happening so fast,” I say. “What happened?”
Lacey stops bouncing. “I told you that it would happen.”
“Well, actually I told you all it would happen,” Fred says, adjusting his ball cap. “It’s been two weeks.”
“Yeah but…I thought that we’d get a bit of warning first...” Tai says.
“No warning. Everything’s last minute. But it’s great isn’t it?”
“Are you coming back with us?” I ask Fred. I’ve grown to really like this man. And his goat.
He wiggles his mustache. “Nah. I’m staying. Can’t leave Wilson behind. But they’re bringing in a new researcher, so that’s very exciting. His name is Owen. Supposed to be brilliant. As long as Owen doesn’t smell weird, I’m good. I put in a request for better coffee too, so here’s hoping.” He makes a show of crossing his fingers.
We’re getting rescued.
WE’RE GETTING RESCUED!
It hits me like a jackhammer.
This is actually happening.
We’re actually leaving this place.
We’re going home—wherever home may be.
“Oh my god,” I whisper, the tears coming to my eyes as I’m overwhelmed with awe. “This is happening. We’re being rescued.”
“We’re going to be okay,” Lacey says to me tearfully.
She hugs me again, hard.
Then Richard hugs the both of us.
Then Tai hugs us three.
And finally, Fred wraps himself on the end.
“Group hug,” Fred says. “You were the finest castaways I’ve ever known.”
He sniffles.
Great, if Fred’s crying, now I’m crying.
I’m pretty sure all of us could have stayed in that group hug for a while, sniffling tears of joy, had Richard not said, “How large is the aircraft, Fred? Do you think it’s big enough for Daisy’s luggage?”
Everyone breaks apart and starts laughing, even though Richard was earnest in his question.
“You’ve seen the size of the dirt runway,” Fred points out. “Supply planes are large, but the passenger ones are itty bitty. Daisy, I’m afraid with so many passengers, your luggage might not make it.”
Everyone looks at me, expecting me to freak out.
I only feel relief.
“Are you kidding me? I hope I never see those suitcases again. Not my clothes, not my souvenirs, not my bag. I’m starting fresh, buying just what I need. Only things I’m leaving this island with are you guys, my phone, and my wallet.”
“I’m impressed,” Tai says. “Took you getting stranded on a deserted island to stop overpacking.”
“Hey, I’m a changed woman, what can I say?”
“Okay well, if that’s the case, grab what you need to and I’ll come back for you two,” Fred says, pushing the dinghy back out. “Your sister wanted to make sure we could all tell you the good news together.”
At that, Lacey and Richard get back in the boat with Fred, and off they go.
I turn to look at Tai, totally dumfounded, shaking my head. “I can’t believe it.”
He grins at me. “I can. It’s happening. We’re getting out of here.” He grabs me, one hand going to the small of my back, the other going to the side of my face, holding me. “Daisy,” he whispers, his lips just grazing mine.
My heart flip flops.
“Yes?”
He swallows hard, his lips moving, wanting to say something.
Please say something.
Say what else I want to hear.
“This is it,” he finally says.
I give him a small smile, ignoring the pinch in my heart. “This is it.”
“Come on, let’s at least clean up if you’re not taking your shit with you,” he says.
He kisses me and then walks off to the barracks.
I sigh and pick up the book from the beach. This is definitely coming with me.
Two hours later, and we’re all gathered at the dirt runway that runs behind Fred’s camp, facing the outer reef.
Except for Fred, who stands stoically with Wilson by his side, we all have our luggage ready to go. In the end I decided my beat-up LV Speedy was still worth taking. Not because it’s worth anything on the resale market anymore, but because it went through a lot and it still works. It’s not as pretty as it once was, but it’s become more useful. In some ways I feel like I have become the bag and the bag has become me.
In other words, it’s about time I get off this island. If I’m talking this way about a bag, talking to goats is the next step. It’s a slippery slope.
“There she is!” Fred yells, looking through binoculars.
It’s hard to see anything in the blindingly blue sky, so I wait until the binoculars are passed to me. I eagerly peer through them.
The plane is coming. A prop plane, which makes me just a little uneasy considering we have to