The Loose Ends List(63)

“Bye, Grandpa Martin,” I whisper under my breath as Gram hugs Lin a few yards away. They’re two shriveled raisins in front of the orange-topped temple where my grandfather became a quiet war hero.

I write postcards to my friends on the bus ride back to meet the Wishwell. The food in Taiwan is bad, but this place is pretty cool. We should take a road trip here someday.





NINETEEN


WE ARRIVE ON the Wishwell late and go straight to Enzo’s cabin. “I need a shower,” I whisper. “So let’s shower,” he whispers back. Our bodies slide in the steam. He turns me around and holds my hands against the wall and kisses me, starting at the top of my head. I didn’t know the human body could be heat-drenched and still shiver. We move to the bed, balcony doors flung open, moonlight streaming, breeze pushing in and drawing us closer, if closer were possible.

I use my finger to trace a newly discovered constellation: Maddie Major, the perfect semicircle of freckles on Enzo’s shoulder. I can’t even think about it without the sensation spreading outward from deep inside. I’m hooked on Enzo’s smell.



We’re starving. My knees buckle a little when I get up to answer the door. Enzo jumps up and puts on boxers. By the time Camilla comes in with breakfast, he’s on the balcony, kicking a soccer ball between the chairs.

We lounge in our underwear and feed each other bites of buttered toast.

“Can I ask what happened back at the temple to upset you so much?”

He might as well get to know my crazy side.

“I used to get really freaked out about death. It started when I saw my dog get hit by my school bus. I went to therapy, which kind of helped, but then when they cremated my grandpa Martin, I couldn’t handle it. I couldn’t get the image of Grandpa burning in an oven out of my head.”

“I get it.” Enzo pulls the covers up. “I have to say, being on this ship, seeing the patients, always brings back memories of Dad.” He stares at the ceiling. “Those images are tough to get rid of.”

We sit awhile, lost in dark thoughts until Enzo finally turns toward me and changes the subject. “God, you’re beautiful.”

I burrow under the covers and lay my head on his chest. His heart beats against my ear.

Before I sleep, I think of Holly. When I was little, I was afraid that if I looked at a sick or disabled person, I would become one. I knew it was weird and wrong to feel that way, but I couldn’t help it. Now I would give anything to look Holly in the eyes and tell her how brave she was and how her spirit inspired everyone. There will be a flood of emotions when we meet back up with the others. And there will be a life-size void where her chair belongs.



We’re all gathered on the pool deck, swapping stories. It seems like baby Grace got bigger and more adorable while we were gone, and Paige says she has a big surprise for us.

“Go ahead, Gracie. Go see Uncle Babysitter.” Grace toddles with a determined expression into the arms of a very emotional Wes.

“Yay, Gracie,” we all cheer. “You walked!” She laughs and claps, very proud of herself.

It almost seems the same, with Burt making fart jokes and Gram gesturing dramatically as she describes our thong swimsuits. It almost feels normal, with Jeb trying to hide his obvious interest in Camilla, and Mom gushing over Gloria’s snorkeling pictures. But something is off. The patients are weaker, grayer, yellower, quieter. And soon they will all be gone.

The elephant in the room hovers over our Wishwell reunion like a sinister pervert waiting for the right time to grab another innocent ass.



“Tomorrow’s my birthday,” I say to Enzo.

“I know tomorrow’s your birthday. I wish I could take you to Paris for the night.”

“I’ve had enough jet-setting for a while. I’ll settle for cupcakes.”

“Come on, we have to have a party. Eighteen is big. Let’s make you a birthday playlist to get you in the mood.”

“That would require getting out of bed. Although I do need a break. You’ve worn me out.”

“Would you believe you’ve worn me out, too?” He gets up and smooths down his hair in the mirror. “Let’s have a Wishwell day.”

We go up to the deck and steal pizza from the Ornaments while they play pool volleyball with Burt and my uncles.

“That’s it. A pool party,” Enzo says. “I’m sending out an invite.”

“Do you think that’s appropriate at this point in the trip?” I step into the Grotto.

“Sure. Things will be pretty uneventful until after Wishwell Island.”

“What’s the point of Wishwell Island, anyway?”

“Life. That’s the point. Mum created the ship so people don’t have to suffer in the end, but the goal of the Wishwell movement on the whole is to prevent diseases altogether.” Enzo looks down at his bee. “They actually have a party invitation app on these things.”

“Enzo, focus. I want to hear about the island.”

“They recruit the best doctors and scientists and grow plants from all over the world. They’re trying hard to find cures for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, addiction, everything.”

“Who is ‘they’? Who pays for all of it?”

“Loads of people donate. It’s the best-known secret on earth. A lot of them donate in memory of family members. You know, like-minded people who believe life is more important than stuff. Right they are, huh?”