Listen, I said. Change of plans. Sybil wants to stay on the boat with me.
Beth didn’t say anything at first.
Whatever you think is best, Juliet.
I think you’ll have enough to handle with Georgie. He’s the only one who distracts me from sailing. You know, you have to watch him like a hawk. Sybil is easy. She’s helpful.
I think you know what you’re doing at this point, Beth said.
Her confidence touched me. I swallowed the desire for more of it.
That’s nice of you to say, Beth.
Beside me, George stared intently at the approaching boat, clutching his stuffed seal.
Oh, don’t forget about Sealie, I said. Georgie can’t sleep without his seal. The rest is in there, toothbrush, underwear, but I don’t care if he doesn’t brush his teeth or whatever. Keep him safe and just—just please take care of Michael.
Juliet, do you think it’s— Do you think it’s bad?
I could see my mother-in-law now, standing on deck, clinging to the wheelhouse, phone pressed to her ear. She wore cheerful white pants and a bright pink T-shirt, which the wind flattened against her chest. Beth, who had already lost so much.
My God, I hope not, I said. We all just have to stay positive, good or bad, stay positive and—
Wait. Juliet? Mr. Charles is saying—
Yes?
Juliet, he needs you to—
I see him, I said. Tell him I’m ready.
It took almost an hour. We had to get the two boats going at exactly the same speed, which was harder than you’d think. Michael sat indifferently in the cockpit, hands over his belly, his duffle bag at his feet.
When it was safe to pass George over, I hugged him with all my might.
See you in a flash, Doodle, I said. Mommy loves you everywhere.
I tilted him into the waiting arms of Adolphis Charles, a large man with a splendid gold tooth. Bravely, George clasped his arms around the man’s neck. Once he was down on the deck of the powerboat, he went calmly to his grandmother, who was still clinging to the wheelhouse. The boat was sleek and modern, with a high tuna tower. Georgie looked impressed.
Bye, Doodle! cried Sybil. Hi, Grandma!
Hello, you brave girl! shouted Beth. I’m so proud of you!
Michael hugged Sybil, then stood looking mournfully at the powerboat.
I passed his duffle to Adolphis Charles.
OK, I said.
Michael looked at me for a long moment, the wind strafing his dirty hair and his thin shirt. I remember wishing that he would hurry up and step across. Because it was so hard to keep the boats together. But he smiled at me warmly.
You’re turning into a really good sailor, he said.
It made me laugh. That this was his parting comment.
I did not know they were the last words he’d ever say to me.
IX
As soon as I hear the doorbell, I know exactly who it is.
It’s like you have telepathy, I tell them. I was going to call you today.
Sometimes I think I do have telepathy. Duran smiles.
Come in, I say.
She enters, followed by Ross, her silent footnote. He merely nods.
We walk down the hall to the living room. Through the back windows, the bushes are wet and vivid from a morning rain. Lilacs glow in the dim afternoon.
Any good news? I inquire.
Duran shakes her ponytail. No good news, but no bad news either. No Mr. Borawski, but no body either.
Ross pipes up. We like to say no news is no news.
But we now know that Mr. Borawski was in Cartagena, says Duran.
That’s what I was going to tell you, I chirp.
How did you know that?
I read it in my husband’s journal.
OK, says Duran. Well, here’s how we know that.
This is the sort-of-bad news, says Ross. We learned this from the record