“Oh my God.”
“What’s wrong?” Jamie asks.
“I know what we can do. Come on.”
I pull him back to the second rose room, heading for the emergency exit.
An hour later, we’re back in the Tunnel of Love. Only now we have seventeen others with us. And Daphne.
Jamie, Rocky Horror, Cal, and another Nomad named Jim carry Daphne’s body—wrapped in a white blanket—onto the island next to the dried-up waterfall. Because of my arm, I can’t help, so I stay back with the Kid, who holds tightly to my good hand. They place her gently beneath the fake willow tree with heart-shaped leaves.
Taylor is crying and laying her head on Jamar’s shoulder. Behind him, Niki holds a candle in her hand. The adults hold the younger kids so they can watch—their flashlights pointing up at the ceiling to diffuse the light a bit more.
We decided that Amy would lead the ceremony since she knew Daphne the longest. She hands Henri-Two over to me and I tuck her against my right side, away from my injured arm. Jamie looks down at the Kid, then crouches and asks him something I can’t hear.
The Kid looks up at everyone else, then nods. Jamie turns around and the Kid wraps his arms—and Bobo, his arm still bandaged just like mine—around Jamie’s neck. Jamie grabs his legs and stands so the Kid is piggyback and can see everything going on. My heart flutters just a bit.
“I met Daphne ten years ago,” Amy says. “It was the week after I opened the shop, and she came in asking if I had any Daphne De Silva novels. Thankfully I already had several of her books on the shelves. She promptly took out a Sharpie and started signing them. I thought she was some disgruntled fan.” Everyone gives a chuckle. “Her picture in the back of the book was from years ago, and she wasall done up and... well, here was this woman just scribbling in my books. So I snatched one right out of her hand, yelling at her. Messed up the signature. She just laughed and said, ‘You can have that one, sweetie.’ Like they weren’t all my books since Iboughtthem!”
More quiet laughter; this time some of the kids understand the joke and they laugh, too.
“I think that’s the thing I’m going to miss the most about her. Her laugh was so warm—you knew she was never laughingatyou, but always with you. And she absolutely would have gotten a kick out of a Tunnel of Love being her mausoleum.”
Everyone laughs again, but it’s the kind of laughter that comes from nervousness. Like they aren’t sure if putting Daphne’s body here is rude or something she’d want. I’m glad Amy is on the same page. I can even hear Daphne’s warm laughter.
I’m going to miss it, too.
Jamison
FOUR DAYS AFTER WE LEAVE THE AMUSEMENTpark behind us, we’re somewhere in North Carolina. I haven’t seen any more wanted posters, and the Nomads haven’t been acting jumpy or suspicious at all. Andrew has been trying to fill the gap left by Daphne, but I can tell he’s missing her just as much as the kids do.
He, Kelly, Amy, and Taylor have taken them into the woods for a potty break while Rocky Horror, Niki and Jamar, Cara, and I watch the road with Cal and a couple other Nomads. We’re always at the end of the seven-vehicle caravan. We have younger kids, so we have to stop more often than the others.
“Sorry,” I say to Cal as he scans the open field next to the road. “About all the stopping.” It’s the Kid. Andrew says he’s been having some stomach issues the past day or so. And unfortunately the RV bathroom isn’t really an option.
Cal shakes his head. “You in a rush?”
A rush, no. But I do want to get off the road once and for all. I want to get Amy and Henri-Two home and figure out where the others are going—then go toourhome.
Our home. The thought alone makes my chest ache. I can’t wait to see the cabin again. It’s also good to hear Cal say we’re not in a rush, as it means he probably doesn’t know about the wanted posters. I should show Andrew soon. Right after I found the poster, Daphne died, and I didn’t want to cause any more worry or stress, so I kept it to myself. But it’s still in my pack, tucked away in a pocket.
“I guess not,” I say. “But it still feels like we’re slowing everyone else down.”
Cal doesn’t answer and instead turns his attention to the left, where Kelly, Taylor, and a few of the kids emerge from the line of trees, followed by the others.
I walk over to Andrew, who’s a little farther behind with the Kid. “How you feeling, Kid?”
He doesn’t answer, and Andrew holds up his good hand and wavers it. I was feeling bad for slowing the Nomads down, but now I’m feeling worse for the Kid.
“Should we stop somewhere?” I ask Andrew. “See if we can find Pepto or something? Can kids have Pepto?”
“Great question. When we stop for the night, let’s ask Dr. Jenn.”
“Horses!” the Kid shouts next to us. I look down at him pointing out at the field to our left, and he’s right, there are horses out there.
My stomach drops.
Two horses with riders on them—and me with a secret wanted posted with my name in it in my pack. Everything feels very Wild West all of a sudden.
