Mr. Guyer was at breakfast the next morning.
"Pleasure to see you girls up this morning." Jonathan's father smiled.
"Good to see you made it back." Mandie said, taking her seat at the table.
Celia sat down next to her, "Where's Jonathan?"
"Oh, he'll be right back. He was feeding his dog. He loves that thing to death." Mr. Guyer shook his head.
"It was nice of the man to let him keep it after Jonathan found the dog." Mandie said, as she began eating.
Jonathan returned to the dining room quickly, "Morning girls, sleep well?" His eyes twinkled as he sat down next to Mandie.
"Yes, thank you." The girls replied in unison.
"When did you say you're mother was expected, Celia?" Mr. Guyer inquired.
"In the next few days, by Saturday maybe?" Celia said, biting into bacon.
"Good. It will be lovely to see Jane again."
Jonathan stifled a laughed as Mandie glared sharply at him and tried not to laugh herself. Jonathan and Mandie were determined that something was sparking in between Ms. Hamilton and Mr. Guyer from the last visit they made. Celia didn't agree at all, but said it was a thing of the past.
"What do you young people plan to do today?" Mr. Guyer asked.
"We don't know, Father." Jonathan replied, shoving food into his mouth, "But when Ms. Hamilton arrives, I'm sure we'll go sight-seeing and shopping."
"Suppose we should save those until then." Celia agreed.
"Okay then, if you need anything, I'll be in my office most of the day." Mr. Guyer smiled.
Once they finished breakfast, Jonathan proposed they took a walk around the property.
"How is everything in Richmond, Celia? I felt like I haven't talked to you girls in ages." Jonathan chuckled.
"That's because you haven't." Celia laughed, "And everything is fine. Nothing new, as usual."
"How about Franklin, Mandie? Anything new?"
"Well, nothing much. Someone knocked my brother's gravestone over." Mandie replied quietly, "Which I thought was quite foolish."
Jonathan touched Mandie's arm gently, "I'm so sorry about that Mandie."
"It's fine…I know he knew I loved him." Mandie bit her lip to stop the tears from flowing.
"What about Charley Gap? Have you visited there recently?" he asked.
"Yes…My father's house…" Mandie stopped in her tracks. The hurt and pain came rushing back. Jim Shaw had passed away, leaving Mandie with a stepmother. She'd found her way to her Uncle John's house, and then found her real mother and everything had worked out from there. But the sadness of her beloved Father's passing was to much, and she started to cry.
Celia put her arm around her best friend, "It's okay Mandie. Let it out. My father passed away too." She pat her friend's shoulder lightly.
"I know, I'm sorry, I'm making a fool of myself." Mandie flushed, wiping tears away.
"No you aren't." Jonathan put in, looking at her downcast eyes, "I would miss my father too."
"Oh but Jonathan, you already have lost your mother." Mandie sniffled.
"I was to young to remember her." He said, sighing slightly, "It's not that bad."
"Shall we continue our stroll?" Jonathan asked, changing the subject.
"Yes. Good idea." Celia agreed.
Mandie scolded herself for the tears, she knew it was okay to be sad, but it'd been nearly two years and she was tired of the pain the thought brought.
"How is Joe?" Jonathan asked.
"He's…okay. He's worried he won't get out of college much this year." Mandie sighed.
"Sad." Jonathan said, not sounding to upset.
"Sallie is good too. She says she wants you to visit her soon." Mandie watched Jonathan's face for a reaction, but found none that she was searching for.
"I'll have to visit someday then." Jonathan smiled, "You are lucky for your Cherokee blood, Mandie."
"I know." She smiled back at him.
They walked along in silence for a minute, before Jonathan's eyes lit up. "I have an idea. My father has an album of photos and sketches of different people he's met. There's someone I want you girls to see." Jonathan grinned mischievously. The girls agreed and they went to find the album.
"Who is it?" Mandie asked.
"If I told you, there'd be no use in seeing it." He flipped through the pages of the album.
Celia twirled one of her curls, "I have a strange feeling…"
"What?" Mandie asked.
"Here it is!" Jonathan exclaimed pointing to a yellowish photo of a man and woman.
"Who is that?" Celia questioned, looking at the picture.
"I'm surprised you don't recognize it." Jonathan teased.
"Why should I?" Celia looked confused.
"Jonathan, that's your father right? He looks so much like you, but who is the woman next to him?" Mandie asked.
"Not my mother." Jonathan chuckled.
"Celia!" Mandie grabbed her friend's arm, "I think that's…"
"My mother!" Celia was shocked.
"Jonathan, when and where was this photo taken?" Mandie stared at the picture.
"I'm not sure, I just know it's Celia's mother and my father. And look at the next picture."
"It's Mrs. Taft. Mandie! You're grandmother and Jonathan's father!" Celia gasped.
"He's met all the lovely ladies, hasn't he?" Jonathan teased.
"This is so strange…where and when were these taken?" Mandie shook her head.
"I said, I don't know. But we'll have to find out." Jonathan smiled.
"Not the kind of mystery I expected to find in New York…" Mandie shrugged.
"Maybe there will be more." Celia said.
"No, I like it. It's different."
"Mandie, I'll bet you any money you'll find another bigger mystery connect to the pictures." Celia thought aloud.
Jonathan nodded, "I bet so too. Your Grandmother and my Father never seem to get along. Why are they together in this picture? Why don't they get along?"
"And why is my mother with your father? I know they've been met before, but why are they in a picture together? And where are they?" Celia asked.
Suddenly, a note slipped out of the album.
"Jonathan?" Mandie asked, but Jonathan was already opening it.
He gasped at the contents,
"Dearest Miss Taft,
 I write to you today to inform you I have erased you from my mind. You have caused nothing but unfortunate events in my life. No longer with love, Lindall Guyer."
"What…?" Mandie began, but was interrupted when Jonathan pulled another letter out.
"Dear Miss Hamilton,
I write to you today to tell you there is a brighter future coming. I will be able to see you shortly, and hope to explain everything. With all my love, Lindall Guyer."
"What…?" Celia began but was interrupted by Jonathan.
"Dear Mr. Guyer, The Government of the United States refuses to allow you to do as you request. Pursue this matter further, and you will be ban from Washington, D.C." Jonathan slammed the book shut and put it away. He turned to face the girls, "We've got a bigger mystery now."
"Yes." Mandie agreed, "Why don't my Grandmother and your Father get along, why are they in a picture together? Why did he not send this letter, or why did he get it back. Why did he write Celia's mother that letter and not send it, why was he in a picture with her? Finally, what matter was your father pursuing and why did the government tell him not too?"
"You know, I have a feeling it goes on beyond that." Celia shifted uncomfortably.
"Yes. But I have a feeling everything is connected." Jonathan thought aloud.
"And I have a feeling we're going to get to the bottom of it." Mandie put it.
"I'm hungry." Jonathan laughed.
"You're always hungry!" Celia and Mandie laughed too.
"Let's go eat lunch, then we can talk." Jonathan licked his lips.