Zadie turned to Finn. “It’s possible.”
Finn finally took a sip of her tea and felt the warmth not just in her throat but everywhere, from her toes to her temples. The fog had mostly cleared, and she could now see miles down the coast. Somewhere on that horizon was Oregon, then California, and beyond that, Mexico. Eight thousand miles: that’s how long she would have to walk on blistered feet in the hopes that her mother would happen by the same beach at the same time she was passing. The improbability of it felt like a slap in the face. She felt stupid and naïve. “We should get back.”
“Yeah, we should,” Zadie agreed. “I could use a hot shower.”
Yasmine stood. “I’ll give you guys a ride.”
True to her word, Yasmine dropped the girls off at the motel down the street from their camp. “Let me know if you need anything else,” she said. “You know where to find me.”
“Actually, there is something…” Zadie leaned on the passenger-side window. “Does the wordnestmean anything to you?”
“Nest?” Yasmine tapped her index finger thoughtfully against the steering wheel. “Nest, nest… There’s a little beach town about ten miles south of here calledEarnest. Cute place. Great waffles… Sorry, that’s all that comes to mind.”
Zadie nodded. “No worries. Thanks for the ride. And the tea.”
“Anytime. Good luck.” Yasmine waved and drove off. When Zadie turned around, Finn was no longer there. All she saw were her wet footprints leading to their motel room.
“Pepperoni and sausage with extra cheese… yeah, and a side of garlic bread… uh-huh…” While Zadie ordered pizza, Finn lay on the starchy motel comforter, watching the local weather forecast on mute. Animated rain clouds hovered over most of the Washington coast. The weatherman pointed to them with a look of resignation.
“Yeah, that’s it. Thanks.” Zadie hung up the phone. “Food will be here in thirty minutes.”
Finn kept her eyes on the spiky blue cold front sweeping across the screen. “Cool,” she said, distant.
“Wanna watch a movie?”
“Sure.”
“What do you feel like? Comedy? Drama? Action?”
“You pick.”
“Hey…” Zadie sat down on the bed and leaned her shoulder against her sister’s. “I know you’re disappointed. I am, too, but it’s not over yet. Okay? We’ll drive down to Earnest tomorrow. Ask around. See if anyone knows her.”
“Okay.”
“We’re going to find her,” Zadie insisted.
Finn nodded because it was the only way she knew how to put an end to the conversation.
“Shit,” Zadie muttered to herself. “I forgot to order drinks. You want anything from the vending machine? Coke? Snapple?”
“Just a water.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.” Zadie grabbed her wallet from the nightstand and slipped out the door. Cool, clammy air wafted against Finn’s cheek through the open window. She turned toward it, watching Zadie cross the dark parking lot to the glowing blue vending machine outside the motel office.
Close the window.
The message from her dream. Finn blinked. Was she asleep? No. She was in a motel in Washington State. Her sister, bathed in blue light, was smoothing a dollar bill against her thigh.
Close the window.
It wasn’t a dream, but it didn’t feel real, either. Moments later, as her ears began to ring and dust speckled her vision, she realized why. The dreams she’d been having of her sister weren’t dreams at all. They were echoes.
Close the window.
Finn/Zadie watched the bird with the pinstripe wings whistle from the branch of a persimmon tree, its tiny body barely bigger than the fruit itself.
Close the window.