Fulfillment(34)

“Cool! I love treasure hunts. What’s the treasure? Is it gold?” Charli asked, excitedly.

“Is it money?” Nate queried, hope in his eyes.

“No, you silly duffas, it’s just a practice. Here, this is your first clue.” I handed them a card which Nate began to read.

“Say it out loud Nate, I can’t read,” Charli huffed and put her hands on her hips, frustrated that reading was a skill she was still learning at school.

Nate slowly read the note out loud. “Your first clue is feeling unfit. You can find it on the place where you exercise while you sit.” He screwed up his face, then instantly realisation dawned on him. “The exercise bike,” he yelled, and then he took off.

“Wait for me,” Charli called out after him.

Bryce and I followed. “So far so good,” he whispered as he placed his hand at the small of my back while walking out onto the balcony following the kids.

Nate had already torn the envelope from its sticky-taped position on the exercise bike. He ripped it open and pulled out a photograph, looking at it strangely.

Charli snatched it from his hands. “It’s you and Bryce, Mum. It’s a picture of you two.”

“Give the photo to Bryce and he will give you your next clue,” Nate read, from the instructions that were attached to the picture. Charli skipped over to Bryce and handed him the photograph, he in turn handed her another card. She passed it to Nate who again read it out loud. “Go and play pool...but don’t get wet.”

Charli walked over to the swimming pool and looked into the water for the next clue. “How do you play in the pool without getting wet?”

“Not that pool, the pool table,” Nate explained as he grabbed his sister’s hand. They hurried off into the man-cave, only to come back out to where we were standing in the lounge area shortly after entering, Charli now holding a wooden letter R. She gave it to Bryce, who once again handed over another clue. Bryce placed the letter R next to the picture of the two of us. I smiled.

“Your third clue is hungry and wants something to eat. Go to the place where you’ll find something sweet.”

This time Charli took off heading straight for the kitchen, yelling, “Lollies. The treasure is lollies.”

Nate ran after her. “Wait, we have to share.”

“Do not. Not if I find them first,” she teased while looking over her shoulder and screamed, noticing that he was gaining on her.

Bryce laughed as I took a seat on the couch.

“They’re going to be disappointed when they realise the treasure is not edible,” I said, suddenly feeling like maybe I should’ve organised some form of tangible-treasure.

They both came back into the lounge looking a little glum. I laughed at them. “So, what did you find?”

“A stupid word that says HAVING,” Charli sulked as she passed Bryce the cardboard card with the word having written on it. He placed it down next to the letter R.

At this point I thought Nate would catch on by reading the clues placed next to each other—but he didn’t. Instead, he moved right along and read the next card.

“This clue is in a hurry and doesn’t want to go slow. You’ll find this clue waiting for a ride on the Crow.” Nate threw the card and spun around heading back outside. Charli grumbled and sat down.

I gently squeezed her knee. “What, Sweetheart? Don’t you like this game?”

“Yes, but I’m too slow.”

“Don’t worry. I reckon you’ll find the next clue before Nate.” I winked at her.

Nate came running back in, puffing and out of breath. He passed Bryce the wooden letter A.

Charli scratched her head. “Another letter?”

Bryce handed Nate the final card then came and sat next to me, leaning back on the couch in that sexy position that I love. I stared at him and licked my lips. Crap! That was involuntary.

“Starlight is asleep. Go wake her.” Nate took off again toward the Observatory.

I fell back into Bryce’s side. “I told you he’d go there.”

Charli frowned. “You said I’d find the next clue, Nate probably already has it.”

“No, he doesn’t Charli. What did Nate just read out?”

“Starlight is asleep. Go wake her.”

“Yes, now think about it.”

She screwed up her face, then her eyes widened and a large smile appeared.

“Ahhh, see? Go and wake her up.”

Charli laughed and ran upstairs to her room. She came back moments later holding her baby doll, Starlight.

“I found it Nate,” she called out as she handed Bryce the baby. Nate came bounding down the stairs, and I cringed as I watched him, predicting a stumble and one or two broken bones.