He’s a giant contradiction, pun intended. He’s open, outgoing, endearing, his emotions right out on the surface, exactly as the aunts described. But he’s also a closed book, the only indication of everything he’s been through hanging out in the notebook he keeps jammed in his back pocket. His notebook was filled to the brim with heartache. And I can’t stop thinking about him blurting out the thing about his mom and the mermaid. What was the connection?

Beyond that, I don’t know that I’ve ever met anyone as smart as he is. His notebook had given me a bit of a glimpse, but when he recited all the information about Frederick Bell, I realized he seems to store way more in his brain than the typical person.

But most surprising is the way I feel around him. On the one hand, it’s all blushing and attempting not to say stupid things and trying to decide if I’m looking at him too much. On the other hand, something about him is so easy. Like I’ve known him for so much longer than I actually have. I’m not sure if I’ve ever felt that before.

I’m not on board with the butterflies filling up my stomach, so as soon as daylight streams full steam through the windows, I roll over to grab my phone and remember yet another fact about Mason. He’s a chaotic texter.

I have six text messages from Mason, four from last night and two from this morning.

You awake?

I found something about CB last night, sending link now.

Get it?

There’s definitely more to the story.

Want to meet up?

And then one from an hour ago. Now are you awake??

“CB” for Cordelia Bell. I click on the link for a website called Salem Register Newspaper Archives.

Huh.

He’s saved a search on “Cordelia Bell” with a date range of 1801 to 1869, and several images of newspaper clippings are pulled up. The printing is a bit blurry and I have to squint, slowly making out the words.

$50 REWARD

Reward for information concerning whereabouts of family servant Thalia. Seventeen years old when last seen, but has been three years. Red hair, fair complexion, small of stature. Wearing black dress and may be carrying gold locket. Last seen in Salem, MA, June 4, 1832. C. Bell of Salem offers reward.

My heart skips. Lily and Thalia are real. I mean, obviously they’re real, but seeing their names in newsprint makes them suddenly so much realer. I quickly click on the second image.

LOST. Gold locket inscribed with initial “L” and image of turtledove has been missing three years from June. May have been sold. Item is precious beyond monetary value. Any information of its whereabouts will receive double its worth. C. Bell of Salem, MA, offers reward.

Lily was looking for Thalia via newspaper? Also, how on earth had Mason found this?