Free Never Say Never by Lena Nelson Dooley Page A

the house a timeless feel. Charlotte was sure many of the antiques were valuable. If she owned this place, she wouldn’t let tourists, who might damage something, troop through it.
    â€œI’d love to live in a house like this, wouldn’t you, Mom?”
    Chelle’s interest pleased Charlotte. “Sure, but only if we have servants to clean it. It’s huge.”
    â€œBut you could have some really great parties here.”
    Evidently the guide heard their conversation. “Oh, yes, there have been many wonderful parties in this house. Too bad the walls can’t talk. What a history they would reveal. Celebrities from many countries have attended.” He ended with a merry laugh.
    Before Charlotte was ready to leave, he called them back to the vans for the ride to Dunn’s River Falls. Chelle couldn’t sit still; she was so excited for the chance to climb the giant waterway. Charlotte wasn’t sure she even wanted to, but she did want to spend the whole day with Chelle.
    On the beach, they were given rubber shoes to wear in the water. Charlotte glanced dubiously at the pair handed to her. “Are these clean?”
    â€œOh, yes, ma’am. We sanitize them each time between tours.” The young Jamaican woman’s teeth gleamed through her dark smile. “Can’t have people passing anything bad around, now can we?”
    They were divided into groups of ten. Charlotte was first in line for her group. After telling them to hold hands and not let go, the guide took Charlotte’s hand and started up the rocks over which the water tumbled. This was no little waterfall. Several yards wide and taller than she could estimate, thousands of gallons of water a second had to be tumbling over the uneven formations. In some places, the water depth reached almost to her waist. She didn’t feel confident as she stepped onto the uneven rocks. She wanted to be sure of her step each time.
    Before long, the guide pulled on her wrist. “Come on, lady, you’re too slow.”
    Charlotte felt like jerking her hand away from his, but he gripped her wrist too hard. “I want to be sure I have a safe place to put my foot.”
    â€œJust step in the place where I step. That’s the safest spot.” He wasn’t smiling as most of the Jamaicans she’d seen before.
    Charlotte looked at his feet. When he moved one of his, she put her foot in the same spot. She glanced up. They were still very near the bottom, and she couldn’t see the top of the waterfall. This was going to be a long climb. With each movement, she followed the leader, but she wasn’t enjoying all the effort it took to get up these cliffs covered with water. Hopefully, Chelle was. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they reached the top.
    â€œGreat. We made it.” Charlotte tried to extricate her hand from the guide’s.
    â€œNo, ma’am, we’re not finished.”
    Charlotte looked at the large pool where they stood. Trees grew on both sides and shaded the lagoon.
    When the last person on their team reached the plateau, the guide led them catty-corner across the gurgling water. On the other side, a waterfall about half as tall as the part they had already climbed rose above them.
    Charlotte stopped, and Chelle plowed into her back. “Mom, what’s wrong?”
    â€œI don’t want to climb up there. I’m really tired.” She turned to the guide. “Is there no other way out of here?”
    He gave a disgusted huff then pointed to the side. “See those steps leading out of the water?” She nodded. “You can go over there and walk up instead of climbing the waterfall.”
    Charlotte looked back at her daughter. “Would you be very disappointed if I did that?”
    Chelle studied her mother’s expression for a minute. “Not if you don’t mind me climbing up the rest of the way without you.”
    When Charlotte read the