A familiar fear gripped me. Don't leave us, I thought, not again. Not daring to look at Julian's happy face, I picked up the serving spoons and moved them around. You can't hold on to people, I warned myself. You can't keep them, any more than Charlie Smythe could protect his wretched treasure.
A whoop arose from the elephant rock.
"They found it!" Hanna cried. She had brought bird- watching binoculars, which she now swung into place. "Goodness, it's just an old coffee can!"
We all watched Cameron Burr carefully uncap the discovery and pour it out on a piece of canvas.
Boyd cried, "Hey! How much is there?"
Sylvia Bevans, who had changed from the lime linen suit to baggy khaki pants, sensible boots, and a wide-brimmed sun hat, bent down to ask Cameron a question. Then she turned toward us. Her face was stern. And then, for the first time in my life, I saw Sylvia smile.
"Jewelry!" she cried. "Old bills! Gold coins!"
I exhaled and smoothed the tablecloth. Well, finally, I thought. It's over.
"So don't you want to know what I told Leah?" Julian asked when we got home. His face was bright with mischief.
I pressed my lips together and unpacked the first box of dirty dishes and set them in the dishwasher in my brand-new beautiful kitchen. You can't hold on to him any more than Leah could hold on to her grandfather's land. Or Bobby could be a young and slim model forever. Or you could keep Andr‚ forever. You can't hold on to people. You can't hold on to anything.
Tom's large hand clasped mine. He murmured, "Stop worrying so much."
Julian put his hand on my shoulder. "I told Leah," he said, "that I really appreciated her offer to move in with her. But that I already had my family here."
My eyes filled and I cursed them. The doorbell rang. "Oh, answer it, answer it!" I cried. "I can't deal with any more in one day."
Julian disappeared. I heard him open the front door and then argue with someone whose voice I did not recognize. Tom gave me a hug and I snuffled contentedly into the familiar warmth of his shoulder. We really are a family, I thought. An absolutely terrific family.
Julian reappeared in the doorway. His face was ashen. "It's the county health inspector. Should I let him in?"
The End
