Once again they parked at the little parking lot, now completely empty of cars. There was no one hiking on their trail, either. Khizar carried the shovel and Jacqui the little backpack again as they walked back to the bench’s location.
It was a companionable silence, like they’d already fallen into a comfortable rhythm of being together. Khizar rather liked it. Jacqui was good company, and he found himself hoping that instead of finding the diamond under the bench, it would be another clue that would stretch out his time with her.
Back at the little clearing, Jacqui studied the bench. “Where do you think we should dig?”
Khizar thought about it. “I think Bill wanted this bench here, so I don’t think he’d want it disturbed too much. Let’s try right under it first.”
He dug, clearing a hole in the middle of the dirt beneath the bench. It was awkward work, reaching under the bench without disturbing the wood or metal itself.
Jacqui watched him for a few minutes and then laughed.
“We should have bought two shovels.”
Khizar stopped and leaned on the shovel for a second to catch his breath.
“Are you implying that I can’t dig a hole?”
Jacqui laughed. “Not at all. I can see you’re doing an excellent job of digging. I just feel a bit useless here, is all.”
Khizar shook his head. “You’re an inspiration, just standing there. You’re my muse.”
“Ah, a muse of hole digging. That’s what every girl wants to hear.”
“For you, I’d dig a hole all the way to the other side of the world,” he said gallantly.
“Yeah, still not feeling it.”
She laughed again and Khizar thought about kissing her. The light of the sun was behind her as it started to set, giving her a soft glowing halo, and she looked so pretty as she stood there smiling at him.
“Okay, for you I’d engage in questionable, possibly illegal, activities to find something the great-uncle you didn’t know left for you.” He grinned at her.
Khizar couldn’t tell if it was her smile or the sun that blinded him.
“Now, that’s the way to a girl’s heart.”
Jacqui offered him a bottle of water and Khizar took a drink before going back to digging.
After about ten more minutes of poking around in the dirt beneath the bench, Khizar decided to move to the area just behind the bench. He dug another hole while Jacqui filled the first. She scraped the dirt back into place with her foot, and then patted it down by stepping on it as best she could.
It was adorable, Khizar thought, her need to put things back into place. He wasn’t sure if it was just the way she was, or the fact that this spot was important to a member of her family. Either way, Khizar planned how he could make this spot even better after they found whatever Bill had left for them.
He’d give some money to the park, maybe add another matching bench with Jacqui’s name on it, or that of her parents. Something so that this little piece of Bill Bauer wouldn’t be alone.
The shovel made a thunk as it struck something hard. Khizar hurried to clear an area around whatever it was, and Jacqui waited. When they could see enough of the small metal box, Jacqui knelt by the hole to finish brushing the dirt away.
She reverently pulled the box from the hole, and they sat side by side on the bench to open it. Jacqui lifted the lid on the box, and Khizar was elated by what was inside.
Rather than a diamond, it was a photograph and a piece of paper. The picture was old; it featured a couple holding two children, both of them boys. Jacqui picked up the photo and flipped it over.
On the back was written: Jack and Bill, ages 5 and 3.
Khizar realized that this photo was of Bill as a child. He’d never seen anything of Bill’s that went back that far—even in his office, he didn’t keep mementos like this photo. And he’d never discussed his brother.
Jacqui held the photo like the treasure it was, and looked like she was going to cry. Khizar laid a hand on her shoulder so that she would know he was there and he cared. She laid her hand over his and squeezed it.
The photo went carefully back into the box and Jacqui picked up the piece of paper. She unfolded it and read out loud, “What’s MINE is yours. To find it, try the front doors.”