Nick looked over at Angelina. “Angelina told her grandfather that I want to come with her and Makala. I’ll feel better if I know they have a home and are safe. And my family is only a short way away, across the border in Arizona.”

  “But, Nick! It will be dangerous,” I cried.

  Angelina looked at me, and then away.

  “I’ll be with Angelina’s family. Once we get to Loreto, they’ll protect me and help me cross the border. Besides, crossing into the U.S. isn’t a problem. Everyone is trying to get out of the U.S.”

  I started to mention that Angelina’s grandfather’s name didn’t seem to make a difference to the Mexican Navy, but glanced at Angelina, and thought better of it. She was clearly happy Nick was coming with her.

  She continued to shove clothes, blankets, toys and books she’d left behind into pillowcases. Nick looked around the cabin. He hadn’t brought anything onboard when he left Seattle. He’d already packed everything he owned.

  Takumi busied himself cleaning up the galley.

  We had so much to say to one another, we didn’t know where to start. So, we said nothing.

  And then it was too late. A power boat was approaching.

  The Marines loaded up their weapons and took position on deck.

  “Stand down,” Sassy ordered. “It’s the girls’ family.”

  Angelina made her way through the Marines and waved as the boat grew closer. Suddenly, she squealed, “Mom!” She turned to me. “Toni, my mom is on the boat.”

  Angelina and Makala almost flew into their mother’s arms. Angelina’s mother was as beautiful as Angelina. She cried as she rocked her daughters, and mouthed, “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” to Nick, Takumi and me.

  One of the young men in the small fishing boat scowled. “Sorry. We must hurry. Bad weather.”

  Angelina pulled away from her mom, and gestured at her family as she wiped her eyes. “Nick, Toni, and Takumi, this is my mom, my grandfather, and my cousins, Stephen, Jesse, and Miguel.”

  “You saved my daughters! Thank you,” her mother said as she studied each of our faces, ending with Nick. She held her arms out for him. “Come here, young man.”

  Nick threw his pack over his shoulder and climbed aboard. The foursome hugged in the wildly bouncing boat.

  And then, I handed Boots down.

  “Momma, this is Boots. He’s the bestest dog in the world,” Makala said as Boots licked her face and then her mom’s.

  The group broke apart and laughed as they tried to get Boots to settle down.

  When Nick and Angelina were finally seated, one of Angelina’s cousins handed Nick a Mexican driver’s license. He pointed at the name on the card, and then at Nick. Apparently, they had thought of everything.

  “I want to repay you,” Angelina’s grandfather said as he prepared to shove off. “How can this be done?”

  “Find a radio that is powerful enough to transmit to Santa Barbara.” I smiled through my happy tears.

  “It will be done,” he promised, and the fishing boat roared away.

  This time it was Makala who waved Boots’s little paw good-bye to me.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  The sky grew dark even though it was still early afternoon. The swells got bigger and deeper. White caps dotted the ocean.

  I looked around the boat. There were Marines stationed at every line. They’d arranged themselves around Whistler like it was an America’s Cup boat. We were heeled way over, and the Marines held on tight to the life lines.

  I wanted to say, “Let the sails out. They’re overwhelmed by the wind,” but didn’t. The Marines made it clear, in a good way, that they were in charge, and didn’t need my advice. I let the exhaustion I’d felt for four days, come over me.

  I interrupted Takumi and Kevin, who were discussing the make and size of the other boats in the flotilla. “I’m going to bed. Don’t wake me unless it’s for food.”

  “Okay.” Takumi kissed me. “I’ll make some lunch soon.”

  I crawled into what had been Dylan and Zoë’s bed. The last thing I remember thinking before sleep overcame me was that I’d given up the boat, but until we got to base, this bedroom was mine.

  I slept, ate, and slept some more. It was like I was making up for months of not sleeping.

  And then, on the night of the third day, Sassy woke me. “Toni, we’re in trouble. Waves are coming over the boat. Takumi said we need to reef the sail. We all know what that means, but only Banks has experience on a private sailboat, and he said the boat he was on was rigged differently.”

  “Fine, I’ll be right there.” I put on my rain gear.

  “Just tell me what to do, and I can do it,” the Marine named Banks said.

  The boat lurched far to the side as a huge wave hit us. “Give the wheel to Takumi,” I yelled.

  Takumi waited for Banks to move. When he wouldn’t, Kevin ordered him to. Another wave hit us from the side. The mainsail was almost in the water. Sassy’s face was white with fear.

  Takumi gripped the wheel. I told him to take the waves at an angle, and head us into the wind. I ordered the Marine stationed at the mainsail to lower the sail until I said stop.

  I found the reef lines and pulled them tight. The main sail was now almost half the size it had been. The lower portion of the sail was neatly folded and tight to the boom.

  The smaller mainsail was making the boat steadier, but the wind was still too strong. While Takumi held the boat into the wind, I had the Marines bring in the jib.

  When the sails were adjusted, I stood and watched for a while. The ride smoothed out and we were still sailing fast. I made a few minor adjustments, then looked at Sassy. “Anything else?”

  She laughed. “Nope. That’ll do it. Way to go, girlfriend.”

  Later that night, Kevin visited me. I was sitting up in bed, reading.

  “You know, Major Conrad doesn’t just want Whistler. He needs experienced sailors.”

  “Well, it’s good you have Banks, then.” I picked my novel back up.

  “Marines know how to sail. We know the nautical terms, and have worked on huge Navy vessels. But pleasure boats are different. We could use your help.”

  I looked up at him. “You saved my life. In return, you get my gratitude and Whistler. I wasn’t part of the deal.”

  “I know you are anxious to see your parents. But think about it.”

  “Thanks. I will.” I stared at the page in my book, not reading a word.

  Much later that night, Takumi came in and closed the door behind him. “Kevin said he asked you to be a part of the rescue mission.”

  I laid the book down again. “It’s hard for me to be on Whistler and not be able to sail her or make decisions for her. And all I’ve wanted since we left Seattle, was to be with my family.”

  Takumi knelt beside me. “Toni, I’ve decided to stay on the base. With Whistler.”

  “What?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

  “The Navy’s planning to repair and make improvements to the boat. I was asked to supervise these repairs. I’ll make sure they treat her right. Kevin said he’ll find me rides to see you, wherever you end up.”

  “But, I thought—I thought, you wanted to get to know my family. I thought you wanted to be with me.” I hopped out of bed and paced the tiny room.

  “Toni. Look at me.” Takumi stopped me. “I do want to be with you. I want to get to know your family, too. But, I’m not ready to settle down. I’m not like Dylan.”

  He gestured out at the sea. “There is an entire world out there that needs rebuilding. I want to be a part of that. And I want you to be a part of it with me.”

  A bitter tone crept into my voice. “I’ve been watching you. You want to sail with the flotilla.”

  “I do. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be with you, too. I love you. I want to spend my life with you. And, I understand that you need to spend time with your family. But, I need to stay at the base and keep an eye on the boat. When Whistler is refurbished, I’ll visit you. I’ll meet your parents.”

  I plopped down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. “I need some time to think about all of this.”

  Takumi sat beside me. “I’m not asking you to decide anything right now. Only that you give sailing with the flotilla some consideration. It will not just be an adventure. It will be our education. Something we can turn into a career. We already have good sailing skills. Working with the Navy and joining the flotilla will sharpen these skills.”

  “But what about being with my family? I thought we would all stay together. When you leave on the rescue mission, how long will you be gone?”

  “I’m not sure. But, think of it like this. If we were in the old world, I’d be getting ready to go off to college. We’d be making plans for visits. Then, you’d go to college. It would be hard, but if we really loved one another, we’d make it work. How is this so different?”

  I picked up the novel. “I don’t know, but it is.”

  ****

  Jervis and Major Conrad met Takumi and me on the Navy dock where Whistler was tied. It was a floating wooden structure that had been pieced together from wreckage. It rocked back and forth with every step. After the initial greeting, we made our way carefully to the shore before talking.

  “Where’s Dylan?” I hugged Jervis as I leapt to the shore and glanced around.

  “Dylan’s wife was having stomach pains. She insisted she go to the medical clinic in Santa Barbara,” Jervis said.

  I gripped Jervis’s arm. “The baby. Did she…?”

  Jervis burst out laughing. “The doctors couldn’t find anything wrong. The baby’s fine. Dylan radioed and said maybe it was indigestion.”

  “Indigestion?” I made a face.

  Major Conrad made a face. “That, or maybe she didn’t like waking up in the dirt that first morning. Not her thing, I fear.”

  I chuckled. “That’s our Zoë. Did Dylan find our parents?”

  He pulled a pamphlet out of his inside jacket. “Actually, I met your dad. I was in Santa Barbara shortly after your parents arrived. Your mother is doing fine, by the way. The operation went well.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief.

  He opened the map. “Your dad showed me this map of Santa Cruz. He was excited about an old homestead he’d found. It’s inland. I’m sure the buildings were destroyed, but it had a well, and the well might be intact.”

  “Was Mom okay to travel to the island and hike to the farmhouse?” I asked.

  “Not at first. While your mother was recuperating, your father repaired a small daytime sailboat he found in the harbor. He sailed it over to the island and checked out the property. When he came back to the base, your brother and Zoë had arrived. Your dad and Dylan left their wives at the base, and went to fix up the place.

  “That was the day after you left, about seven days ago. A couple of days ago, Dylan radioed and said he and your dad had brought the women to the farm house. He wanted you and Takumi to meet them on the island.”

  He showed me where the farm house was on a map. There was a trail that led from the beach to it. I showed it to Takumi.

  Major Conrad cleared his throat. “I’m glad you’re okay. But, what made you think you could sail to Mexico? You were at the border. You saw the shootings.”

  I put the map away. “We promised two of our crew members we would take them home. Angelina insisted her family could protect us. Thank you for sending the helicopter and the Marines. You saved our lives.”

  “You’re welcome.” He paused. “I am going to confiscate your boat. The need is great. But I will try to find a way to compensate you.”

  It was done. I didn’t want to talk about it anymore. “How soon can I get a ride to Santa Cruz?”

  Jervis stepped forward. “There’s a jeep being loaded with patients headed for Santa Barbara, right now. But, before you go, come say hi to my sisters.”

  Takumi signaled to Jervis and me. “You two go ahead. I’ll catch up. I’d like a moment to talk to Major Conrad. That is, if you have time, Sir?”

  The senior officer folded his arms. “I will not change my mind about your boat.”

  “I know,” Takumi said. “I’m not asking you to.”

  Jervis took my arm. “That was strange. What’s going on?”

  I told him about Takumi’s plan.

  Jervis grinned. “That’s great. He can stay with my sisters and me until he finds his own place. He’ll love it here. I’ve been assigned to work on engines and electrical systems. We’ve been installing wind and solar panels to all the sailboats.”

  I bit my lip to keep from saying something I’d regret.

  Jervis moved aside the flap of one of the huge white tents I’d seen at the border camp. I could hear children playing inside. When I entered, I discovered the kids sitting in a circle on the floor. Two female teachers stood in the center of them. The younger woman gestured for us to join them.

  “This is my friend, Toni. She can’t stay long. I just wanted her to come and say hi!” Jervis said.

  “Well, kids. Say hi!” The older teacher said.

  “Hi!” The children cried.

  I spotted Naomi and Rebecca. They waved and I was pleasantly surprised.

  The young teacher left the circle and joined us.

  Jervis put his arm around her. “This is my girlfriend, Rose.” He pulled her close. “Rose, this is Toni.”

  “Hi, Rose,” I said with a smile. I was happy for Jervis. He was almost bubbling over with joy. And she was lovely, with curly brown hair, green eyes, and a smile that lit up the room. She was clearly into Jervis, too. Rebecca and Naomi joined us.

  “Looks like you guys like Rose too,” I said.

  The girls shyly nodded.

  And then, Takumi entered the tent. “Sorry. Kevin says the jeep needs to leave. They’ve been waiting for…”

  “Come meet my girlfriend,” Jervis said proudly, and then invited Takumi to have dinner with them.

  Takumi glanced at me and then Jervis. “We’ll talk later.”

  “I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again, soon.” I said as I gave Rose and the girls a quick hug goodbye. Jervis walked with us until Takumi said something that made Jervis pause. He gave me a bear hug and turned toward a cluster of tents.

  “What did Major Conrad say?” I finally asked. “Can you stay here and work on Whistler?”

  “I can. He even said I could stay on Whistler itself.”

  “Did you ask him if you could take personal things off the boat and store them for us?”

  “I did.” Takumi took me in his arms. “He said that would be fine.”

  “Okay!” I stroked his cheek. “But I wish you were coming with me.”

  “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He kissed me and then whispered, “I miss you already.”

  “Me too,” I sighed. “If a snake bites me, I’ll never forgive you.”

  Takumi chuckled. “It’s not the snakes you have to worry about. It’s the wild turkeys.” He kissed me again. “I love you.” He opened the jeep door.

  I climbed in. “Love you, more.” I let go of his hand and the door closed.

  ****

  It was a long ride to Santa Barbara. The driver said that it was over two hundred miles. The road had been cleared, but the going was still slow. There were three passengers. One had a broken leg. He moaned at every bump.

  I felt his pain.

  We arrived at the base in Santa Barbara later that afternoon. I asked around for someone to take me to Santa Cruz Island. I was offered a kayak.

  Then I met a fisherman who had turned a catamaran into a fishing boat. He agreed to sail me to Santa Cruz Island, but only if I’d help him bring in his catch first. He had fish customers on the island.

  He dropped me off at Scorpion Anchorage. It was a bay I hadn’t visited. I followed the map to Scorpion Ranch. The trail had been washed away, but occasionally, I’d see a wooden stake that marked where it had been.

  Every time a blade of grass moved, I jumped. I could handle a tsunami, but not snakes. And the island grew enormous snakes. Takumi had killed one the last time we’d been here.

  The trail disappeared on the side of the hill. I had no choice but to keep going to the top. Once there, I found a large boulder, sat, and gazed at the valley below. A few scraggly trees surrounded a makeshift building in the middle of the grassy basin.

  The front of the house was made of wooden siding. The door was a tarp that hung down from the rafters. The other side of the building was constructed from chunks of siding, scraps of savaged boards, and more tarps. Piles of bricks were stacked in the yard.

  I watched four people approach the house from the west. The men were dragging a framed in wall. There were holes in the sheet rock, but the wall was mostly intact. The women followed behind. One pulled a wooden cart.

  Then I realized: the woman with the cart was my mom. Dad and Dylan were carrying the wall.

  I leapt to my feet, and started running down the hill.

  “Mom! Dad!” I screamed.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Dylan and Dad glanced my way. Dad let go of the wall. Dylan struggled with it and then dropped it. My mom and Dad raced toward me, calling my name.

  I skidded and slipped on the rocky hill. We met and fell into each other’s arms.

  I was sobbing too hard to speak. When I tried, all I could get out was, “Cole!”

  My mother put her finger to my lips. “Hush. It’s okay, honey. We know. We know.”

  Dad wiped his tears away. “My baby girl. You’re home.”

  I leaned on them as we slowly walked back to the house. An outside table had been made from a board that sat atop stacks of bricks. Four camping chairs sat around the table.

  “Sit,” Dad said. “I’ll get the stump.” He rolled a small tree stump over to the table and sat on it.

  Mom scooted her chair next to mine, and took my hand.

  “Glad you finally made it.” Dylan went inside the house through a tarp door, and came back with five plastic bottles. “The water is from our well.” He handed me a bottle.