them and hugged Aurele tight. “Memories or no, you’ll always be my aunt. I just wanted you to know that.”
A sniffle broke from Aurele. “I hate goodbyes, so we better make this quick before I start bawling.”
As if it’d somehow overheard Aurele’s admission, another submersible trolley puttered down the block and stopped next to a house farther down the street. A student loaded down with a backpack rushed from the porch.
Aurele pecked Willa on the cheek. “I believe that’s your ride. Better hurry up before it leaves.”
Giving Aurele one last kiss, Willa dashed toward the trolley and made it inside in the nick of time. Choosing a seat toward the front, she slid in next to the window and waved to Aurele as the vehicle pulled away. Several minutes later the trolley coasted to a stop at its final debarking point—the portal to Earth. Willa was the only one who exited.
The portal gate’s familiar welcoming glow beckoned. She walked past the entrance and turned, giving Atlantis one last look before she descended into the tunnel. The trip to Earth was far less chaotic than the wet-and-wild roller-coaster ride that led to Atlantis. In the blink of an eye, the Atlantic surrounded her. It took a moment to get used to the difference in water density. Kicking her feet, she swam toward the distant surface. Several minutes later she crested, breaking through the waves. The sun shone on her face and seagulls flew overhead with noisy squawks.
She was home.
The tide decided to be gentle with her, depositing her on the beach with minimal work on her part. She trudged through the dunes, the hot sand biting into the tender soles of her bare feet. Up ahead, she spotted the lighthouse parking lot. There was only one vehicle—a red SUV. She’d sent communication to Boone a week ago to let him know the date and hour she’d be returning. She hadn’t known if he’d be here. Either he was running late, or had decided not to come. Not that she would necessarily blame him if he’d opted not to. They hadn’t talked since the day he’d comforted her on that tiny atoll. Not because Boone hadn’t tried. It’d been too painful, the idea of seeing him. Of remembering the last words they’d spoken to each other on the day that her soul began to wither.
A woman stepped out of the SUV and waved her arms madly, obviously trying to get Willa’s attention.
Willa frowned. Was the woman here for her? Picking up her pace, she jogged toward the stranger, ignoring the uncomfortable way her soggy capris clung to her legs. It wasn’t until Willa was less than a couple feet away and she spotted the woman’s familiar orange scrubs that her memory was jogged. It was Boone’s veterinary assistant. The girl offered her a smile. “Hi, I’m Megan. Sorry, Boone had a last-minute patient come in. He texted me and asked if I could pick you up instead.”
Megan pulled a beach towel out of the car and handed it to Willa. “I also brought you some dry clothes. They’re in the backseat if you want to get changed while I’m driving.”
Willa gratefully accepted the towel and wrapped herself inside it before climbing into the back of the vehicle. Megan slid in behind the wheel and turned down the radio. “Boone wanted to see you before you went home. Does that sound okay to you?”
She used one corner of the towel to wring out the ends of her hair. “I’d like that.” Despite having stayed out of contact with him, she’d really missed Boone all these weeks. Hopefully she’d stay strong this time and not break down on him. “So what’s wrong with his patient? It wasn’t hit by a car or something, I hope.”
Megan shrugged. “Boone’s text didn’t say too much. But if anyone can work wonders, it’s him.”
Willa continued blotting at the moisture streaming onto her neck from her still-damp hair. When the car took a right out of the lot, Willa frowned. “Uh, Megan, not to be a backseat driver or anything, but Savannah’s the other way.”
“We’re not going to the clinic. Boone gave me an address to bring you to.” Humming along with the radio, Megan drove for a few more miles before pulling into a familiar driveway.
Max’s.
They braked to a stop next to Boone’s Land Rover. Her heart slowly picking up speed, Willa stared at the front door of Max’s bungalow. She tried to speak, but the words kept