She’s next to us in a flash. “I’m ready. Tell me what you need.”
“Start checking flights out of Bangor and out of Boston. Try Manchester, New Hampshire. Anything. We’re getting to LA. One way or another.”
“You’re coming with me?” I drop my head against him in appreciation.
“I think we’re going to have to finagle one hell of a trip, and it’ll be easier if I’m there. That is, if you want me to come, of course.”
“I do. I don’t think I can do this without you.”
“You could, but you don’t have to,” he says as he hugs me. “I need a picture of her. Do you have one on your computer that you can send me?”
“Yes. Why?”
“Just do that, then throw a few things in a backpack, and let’s go. I’m driving us...somewhere. Kerry? How are things looking?”
“Gimme a minute, gimme a minute...I’m trying to find something...” She’s shaking her head, though.
“Is Danny around?” he asks.
“No, he left for home already.”
“Then get Jason. We need him. I’ll do a post, and you monitor Twitter, and Jason can stay on Facebook.”
Kerry gives him a friendly shove. “You’re not messing around if you’re bringing in Jason.”
“Shut up. You know I love him.”
“Wait, what’s happening?” I’m nearly speechless. “What are you doing? You’re posting this?”
“If you’re okay with it, it’s the best way.” His arm goes around my shoulders, and he kisses the top of my head. “There are hundreds of thousands of people out there who are going to hear about this. And they are going to help us reach Steffi.”
“Two minutes ago, you were going to get off-line. You can’t possibly think this will work. God, Esben, it’s one thing to get help for a kid’s party. Or to adopt a dog. But there’s no way even you can do this.”
“Yes, there is.” He squeezes me tightly. “Watch me.”
“What about... you two are supposed to go home tomorrow.”
“Our parents will understand,” Kerry says. “They know us. They know Esben.”
“Thank you. Thank you both, so much.” I look between these amazing people. “I don’t know what else to say. You guys are—”
“We love you,” Kerry says firmly. “And we’re going to get you to Steffi.”
“We will,” Esben agrees. “Send me that picture; then we’re leaving.”
My emotions are trying to take over. “What if...” Dammit, this hurts. “What if we don’t make it in time? What if—”
“Don’t talk like that,” he insists. “We will get there. Listen to me. We will.”
I hope he’s right about that. He has to be.
CHAPTER 27
#ALLISONANDSTEFFI
Esben’s post has exploded. He had to break it into a ton of tweets to get it all up on Twitter, but that’s probably good for exposure anyway.
My friends, I need to ask for your help. #girlfriendallison has a best friend, Steffi. A best friend who has been Allison’s support through hell and back, especially while growing up in the rocky and often scary and unstable foster-care system. Many of us understand what it means to be lucky enough to have a true, hard-core friend, and Steffi has been Allison’s saving grace over and over.
