Page 40 of Enter if you Dare: Part Three

I’ve not been looking forward to this day. I’m great at arrivals, when people come to the island; those days are so fun. But leaving is different. Everyone on the island is feeling the same as all our loved ones are packing up.

Nixie understandably gives us a time limit for guests to stay. The island needs to go back to holding night chases, since those make a lot of money.

Rue has put on one last breakfast, giving everyone a chance to say goodbye. The tent is full and loud. Somehow my mom ended up in the kitchen again with Rue; they have become buddies and plan to stay in touch to exchange recipes.

Watching my birth family interact with my island family makes me feel complete. Almost as if I finally have everything I ever need in this life—and I have never felt this content.

Valli is struggling with Leni leaving, but she has to get back to school. Having arrived early, Leni was required to sign an NDA, which a lot of family members don’t have to do, but Nixie made an exception since she is understanding of what happens on the island. Not all families would be, not when their children are chasing people around in the dark and doing questionable things to them.

Scanning the room, I find Cave, Valli, and Cipher eating breakfast, and my heart feels full. I’m still adjusting to this version of Cave, the one without his scarecrow costume, clad in sweats and a hoodie and not wanting to murder anyone just for being near him. I don’t know if this version of him will last, especially if faced with a situation that might require his inner Scarecrow, but either way I will stand by his side and have his back.

Cipher’s parents are sitting across from them, and Cindy signs something slowly to Valli. She is trying to learn more, and I know that means a lot to Cipher. My brain moves so fast that ASL isn’t as easy for me to grasp, but I am determined that Cipher will teach me. Christopher is watching them, and I have slowly seen him opening up to his son during this visit. So he should, as Cipher is one of the best humans I have ever met, and it would be his loss if he doesn’t try to maintain a relationship.

Breakfast moves by fast, with people eating and helping to pack up, then before I know it, everyone is wheeling their bags outside.

Lach has disappeared, and my mom sends me to go look for him. On my way, I see Cave turn toward the cornfield; he has no interest in goodbyes and people crying, and it’s good to see that part of him has stayed the same. Before he leaves, Christopher catches his attention and signs something to him, and while I can’t read ASL, I can read Cave. He signs back, and Christopher nods once.

Cipher comes up behind me, startling me, as I was too busy watching his father’s and Cave’s exchange.

“What did he say?” I ask.

“He told Cave he was proud of me, and Cave said, ‘So you should be.’”

I glance at Cipher. “Of course he should be. You’re one of the best men I know.”

Cipher nods. I hope he realizes he never needed his father’s validation, but it must have been nice for him to witness that moment.

Lach comes running down the path. “Sorry, bro. I forgot something.”

He doesn’t elaborate exactly what, just keeps running.

“I better follow him,” I tell Cipher.

“Go, I’ll wait for my dad.”

I leave Cipher and follow behind my brother, listening to my mom chastise him when I arrive. Once that is done, we move on to our goodbyes, which are not easy.

Cindy approaches and signs something. I don’t understand, but Vesper of all people comes over to translate. “She says look after each other, and that she will be back.”

“We will,” I tell her. “And please come back—I know Cipher will love that.”

Vesper signs and Cindy pulls me in for a hug. She waves to me when she spots her husband and son.

My mom is last, and this is the hardest goodbye for me. “The island is good for you, Noa. This is the happiest I have ever seen you.”

“I am happy,” I tell her.

Mom cries as she pulls me into a hug, and I wrap my arms around her and squeeze.

“She’s good for you,” she says. “All of them are. Even the looming, quiet one.” Her description of Cave makes me chuckle. “He’s really not as scary as I thought he would be.”

“He can be, you just got the well-behaved Christmas version.”

She laughs and pulls back to look at me. “Come home and visit us soon, and bring them as well.”

“I will, I promise.”

She looks past me to where Cipher and Cave are now standing. Cave still being here shocks me, and when my mom waves, they both wave back.