“When?” he says, and I freeze. I can’t give him an answer before I know the situation.
Tell him.
“I—I don’t know,” I say. “But I will. As soon as I can, I’ll be back.” I press my bracelet to his, the cheap plastic beads clink as they touch. “I promise.”
“If you’re not, I’ll come find you.” His voice is low as he leans in, and despite my racing heart, I kiss him tenderly on the lips. “And that’s a promise too, Marina.”
I gulp, saying a polite goodbye to Heather before Moth launches us into the sky. I scream at the sheer speed before relaxing into the feeling of flight.
“Do not worry,” Moth says, his voice low and certain. “I will have you home in no time.”
Home.
As I look down at the shrinking image of Gil below, it feels like I’m going in the opposite direction. I just hope Grams is okay.
Chapter 29
Marina
There are two women with the last name Wiles at the nursing home.
Darleen Wiles.
And Darla Wiles. She’s Grams’ nemesis after years of being mistaken for each other. She’s always had a bad hip and is, thankfully, doing fine after an emergency surgery.
Once I’ve stopped panicking, Grams and I go to the hospital together to bring her flowers, even though Darla has been caught hiding aces up her sleeve for years.
Once that’s settled, we stop for lunch, then head back to her apartment. Every step we take together, I’m relieved.
I wonder if during the next Festival of The Four Sisters, I can get a blessing for her continued health. “As happy as I am to see you, I wish they hadn’t called.” Grams shakes her head. We’ve talked about this a few times now. She hates that my vacation was cut short, and the wrinkled lines on her forehead are deep and furrowed because of it.
“Oh, I’m only here for the gourmet decaf coffee they serve in the lobby,” I tease, raising my cup in the air. To say it tastes like water is a compliment. “You should know by now how much I crave this.”
“Even I can’t entertain that as a joke, Mari. Dump it out and make some real coffee.”
“Actually, can I talk to you about something?” I say, taking another sip of the coffee water. “It’s about the boy I met—Gil. Turns out, we actually knew each other from camp.”
“Is that so?” Grams asks, quirking an eyebrow.
“It’s just…” I say, letting the memories from the past few days play before my eyes like a movie. “I felt so comfortable with him, even around his family, who he introduced me to. It was all so … welcoming? I’ve never felt so at home, except for when I’m with you.”
“Well, you didn’t exactly have the best examples,” she says, her hand falling onto mine, and somehow, the wrinkles stand out a little more today. “I am sorry about that.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Hardly,” she groans. “My biggest regret is not begging them to let me take you. I was too busy poisoning myself, and I’m so sorry.”
Beg them into taking me?
No, that’s not right. I remember how badly I wanted to live with her, how hard I tried. An unwanted memory resurfaces. Little me, clutching a giant suitcase, walking to the door. I asked my aunt if I could go live with Grams forever, and she laughed right in my face. “They said you didn’t want me,” I whisper, meeting her gaze.
“That’s not true.” Grams’ voice is graver than I’ve ever heard it. “Your uncle said it would be better for you to grow up around someone your own age. I was too lost to argue. It wasn’t until the school started calling me about missing lunches, slipping grades, and falling asleep in class because your aunt wasn’t picking up the damn phone that I knew something was wrong. But then I was in the hospital after my final bender and I’ll regret that forever.”
“Your Grandma is sick because of you.”
“I’d be sick too if I had you bothering me all the time.”
Despite the way our relationship has grown, part of me still believed all those things Aunt Andrea told me.
