The Summer We Came to Life

Chapter

59





HONDURAS IS STUNNING.

To be fair, we could be driving through a chicken coup after what we’ve been through and I’d think that was stunning, too. But Honduras does got the goods, as Jesse put it a few miles back. We’ve passed plantation homes next to aging military barracks, palm tree farms that stretch out like Iowa corn fields, vegetable gardens clear up the sides of mountains, and houses no bigger than a toolshed with eighteen people, a cow, and some chickens sitting out front. Kendra’s got my camera pointed out the car window and I’m teaching her about drive-by shooting.

“Aim at something way ahead of you, then watch as it rushes in close, hold your breath, try to capture it one second sooner than you think you should, and then watch it fly away.”

Click. Kendra takes the picture of a child balancing two yellow water jugs on a stick across her shoulders.

“If you get it right, the object of your desire appears crystal clear in a blur of swirling life. You get it right maybe one time out of a hundred.”

“There’s a poem in there somewhere.”

“Me? Or out there?”

“All of it, Sam. Everything.”

“I know what you mean,” I say. “I know what you mean.”



We’re at the airport. Kendra’s staying a day with me; everybody else is on the same return flight. The parents are off dealing with the roughed-up rental cars when I turn to Isabel. “Iz, you sure you don’t want to change your ticket? Stay a day with Kendra?”

Isabel looks uncertain, then she smiles. “You two bond. I’m going to spend time with my mom. I’ve got a lot to think about.” She gives me a hug. “Anyway, we’ve got plenty of time, right?”

Again, I desperately want to ask her about Ahari’s vision. What did they see? “Iz—”

Jesse calls out to us, rushing over and tugging Arshan by the hand.

Isabel smiles at me again. “But, hey—no job and a severance package. Maybe I’ll come back after your residency or you can meet me in Indonesia.”

Kendra holds up her hand. “Whoa, there. If you need somewhere to go, missy, come to New York and help me figure out how the hell I’m going to do this by myself.” She points at her midsection.

Jesse and Arshan butt in and give me a hug goodbye.

I take Arshan by the elbow. “Listen, I’m serious about the quantum physics chat. I’m going to call you.”

“Astrophysics. Stars and planets. Not the spooky stuff. But I’ll do my best.” He narrows his eyes. “You staging a return to science, then?”

Before I can answer, Lynette comes up and kisses me on the cheek. Then she takes my face in her two hands, squeezing it like a vise. “Call your father. You hear me? You heard my story and Jesse’s story. You might not have forever to set things right, kid. Okay?”

I gulp. I do want to talk to my father. I suddenly have a million questions about his life, about my mother. Why did I ever think it was too late to forgive someone who’s been there since birth?

Cornell pries Lynette’s hands from my face. He puts out his hand to shake, then scoops me up in a crushing hug. “Great trip, Samantha. Everybody survived. Good job.”

I hear Isabel take a breath.

Jesse pulls me away and takes up my hand. “Time to go,” she says, and kisses each of my fingers. “Samantha Anne Wheland. You gonna marry that man or not?”

My stomach flutters like a flight of fireflies on a summer’s eve. I look around the circle at six peering faces that make up my entire world. Breathe, Samantha. “I’m not positive, but most likely I will. You all know I like to jump before I think about it too hard. Although I would prefer we chalk it up to my undying belief in love.”