Page 23 of Happily Ever After
"Well, there are eight columns of digits zero to nine, which is ten digits per column. Since each digit can be used in each column, the number of possible combinations is ten to the power of eight. So… hmm… one hundred million," Ade adds dryly.
Rhia just stares at him, blinking a few times. This is too much even for her analytical brain to compute. When she looks at me, I smirk.
Yes, I have one hell of a brainy fiancé.
"Let's assume this is Tiero's," Lex suggests. "What important dates of his are you aware of, El?"
All eyes go to me. "Are you serious? How would I know? We were together only a few weeks?"
"Try El's birthday," Rhia suggests.
Lex turns the wheels until they all line up. But nothing happens. The box stays as locked as before.
Hmm.
"Try it backward," I say. I'm not sure where that thought came from, but it feels weighty in my mind.
Shrugging his shoulders, Lex follows my suggestion. And… what do you know, the box pops open.
"Well, that answers the question of who it belonged to," Ade comments.
"Wow. It can't have been that easy," Rhia says. "How did you know, El?"
I shake my head, lost for words. I can't believe that actually worked.
This means this really did belong to Tiero… and he hid it after we met. I can't get my head around it, but one thing is for sure: I'm doubly curious now about what's inside.
Not much, is the answer.
Lex sets the box back on the ground, and we all lean over to peek inside.
A neatly folded set of documents sits on top, the edges yellowed and delicate. Ever so carefully, Ade lifts them out and unfolds them.
The paper is thick, with a slightly rough texture, hinting at its age. Faded ink marks the surface in a messy, flowing script. It carries the faint scent of must and history. The top sheet shows the faint outlines of an ornate watermark; it's barely visible, but I recognize it anyway.
"That's the De Marco crest," I say, pointing at it.
"What does the letter say?" Rhia asks.
Ade shakes his head. "If it were just the Italian, I could have a crack at it, but the handwriting is hard to read. We'll have to get one of Freemont's handwriting analysts on it."
"Damn, I really hoped it would be something more interesting, like a love letter to El or some jewelry," Rhia says.
I take the paper from Ade and carefully flick through the pages. "It's signed by Leandro De Marco. From what Tiero told me, he's the one who set upla famiglia."
"So he was Tiero's great great-great-grandfather?" Rhia asks.
"Something like that," I reply. "Maybe this spells out the family secrets."
Lex takes out more folded papers. These look new by comparison. "Look, there are also some computer printouts, but again, they're in Italian. I'll study them later,"
As he unfolds them, a necklace falls out. The pendant is an old-fashioned clay coin, weathered and worn, with two-thirds of it missing. The remaining third is threaded onto a leather strand, giving it a rustic, timeworn charm.
"Is that the De Marco crest again?" Ade asks as he examines it closer.
I lean against him, resting my head on his shoulder as I study the piece in his hand.
"Yes, I think it is."
