I could feel Natalie at my shoulder and watched as she traced the other highlighted route, leading west on other rural highways toward Charlotte, then across the border into South Carolina. Easley? Though it was impossible to know for sure, the highlighter ink looked fresh, more vivid than the other highlighted route on the map.
The second map showed the states of South Carolina and Georgia. For an instant, I was afraid that my grandfather hadn’t marked it. But I quickly realized that he had. It picked up where the other map had left off. He’d circumvented Greenville—the detour kept him north of the city—but then caught the highway that led directly to Easley.
And then kept going.
Through South Carolina and into Georgia, where the route ended in a small town northeast of Atlanta, right on the edge of the Chattahoochee National Forest. From Easley, it wasn’t that far—I’d guess less than two hours, even at speeds my grandfather drove—and as I saw the name of the town, I felt crucial pieces of the puzzle begin to lock together.
The name of the town was Helen.
Chapter 17
Even as I stared in shock, I felt my mind flashing back to the conversation with the old men on the porch at the Trading Post, and I thought about the ride I’d taken in the boat, when I knew in my heart that my grandfather wouldn’t have gone to visit a woman named Helen. It hadn’t made sense to me, because my grandfather had still been in love with the same woman he’d always loved, even though she had long since passed away.
Natalie, too, was staring at the name. She was standing close to me, close enough to touch, and I remembered the night I’d taken her in my arms. She’d felt so perfect and I thought we were perfect together, but she wasn’t willing to tell me the truth of what was really going on with her. Now, as I caught the faint sounds of her exhales, I noticed she was studying the map in the same way I was. I sensed that pieces were beginning to fall into place for her as well, even if I was no closer to understanding how she felt about me.
Instead of speaking, I scanned the maps again, making sure there were no other clues, no other possible destinations. I ran the timeline in my head—just as I’d done before—and felt again that my grandfather must have known the trip might be risky for him because of the distance, as well as his age. Whatever the reason, it had been important, and I could think of only a single possible reason.
When I glanced at Natalie, I suspected I was further along in my suspicion than she was. Which made sense, because it was my mystery, not hers. As she continued to ponder, her brow was furrowed slightly, and as always, I thought she was beautiful.
“Helen, Georgia?” Natalie finally asked.
“So it seems.”
“Did he know anyone there?”
That was the question, wasn’t it? I tried to remember whether I’d ever heard him mention the town, or even whether he’d mentioned a friend from anywhere in Georgia. Someone from the war, or a work buddy who’d moved away, perhaps, or maybe even a fellow beekeeper. But it didn’t take long for me to realize that my grandfather’s life had always been about New Bern, while Callie had both a sweatshirt and a calendar from Georgia.
“I doubt it,” I finally said. “But I think he knew someone from there.”
It took her a few moments to intuit what I was thinking. “You mean Callie?”
I nodded. “I think he went to find her family.”
“Why? She didn’t get sick until last week.”
“I don’t know. But if we assume Callie was from Georgia and he was traveling to Helen, Georgia, it makes sense.”
“That’s a little thin, don’t you think? And if she’s so secretive, how would he have even known she was from Helen?”
“I don’t have all the answers yet. But they did know each other. He cared about her enough to help her get a job. He was going to Helen for a reason. Like me, maybe he thought she was a runaway and wanted to help her.”
“Are you going to ask Callie about it?”
I didn’t answer right away, another recovered memory suddenly leaping to mind. When I’d approached Callie during her lunch, she hadn’t become upset until I’d asked specifically whether my grandfather had ever mentioned Helen. At which point, she’d panicked.
I said as much to Natalie, though she still looked doubtful.
“I know I’m right,” I added. “Can’t you see how it all fits?”
Natalie exhaled. “Gimme a few minutes, okay? I need to make a phone call. I’ll be right back.”