"I can't believe we're leaving already…" Holly laid her head upon Frank's chest as he embraced her from behind tightly. They stared at the resort from the stationary yacht which would soon bring them towards the mainland. Frank's mind was preoccupied with something else though as he nuzzled Holly's soft, mahogany hair. They had spent the next two days following the drama, which unfolded in Queen's sitting room, on the beach having a blast- sun-tanning, kayaking, jet skiing and of course, beach volleyball and sand soccer. Joe had attacked all the activities with a vengeance as if the sun and sea were going out of fashion- most probably he was right. When they touchdown in Bayport, they would be experiencing a winter wonderland but, to Frank, it was probably the best kind because his family was there. He couldn't wait to go home and at the same time, he couldn't bear to leave- for entirely different reasons from Joe's, of course.
When Gavin had returned with him back to the mansion, he took Frank's advice and went to Queen to confess everything as well as to explain his seemingly irrational actions. Frank didn't follow Gavin into Queen's room- not that he wanted to either. Queen had also refused entry to everyone except for Gavin, including a remorseful Ted and Robert who loitered outside her room, hoping to follow the rebellious young man in but Queen simply slammed the door in their faces. Frank felt most sorry for Ted though. He did what he did to protect Queen and Frank was certain that Queen would be able to see that soon.
That was a couple of days ago. Frank had summarized as briefly as he could about what Gavin had confided in him, trying to help those who did cared about Gavin, especially Celeste, make sense of things but keeping what he knew Gavin would want to remain as secrets to himself. Gavin never left the mansion but he called Celeste in her hut to tell her that he was relieved because a load was off his chest and that maybe, he would find some peace within himself soon. The gang was naturally happy for him although Nicole and Adam were feeling rather guilty about not trying to understand Gavin enough and judging him too soon. Celeste had tried to console them by telling them that even she, his on-off girlfriend, couldn't make heads or tails out of him.
As for Robert- well, a betrayal by a beloved sibling was always the hardest to forget, even though it was already forgiven. Frank couldn't imagine how he would feel if Joe was to turn his trust around and feed it to the dogs. Maybe he would be furious- maybe he wouldn't want to talk to his brother for years. Whatever it was, he would never want that to happen, not to Joe and not to him.
"What's on your mind, sweetie?"
"Do I look troubled?"
"Yup." Holly turned around and drew him closer. "Thinking about the case?"
"It's not much of a case. We didn't really solve anything."
"Well, if you haven't talked to Gavin, he might have just run away and Queen would have never known the truth. Pardon me, if I'm wrong, but a mystery doesn't always have to have a bad guy who will end up in handcuffs. It's just about finding the truth and freeing doubts. You have certainly helped make that come true for Gavin and Queen."
"I can't take credit for that. Gavin needed to make the decision for himself. I just don't know what will happen to Robert and Ted. And I don't know about Gavin's final decision either. He may just decide to return to the States and leave Queen. I don't know." Frank pulled away from her and leaned against the railings bordering the deck. He let out a huge breath before shrugging, "I just feel a little lost now. What's to become of them? Where's the truth? What's the truth? I came into this journey that promised me a lesson but what's the lesson? How do I close this chapter and know that everything will be all right for everyone involved? At least when there are bad guys, you know by bringing the culprit to the hands of justice, you are saving somebody. That's a pretty conclusive outcome… not something like this."
"There's a closing. The truth is out. And the rest is up to how those involved would choose to deal with it. You can't stay here forever and see how things work out. Most likely, Robert would have to spend a long time trying to gain Queen's forgiveness though I think that Queen wouldn't be too harsh on him. Ted did what he did with good intentions and it's true from Celeste's accounts that he didn't try to hurt them. He was actually very gentle with her but she was weak in health to begin with and thus, the lack of sleep left her extremely exhausted. And we also saw the confirmation slip for the ticket that he booked in Gavin's name to chase Gavin out of the island. As for Queen and Gavin…" She tapped his shoulder and spun him around. Smiling into his eyes, she caressed his cheek lovingly. "That's for mother and son to work things out. Not outsiders like us. And lessons! Life isn't about following a planned coursework. It's about a constant, ongoing research, which is almost never done. And it's something personal- your lessons are what you make of it. Someone can well experience everything you did and yet, learn different things from you… get what I mean? Don't worry too much about it. Just keep your eyes, your mind and your heart open to the truth. Now, what about you and me?"
"Huh?"
Holly sighed, obviously disillusioned with his vagueness. Moving away to a bench on the deck, she sat down and folded her arms. Frank hurried over and sat next to her, draping his arm around her slim shoulders.
"I know… I'm sorry. I just didn't want to think about the distance…"
"And when will you think about it? When we reach the airport? After? When it's clear that you're heading for Bayport and then Harvard and me to LA?"
"I thought you're the one who said distance wouldn't bother us…"
"I know… I… I'm considering transferring to University of Boston to be closer to you but I don't know if… I admit. I'm afraid you'll be like a dream, just like the holiday. And once we're back… it'll be all over."
She stared at the ground and shuffled her feet. Frank had no definite replies for her because he wasn't a seer. He couldn't see the future. But there was a conviction and veracity in his feelings for her- he wanted to try really hard because he really liked the girl.
"Don't transfer because of me. I know we can make this work if we put our hearts into it. We can see each other on weekends! It's not going to be that difficult. Besides, we still have a few more weeks of break before term starts. Come with me to Bayport and then I'll go with you to LA. We'll still have time for each other."
Holly looked up finally and smiled. She nodded and laid her head on his shoulder as he embraced her tightly. Their private space was broken when Nicole shrilled from the cabin below.
"YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T HAVE A GIRLFRIEND!"
"I know…. I know…" Joe was backing up on the deck from the stairs leading down to the decadently furbished cabin with Nicole advancing on him, her hands on her hips. "I am kinda separated from her for the time being and I wasn't really lying…"
"NO! You and her didn't break up. She asked you to come here and think things through… how can you think things through when you're flirting around? You not only lied to me, you lied to her and you lied to yourself. I thought you weren't a creep!"
"I'm not… I…" Lost for words, Joe stopped where he was and stretched out his hands in a half-shrug, his eyes turning all misty and puppy-liked. However, Nicole wasn't buying it. She spun around and threw her hands up in the air.
"I'm out of here. I don't want to ever see you again and you better not come into the cabin!" She slammed the door shut, leaving Joe standing on the deck looking very small. The younger Hardy shoved his hands inside his pockets and looked around, blushing furiously when he noticed that Frank and Holly had witnessed the entire fight.
"Well, I told her." Joe lifted his shoulders and glanced at Frank helplessly. "You're not going to tell Vanessa, are you? I don't think I can take another blow-up like this… not from Vanessa."
"I'll leave it up to you. So, have you figured things out yet?"
Joe threw a wary look at Holly before he replied, obviously not comfortable with baring his soul in front of someone he wasn't close to. "Kind of. It's not going to be good. Maybe I'm not ready and Vanessa deserves better." He shook his head before walking towards the bow where he could get some solitude in the tight space. Holly patted Frank's lap and looked at him quizzically.
"Sorry, sweetie. I can't tell you… it's Joe's private matters."
"Ok. I understand. Look, I'm still going to LA but I'm coming to Bayport shortly to join you for the rest of the break… I didn't bring enough winter clothing… just enough for me to reach home without freezing."
"Understood. But don't keep me waiting." Frank nuzzled her nose and she giggled, slapping his leg playfully.
***
"Mom! Dad! We're back!" Joe hollered into the Hardy's home the moment he stepped in and Frank covered his ears, scowling at his little brother.
"I think I'm about to be deaf."
"Aw… you're exaggerating. MOM! DAD!!!!"
"We can hear you from Mount Everest!" Laura Hardy stepped out from the kitchen, pulling her oven mitts out of her hands. "You boys are just in time for some freshly baked cookies."
"I can smell it mom." Joe hugged his mother fiercely. "I miss you…"
"I miss you too."
"Ahem… am I not your son too, mom?" Frank groused. Joe smirked at his brother as he broke from their mother's embrace and draped an arm possessively across Laura's shoulders.
"You are… but mom loves me more coz I'm cuter!"
"Sheesh. I love you boys the same… come here, Frank." Laura hugged her elder son who stuck a tongue at Joe. Joe made a face back before disappearing into the kitchen.
"Wow… Thailand must be real bright and sunny. You two are darker than charcoal…"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Joe's voice rang out from the kitchen. Suddenly, a hauntingly familiar song blasted the Hardy's home.
"Do you know, where you're going to…"
"Clown!" Frank exclaimed and glanced at his mother suspiciously. Laura Hardy could barely stifle a giggle before she led Frank into the kitchen. "Mom? Did you plan this? I mean our trip?"
"Oh no… I didn't. Though Don and Maya had been very co-operative with the Mastermind."
"Dad?" Frank asked. Laura shrugged and merely led the way to the kitchen. There Joe was, staring open-mouth at Clown and Fenton Hardy who were both almost choking on chocolate chip cookies with barely muffled amusement. Fenton Hardy stood up when Frank entered and grinned.
"So, my sons. Like your early Christmas present? Don't think I've shortchanged you, Frank, by giving Joe a camera. You two are meant to share it."
"Share? Dad? What's going on? I don't understand."
"You don't understand!" Clown jumped up and clapped heartily. "Oh, you'll never understand! Your father had this most amazing gift to give you two! With Queen, Maya and my help, we planned for your trip to Wonderland- Um! He said you boys hardly had anytime to spend with each other now that one of you is in college and figured out that this is a great time for you two to embark on a coming of age journey! But then, we have the theft which Queen was desperate to solve since her pocket watch was stolen so…" Clown shrugged. "But I hope you two enjoyed the trip thoroughly! Maya couldn't come with me. She's following Queen and Gavin to visit Gavin's hometown. And if I may add, I'm rather astonished that you two boys couldn't solve the mystery of who planned this trip! Maybe you two need more practice or you'll be running around bashing the wrong heads all the time!"
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence…" Frank commented wryly before breaking into a slow grin. Joe didn't seem to care though- Frank learned long ago that his brother's sense of hearing was filtered to block out any forms of criticisms.
"So! You're one lamenting to Maya about our crime-busting choice!" Joe hugged his father happily, recalling the conversation he had with Leaf Lady in Queen's kitchen. "Thanks dad, this is a wonderful present! By the way, how did you guys know one another?"
"Haha… we took a philosophy class together during our college days. Of course Don was the only philosophical major student. He's actually the renowned but reclusive Professor Dominic Maron, doing research with Yale University. The rest of us took philosophy as electives. But we became firm friends."
"Don? Who's Don? Where is he? Is he following me like White again? Darn! They can't leave me alone!" Clown tried to pounce on his own shadow and Laura waved a plate of cookies under his nose, enticing him back to the dining table.
"No one can leave you alone, Don."
"Where? Who?"
"Dad… ahm… is… hmm…" Frank nudged his father and pointed at Don discreetly. Fenton roared in laughter when he realized what Frank was hinting at.
"No, of course not. Don likes to role-play and fool around. He'll be normal in no time."
"Yup. No time at all. Clown is far more interesting than boring old Don. Laura, I'm going to kidnap you back with me so I can have your cookies everyday! You should set up a shop."
"Do you want to back me with finances?" Laura teased and sat down next to Clown, tasting her own creation and smiling satisfactory when she realized it was a successful batch, as usual. Clown nodded vigorously, stuffing three cookies at once into his mouth.
"Shyesh! Of shouse! Ish fiffy shollars enough?"
"Fifty dollars? More than enough!" Laura laughed. The two of them bantered around jokingly as Fenton nodded towards the living room area at his sons. They followed him out of the kitchen but not before Frank saw Joe pinched a few cookies for himself.
"Give!" He whispered to Joe, trying to reach for a cookie in his brother's hand.
"No! Get your own!" Joe hissed back, holding the cookies away from Frank. They engaged in a playful scuffle as they walked behind their father who was engrossed in his own recounting.
"It was supposed to be a discovery journey but Queen told me what happened already. It's amazing after so long, her son who she thought was dead had came back to her. She's really in high spirits… haven't heard her so happy since college days when she and Peter were very much together." Fenton sat down heavily on the couch and patted the seat next to him. "Quit fooling around like little kids, the both of you and sit down here. I want to know if my money was well-spent."
Frank sat where his dad indicated and Joe took his seat on the other side of Fenton, happily crunching the tasty morsels. Wrinkling his nose, Frank wondered what Fenton would want to know and he guessed his father wasn't really asking them about how much fun they had but what they had discovered.
"We're happy for Queen too. And I guess from this whole journey, I've learned that a family is very important- it can break or shape a soul. I'm just so blessed to have parents who are amazing sculptors as well…" Frank threw a gratified look at his dad who patted his head smilingly like he was still a little boy. "And of course, when God closes one door, he opens another."
"Frank's talking about Holly! They are together now, Dad! We met her at the island" Joe chimed in, fighting for some attention. Fenton looked at Joe and then at Frank with some amazement.
"Really? Well, I recommended the island to Old Strand when he told me about Holly's depression. Looks like it did her some good."
"Yah, but it's not the place… it's Holly herself. She wanted to pick herself up and move on. And that was why she succeeded." Frank spoke of his girl with undisguised admiration. Joe shivered.
"Eeks! Save the mushiness for your girlfriend, bro!"
"And you, Casanova. What have you learned?" Fenton put his arm around his younger son and Joe immediately grew pale.
"Huh? Oh… ahm… I learn that the sea can be very blue and the sky can be very clear… . Hmm… well… the food is great…"
"I know that. I've been there before. What have you learned?" Their father relentlessly probed. Joe knitted his brows as if in deep thoughts. It was a full minute before he finally spoke, beginning rather hesitantly.
'I don't know how to put it in words. I just… well… one night, I was just taking a stroll along the beach and I realize that I can't have enough of life… that I want to feel alive… forever! It's a difference between existing and really living… to really live is… magical… it's not just about yourself… it's also about those around you. You feel hurt when they hurt. You feel happy when they smile. And vice versa. And Dad, do you know that Gavin's has a terrible attitude? Well, I thought he was obnoxious at first and immediately see him as some creep. But his plight and this whole incident taught me to never judge a person too quickly- that we have no right to judge anyone anyway. Also, when somebody loves you unconditionally, when someone can see the good in you and the good that you can achieve even when everyone think of you as trash… it's…it's very wonderful…" Joe's voice drifted to nothingness as his uncommonly contemplative mien grew more serious. As Frank and Fenton watched him, hoping he would continue, he suddenly stood up and gestured towards the door.
'Dad, Frank, I have something very important to do… I need to go somewhere and meet someone extremely vital to my life."
Fenton raised a brow at his younger son's oddness while Frank simply grinned. So, his brother had discovered something about himself, after all. It wouldn't matter if the outcome was that Joe realized Vanessa was the one for him or that he decided that he and Vanessa would be wrong for each other. What matters most was that Joe finally knew what he wanted.
However, the decision was not solely Joe's to make. Maybe it was too late; maybe Vanessa's heart might be bigger than what Joe deserved. Whatever it was, Joe would never forget this lesson.
As he watched his brother grabbed his jacket and disappeared out of the door to brave the frigid weather, he let out a heavy breath and turned to his dad, smiling gratefully.
"Dad, you know something I've learned?"
"Yes?"
"That once your start on the journey of discovery, you can be very humbled by what little you know. And as you keep untangling the bits of truths inside yourself, you realized that there's so much more to learn. Most importantly, the wonderland is not anywhere outside- it is inside you, me and everyone else. The wonderland is there when you look into a face you've known all your life and can still bother to find something amazing and new in those wrinkles, crowfeet and the familiar smile. It's inside your heart… . And the Wonderland is merely amazement, kindness, openness and a whole lot of Love."