brother shook his head slowly. “It’s not made of barn wood, it’s not even a real box.” He frowned. “Why does it feel as if I’m missing something? Like something teasing at the edge of my memories.”
Tucker turned to Ginny. “And your present. Don’t forget to include it.”
She blinked. “Mine? How do the journals possibly mix in?”
He tapped her on the nose. “No, goddess. The journals were part two. You got the puzzle page and a necklace.”
Her jaw dropped. “I totally forgot.”
“You didn’t tell us you got something else,” Kelli said.
Ginny reached into her shirt and pulled out the wooden piece she’d started wearing constantly. “I didn’t think of it as a present.”
The instant she held it up in her palm, a loud whoop echoed through the room.
“Holy cow, that’s it,” Walker shouted. “I think I know the answer. To all of it.” He turned on his heel and headed toward the door.
“Walker?” Ginny asked.
“Come on,” he insisted. “We’re headed to the barn for a trip down memory lane.”
They must have looked quite the sight. The entire Stone family, all eleven of them, plus Tucker, marching across to the main barn and climbing into the old, old hay loft. The place where Tucker had so many memories from summers filled with love and laughter.
Surprisingly, Walker led them straight to the Operation Prove It headquarters.
He grinned as he glanced at his sister. “Seems Caleb isn’t the only one good at making hay forts.”
Ginny tilted her head toward him. “Tucker’s got skills.”
Kelli snorted.
Tamara gave her a look, but her lips were curved at the corners. She let Tyler down to play in the pen-like area formed by the bales. “You plan on letting the rest of us in on the big mystery, Walker?”
“Hold on.” He leaned toward the window, examining the boards closely. “Ginny, this is your discovery to make. Come here.”
Ginny squeezed Tucker’s fingers before letting go and joining her brother at the window. “Time for the big reveal, Houdini.”
Walker glanced around at his siblings. “Confession first. When I was little, Mom caught me digging holes in her garden to bury treasure. Which she said was creative, but a poor way to get a carrot crop. So she gave me a treasure box and told me to find places to hide it that didn’t involve her garden. It was a magic box, so if someone did discover it, they couldn’t open it without having the secret key.”
Ginny frowned, placing a hand on the wooden sill at the right edge of the window. “A magic treasure box?”
“Made of wood. I stopped using it at one point and gave it back, but I had told her some of my favourite hiding spots. I think she used it for your present.”
The entire group of them leaned forward with Ginny as she examined the vertical wall closer. And when she wrapped her fingers around what looked like part of the windowsill and pulled, Tucker held his breath.
In her fingers, she held a brick-sized box.
“Oh my word.” She lifted her gaze to Tucker. “We found it.”
“Now use your magic and open it,” he said softly.
Everyone settled on the bales. Luke and Kelli cuddled together, Ivy and Walker doing the same. Tamara and Caleb were surrounded by their children, all wide eyes and eager smiles.
Dustin sat to one side, feet up, elbows on knees. “Is it a trick box? Walker, you know how it works.”
Walker shook his head. “This is her moment. I know Ginny can figure it out,” he said quietly.
Ginny took off her coat and spread it on the bale that was usually their footrest. She placed the box in the middle, turning it slowly as she examined it.
Her eyes lit up as she figured something out. “That’s wonderful.”
She slipped the necklace over her head and tucked the strangely-shaped wooden piece into a small slot on one side of the box.
The top of the box pivoted. The side slid open, and a brightly coloured bag fell to her coat.
“Treasure,” Emma said excitedly.
Ginny’s eyes had filled with moisture. Tucker couldn’t stop himself; he dropped next to her and slipped an arm around her waist, supporting her the best he could. “Emma’s right. It’s treasure from your mom.”
A collective inhale echoed through the space as Ginny opened the bag and tipped the contents into her palm.
Coloured stones flashed in the light from the window.
“Oh.” Ginny glanced up at them all. “It’s Mom’s family ring.”
She slipped it on her finger and held her hand in the air.
Tucker thought it was Luke who started the slow clap of approval. But whoever it was, the rest of them picked it up. Laughter rose as well, and the next minutes were filled with a happiness Tucker was so grateful to be a part of.
When the hugs and back pats of congratulations were done, Tucker was amused to discover the four sets of couples had remained settled in place, while Uncle Dustin did his duty and took the girls and Tyler to say good night to the kittens.
Tamara held Ginny’s hand and admired the ring. “It’s very pretty, but do you know why there are eight stones? There are five of you, plus your parents.”
“Mom got the ring when I was about ten. I just remember thinking it was wonderful because it sparkled.” Ginny shook her head. “Caleb? Do you know?”
He looked thoughtful for a moment. “Don’t remember them telling us anything more than Dad bought it for Mom to represent all of us. I didn’t really understand what the ring was about, so I didn’t know it was slightly off.”
“I thought maybe they had a baby they lost somewhere in there, but they never explained. And we never asked,” Walker admitted.
“Well, it’s beautiful,” Tamara said. “And a very wonderful sweet-sixteen present.”
“Plus the journal,” Ginny reminded her. “Maybe I’ll find an explanation for the ring in one of her entries.”