Just a Matter of Time
by
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Jessie leaned back against a rock and looked out over the ocean. She was taking a break from her walk because her leg ached and she didn’t have the strength to stand on her feet any longer. From the road in front of her cottage, she had walked down the smooth rocky slope to the small beach below it. Since she had to walk back up the slope to get home, she needed to take some time to gather her strength for the climb.
Watching the waves break against the shore, Jessie wondered if taking a walk along the rocks had been such a good idea. She found the uneven terrain and distance from the cottage more than she had anticipated and realized she was foolish for not bringing her cane. At this point, though, it was too late to dwell on things she couldn’t change, and she would just have to deal with the situation as it was.
Closing her eyes, Jessie concentrated on the ocean spray against her face. In the partly sunny and warm air, the salty water and cool breeze felt good, and she quietly took in the peaceful atmosphere. She loved the ocean and took great pleasure in being beside it whenever possible.
Opening her eyes and gazing across the open water, Jessie’s mind wandered to her husband. She hoped he had a safe journey to Portland this morning and would take time for breaks and full meals while he was away. It was midafternoon, and she wondered what he was doing and if he was settled into his work for the next few days. She couldn’t help but wonder if Ross Perkins was with him or if he was alone with Jennifer Drayton.
Scared by the implications of her last thought, Jessie did her best to focus on something else. She scanned the rocks beside her and saw something she hadn’t noticed until now. Not far above the high tide watermark, she spotted what appeared to be an X formed by a pile of rocks. Curious about the sight, she pushed herself to her feet and struggled up to the seemingly marked location.
Exhausted by the difficult climb, Jessie sat down as soon as she reached the apparent X. She took a minute to recover from her movements and survey the area above the arranged stones. From her vantage point, she spotted a small cave on a ledge at shoulder height. After catching her breath, she scrambled to her feet once more and attempted to peer into the narrow cavern.
Although she couldn’t see anything from her position, Jessie decided there must be something inside the cave because of the way it was marked. Standing with her weight on her good leg, she reached into the small chamber and felt around its interior. She soon touched a container of some type located in the hollowed floor. Fascinated by what it might be, she gripped the handle and pulled it out of its cache.
Not feeling any pain in her leg with her attention completely on her find, the intrigued woman returned to her seat on the rock and studied the small wooden chest in her hands. First examining the box’s exterior, she noted that it was locked, but there was a key taped to its underside. There was no evidence of either its owner or its contents, and Jessie couldn’t tell how long the chest had been hidden. Still, she deduced that it had been in its cache for a while since the wood was slightly weathered.
With subdued anticipation, Jessie detached the key and opened the chest. Inside, she found a waterproof bag, which contained several pieces of paper clipped together, a white strip of firm cloth, a man’s cap, a pearl necklace, a coin, an ornate ceramic box that contained a woman’s ring, and a stuffed bear enclosed in an airtight bag. Leaving everything else in the dry bag inside the chest, she removed the papers and leafed through them to try to find some information about the owner.
Because the wind was blowing around her, Jessie was careful to make sure the papers stayed together as she glanced through them. The typed pages seemed to comprise a story entitled “We’ll Always Have Today.” She identified the author as Gwyn Loxton, whose name was on the first page.
Captivated by what she held in her hand and needing some time to recover from her hike before starting for home, Jessie began to read the short story.
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About the Book
Jessie Myers is facing an uphill struggle.
With her husband consumed by his duties as the town sheriff and her son away at college, she spends a great deal of time alone in her New England village house. When a debilitating leg injury takes Jessie away from her nursing career, she is determined to do whatever it takes to get back on her feet again, in every sense. Despite the concerns of the people close to her, she commits to a rigorous exercise regimen along the beaches and cliffs of her Maine home.
One day, she makes an unexpected discovery while on a hike. Drawn to a small opening in the sea cliffs, she finds a small wooden box that has survived years in its hiding place. Once opened, its treasures are revealed—including a pearl necklace, a man’s cap, a coin, and a short story, written by a woman named Gwyn Loxton. Her imagination enflamed by the discovery, Jessie now has a new mission: to uncover the purpose of this captivating little treasure chest. When was the box hidden away? And why?
Jessie thinks it’s a time capsule, but that’s only a small part of the mystery. Determined to learn all she can about this memento from a bygone era, her growing obsession inspires growing concerns from her family and friends. Consumed by the past, will Jessie forget about her own future?
About the Author
Denise E. Richardson has written short stories and mysteries for thirty years. She lives in the northern Rocky Mountains with her husband, two sons, and their golden retriever.