Elle and Aislinn exchanged a look that turned me cold.
“What happened?” I pressed my fingers against my lips to stop their quivering.
“They were killed in a car crash about eighteen months ago,” Elle said quietly, her eyes shining.
I dropped to the bed again and buried my face in my hands. Both my parents were gone. This wasn’t what Braedon and I had planned for, dreamed of. What about my barbeque? I looked up. “And my brother?” I prepared myself for another blow.
Elle’s face lightened. “Oh, Marc’s fine. He joined the Marines and is stationed overseas. We got word to him before we left that you’re alive. We’re going to set up a video call.”
I let my head fall back. I still had Marc. That at least was something to hold on to.
A shout on deck made us all jump, and Aislinn handed me the T-shirt. “They’re waiting.”
With a grimace, I slipped it over my head. The small thing only came to the top of my breechcloth, still revealing my bony hips.
Aislinn and Elle led the way up on deck where D’Arcy stood beside a younger man. Elle went to the stranger, who I assumed was her husband, and he put his arms around her. The loving gesture sent me into turmoil, jealousy fighting with embarrassment. How could I be so shallow?
D’Arcy came over and hugged me. “Good to see you again.” He pointed toward the ramp to shore. “This way.”
Elle and her husband stayed behind to speak to the yacht couple, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying. I turned and raised my hand to catch Norma’s attention, hoping she would understand my thanks.
On the dock, policemen were fighting to hold back a crowd of people. Cameras flashed, and a uniformed man hurried us into a large van. Were these people there to see me?
Once I had ducked inside behind the Armstrongs, I tugged at my short shirt, trying to cover my exposed hips.
Elle and her husband slid in next to me. “Lyn, this is my husband, Malcolm.”
“Everyone just calls me Mal.” He shook my hand before removing his button-down shirt and handing it to me.
“Thank you.” I spread the shirt over my legs and hips.
I had just leaned my head against the window when a flash went off outside. In a deft movement, Elle’s husband switched places with me. He held a newspaper against the window, blocking the view.
“What was that about?” I asked as the van pulled away.
“They’re just curious about you.” He dropped the paper when we had left the group of people behind.
Elle clasped my hand, and everyone sat in silence. At first, I was glad for some peace after the turbulence on the dock, but soon it started to bug me that no one was telling me anything. “Where are we going?”
“To the police station. We have some questions for you, Ms. North,” replied one of the uniformed men in the front.
I flinched at the name. Had it only been a few days ago that I had introduced myself to Moli as Lyn North and Braedon had corrected me? Aislinn, who sat behind me, squeezed my shoulder.
They took us to a large building and had us sit in a conference room. It was air-conditioned—and so freezing to me. Trying not to shiver, I answered dozens of questions about everything that had happened.
Jimmy and Maria were easier to talk about, but a hard knot in my throat prevented me from speaking about Braedon. Mal answered for me with the information he had gotten from the yacht couple. I nodded my agreement.
The officials wanted information about the island, but I couldn’t tell them its location. They would have to wait and question Moli when he returned.
After what felt like a frozen eternity, they said they were done with me. They requested that I remain in American Samoa for a couple of days in case they had any additional questions, printed my statement, and handed it to me to sign. I picked up the pen and paused, rolling the cheap tube in my fingers, thinking how strange the plastic felt.
Then I realized I didn’t know what name to sign. The knot in my throat tightened, and my eyes filled with tears.
Elle moved to my side. “What is it?”
I couldn’t speak and shook my head. The man across the table looked alarmed as he handed me a tissue. I almost signed my maiden name rather than deal with an argument but, at the last moment, I thought of Braedon as we exchanged our vows. I was his wife. I signed Randolph.
The policeman took the paper. When he read my signature, he looked about to challenge me, but I clenched my jaw and stared him down. With a shrug, he made a notation on the paper and said we could go.
Relieved to be outside again, I stopped and stretched out my arms to feel the sun’s heat. Elle tapped me on the shoulder and pointed at the van. We were driven to a hotel, and Elle and Aislinn led me to my room.
“I’ll bring you something of mine to put on, though it might be a little big on you.” Aislinn opened my door. “Once you’re dressed, we can go down to dinner.”
I hesitated, unable to bear the thought of going into a restaurant full of people staring at me. “I’m not particularly hungry.”
“You’re so thin,” Aislinn argued, examining me again. “You need to eat.”
I slipped through the door and turned, leaning on the frame, weariness weighing me down. “I’ll order in.” I paused, realizing I had no money. “Is it okay if I order in?”
Aislinn and Elle exchanged worried glances, and Elle said, “Of course. Just promise you’ll eat something.”
“I will.” I started to close the door.
Aislinn stopped it with her hand. “If you need anything— and I mean anything—Elle’s room is on that side of yours, and mine is on the other.”
“Thanks.” I closed the door and immediately went to turn off the air-conditioning and closed the drapes, shutting out the view of civilization. I paused, unsure what to do. I had nothing to hang in the closet, no interest in what might be on the television, no one to write to with the stationary on the desk. Even the bowl of fruit on the small dining table did nothing but make me slightly nauseous.
I finally decided to take a bath in the oversized spa tub. While the tub filled with hot water, I removed my furry top and breechcloth and set my ring by the sink. I examined my gaunt frame in the mirror. I had thought we had eaten pretty well on the island, but I could see the outline of my ribs.
Once in the tub, I slid down so only my face was exposed. I wished I could force my emotions back into a little knot. I told myself Braedon and the boys might still be found, but on the edges of my mind, I only saw the tiny speck of the outrigger almost indiscernible against the wide expanse of the ocean. I lay in the hot water trying to hold the pain at bay.
When the water grew tepid, I got out and wrapped up in a towel. I thought about how hard it would be to untangle my wet hair ... and yelped. I had left the bag with my few island possessions on the yacht. It had all the things Braedon had carved for me, including the hair pick. I leaned against the bathroom wall, slid to the floor, and cried.
CHAPTER 23
I WOKE TO the smell of food and the feel of someone rubbing my shoulder. I surged to a sitting position. “Braedon!”
Elle snapped her hand back. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “It’s just me.”
I clambered to my knees, clutching the towel around me. “Any news?”
“Nothing yet. The Coast Guard has a massive search going, but a tropical storm is headed that way.” Elle helped me up. “You’ve slept a couple of hours. I ordered you some oatmeal. You should eat it before it gets cold.”
With hands now almost too heavy to lift, I slipped on a robe and followed her into the bedroom. She stirred the melting brown sugar into the gray mush, added a bit of milk, and passed me the bowl. My stomach grumbled and I took a big bite—and promptly spat it back into the dish.
“What’s wrong?” Elle took the bowl from me and peered at the oatmeal.
I swallowed, trying to get the taste out of my mouth. “It’s too sweet.” I grabbed the glass of milk from the tray
and took a drink. “I’m sorry. Can I get another bowl without any sugar?”
“Sure.” Elle set the bowl aside and called room service.
After she hung up, Elle rubbed my back and then scowled, lifting a clump of my hair. “This is a mess. Let me get some things, and I’ll help you with it. Oh, and Aislinn gave me these for you.” She took a stack of clothes out of a bag and left.
I looked through the clothing and chose the softest items. I didn’t like their feel, but I knew I would have to get used to them. If Braedon and I had been going through this transition together, we would have been laughing and rejoicing.
As I was finishing getting dressed, Elle returned, followed by Aislinn.
Elle had me sit down and worked leave-in conditioner into my hair. Aislinn and Elle then each took half my hair and began working out the snarls. I thought of Braedon doing the same thing back on the island, and the now familiar ache in my throat burned again as I tried not to cry. It was a losing battle, and my shoulders shook.
Aislinn knelt beside me with an arm around my shoulders. “We can get you some help, you know. They have counselors.”
“I’m okay.” I wiped my eyes with the tissue Elle handed me. “It’s just that everything reminds me of him.” My voice broke. “He carved me a beautiful comb, but I’ve lost my bag.”
Elle slapped her temple. “Mrs. Hathaway gave me a bag for you. I forgot all about it.” She moved to the door. “I’ll go get it.”
I leaned back in the chair. I hadn’t lost my treasures. While Aislinn worked on my hair again, I tapped my foot and watched the door.
When Elle finally returned with my woven bag, I bounded out of my chair, leaving a few strands of hair in Aislinn’s hands.
“Show us what you have in there,” Aislinn suggested, her voice quiet.
As Aislinn and Elle combed the rats and tangles out of my hair, I talked about the items Braedon had carved for me and the stories behind them. It surprised me how good it felt to speak of him.
Elle ran her brush through my hair one last time. “You need to get your hair cut. It’s not healthy.” She held up the frizzy ends. “I can totally believe you washed it with lye.”
The phone rang, and I jumped at the unexpected sound. Aislinn answered, said something I couldn’t hear, and hung up. She exchanged glances with Elle and then turned to me. “The Coast Guard found the Scout group.” Aislinn’s eyes glistened. “But not Braedon or the two boys.”
I took her hand. “But they’ll keep looking, right?”
“The catamaran was large enough to justify a lengthy search. A homemade outrigger ....”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “It’s my fault,” I whispered. “They weren’t going to take us. Moli wanted to send someone back for us. It’s my fault they were in that storm with an inexperienced passenger.”
Elle took both my shoulders and gave me a shake. “Lyn, you’re not making sense. You were an inexperienced passenger, and you made it. It was just bad luck.”
I blinked rapidly to keep from crying again. “Do you have any idea when they’ll be here?”
“Tomorrow, we hope.” Aislinn indicated the television she had turned on but muted. “I think you should see this.”
It was one of the morning news shows ... and I was the opening story. Aislinn unmuted it. They were reviewing the old kidnapping news. There was even a flash of Elle, Jori, and the others in our group. Then the screen filled with a picture of Braedon and me. It had to be one of Elle’s from the cruise.
Aislinn turned off the TV. “You needed to know. The press wants to talk to you.”
“No.” I slammed my hand on the table. “This is our loss, not theirs. I can’t stomach the thought of people watching the story while they eat dinner and then go on with their lives, while we’re ....” My voice cracked.
Elle squeezed my arm. “We agree.”
D’ARCY AND Mal arrived a while later and set up a laptop for the video call to Marc. I sat in front of the screen and waited impatiently for the call to connect. Finally, a picture of my little brother came into focus.
“Thank God, Lyn!” Marc shouted, his eyes watering. “I can’t believe I’m seeing you. I wish I was there and could give you a huge hug.”
Marc looked older than he should have, crow’s feet spreading from his eyes. The burden of so many losses had left its mark on him. I blinked rapidly. “Wow, little brother, you’re all grown up!”
He rolled his eyes. “To be honest, you look like you could do with a few extra meals.” Marc leaned forward, trying to see me better, his voice soft. “Was it very bad?”
I picked at my battered fingernails, trying to decide what to say. I looked up and attempted a smile. “The accommodations stank, but the company was great.”
“Is there any news?”
Trying to swallow the lump in my throat, I shook my head. Time for a change of topic. “Tell me what you’ve been up to.”
Marc talked for a while about his decision to join the Marines and the girl he had left in Georgia. There was an awkward pause as we stared at each other. I wanted to ask about our parents, but the words wouldn’t come.
My brother’s face crumbled. The sob I had been trying to hold back broke loose. A man’s hand appeared on-screen, squeezing Marc’s shoulder, and Aislinn and Elle each grabbed one of my hands.
Marc wiped his face impatiently. “I’m sorry. This should be a happy time. You’re alive.” He hiccupped and his face went crimson. Marc snorted, and I laughed. It was a little hysterical, but the constricting knot in my throat eased. “We’ll talk about them later.”
I nodded and raised my hand in the sign language symbol for ‘I love you’ that our family had always used. He returned it and cut the connection.
ON THE fourth day, Elle arrived early in the morning, tapping on the door before using her key card. I stared at her where I sat frozen in front of the television.
She stopped, grimacing at the screen still showing the Coast Guard spokesman.
I clenched the couch cushion against my chest. “How can they call off the search?”
Elle came over and sat beside me. “Mal’s talking to them now.”
The pressure on my chest increased. Closing my eyes, I forced slow breaths. Elle squeezed my hand, and I focused on the movement of my chest, willing it to calm.
There was a tap on the door, and Elle went to open it. Mal came in, and the slight shake of his head told me all I needed to know. I stood on shaky legs and went to the window, opening it a sliver to stare at the reporters huddling against the increasing wind. Last night, the storm that had halted the search had finally broken, bringing a spark of hope.
“I’m sorry, Lyn.” Mal’s reflection in the glass grew.
The dark, roiling clouds sucked away the light. The first heavy splatters of rain, followed quickly by a tropical deluge, washed away the little flame of hope I had been clinging to. My vision went blurry, and I closed my eyes. “What do we do now?”
Elle’s voice came out as a tight whisper. “The police said we can leave whenever we want.”
I looked at Elle’s image where she had joined her husband behind me, her head resting on his shoulder. “Is this what happened before?”
She nodded, her eyes shining even in the dim reflection.
I turned to face them, my arms folded tightly against my body. “We were still alive. They could be too.”
Elle buried her face in Mal’s shoulder, and he murmured something softly to her before looking at me. “It’s been in the news. Boaters will keep a lookout, and the Coast Guard will notify us if they find anything.”
Find anything? My head pounded. “I have to talk to Moli and Isaac.”
I PACED THE hotel room, wishing I could go outside or to the hotel’s gym to release some tension. Even after the hotel had banned the press, a few still had found a way inside.
At a knock, I jumped and approached the door with some trepidation, concerned about a repeat of the night before. I ha
d just been about to leave my room with Aislinn and D’Arcy when he had pushed me back inside reporters trying to press in behind him. We had been stuck until the hotel’s security had arrived.
“It’s Vin.” Elle gave the code phrase. In a different time and place, the ridiculousness of it would have made us laugh.
Mal followed her in, carrying a package with a change of clothes. He handed it to me.
As I accepted it, I said to Mal, “Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for a total stranger.”
He flopped on the couch, automatically putting his arm around Elle when she sat next to him. “You’re hardly a stranger, Lyn. Elle has told me so much about you in the last two years that I felt like I knew you even before we met.”
“How’d you two meet?” I asked.
“During the first search. Aislinn and Elle became close, and I got pulled in.” He looked at Elle with soft eyes. “It just kind of happened.”
I smiled as she returned his adoring gaze. “How long have you been married?”
“Two years,” Elle replied, her eyes on Mal.
“Me too,” I whispered. I took the package and went to the bathroom to change.
With the help of some of the hotel staff, we snuck past the press. Mal and D’Arcy, dressed in bright-colored shirts, shorts, and large straw hats, drove to the hotel’s loading dock in a rental car with darkened windows to pick us up.
ELLE HAD braided my hair and forced it under a baseball cap. I wore simple jeans and a bright shirt. The uncomfortable clothes and sandals set my mood.
We drove to meet Moli and Isaac in a little hole-in-the-wall diner full of people. I went in alone. Once my eyes adjusted to the darker interior, I saw the two men seated in a booth with tall seat backs near the rear.
Hesitating only a moment, I joined them, sliding onto the cracked vinyl bench across from them. Their eyes were dark with grief, and I recalled the vivid, laughing faces of their sons. I had worked very hard all day not to cry, but I lost it then.
“I’m so sorry,” I wept, grabbing a napkin and wiping my nose. In my selfishness, I had stolen Lua and Etano from their families.
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