I smiled at her, privately shocked by the idea that I could be here in a year. Recalling Thad combing my hair, I silently admitted being here a while might not be so bad. But ayear! Holy crap, that was a long time.
Gates must be harder to catch than I thought.
The group dispersed as quickly as they came. Only Natalie stayed behind. I watched Li go, still grappling with the fact she’d been here nearly a year. When I was certain Li was out of earshot, I turned to Natalie. “Did I hear Li right? That she’s been here three hundred fifty-four days?”
“Yeah.” Natalie sighed. “Awful, isn’t it?”
“Totally. Has anyone been here longer than Li? I mean, is there some fifty-year-old island man wandering around, still looking for a gate?”
Natalie laughed. “You’re funny. Nope. Li’s been here the longest.” Then she shot me an odd look. “Thad took you to the Cove this morning, right? And he gave you the scoop?”
I nodded. For an instant, Natalie looked troubled, then she smiled so fast that I wondered if I’d imagined her concern altogether.
“Well, I’m glad he found you. I’d planned to help you get a bath, but I ended up sleeping in. Of all days, right? Anyway, I still remember how good it felt to get that first bath after wandering around in jungle dirt.” Her eyes drifted up to my scalp. “Let’s eat and then we’ll check your head. Here.” She held out a piece of bread, and it was all I could do not to snatch it from her hand. The bread was sweet and moist. And it wasbread.
“I don’t think I’ve ever tasted anything so good,” I said, savoring the last bite.
Natalie laughed, making her eyes sparkle. “Julio’s family owned a bakery. He’s been experimenting since he’s been here.”
“Charley.”
I turned and found Sabine holding out a wooden plank with fish and some pineapple chunks. “Here you go,” she said.
“Thanks.”
“I’ll grab drinks,” Natalie said. “And more bread.” She winked at me. “Be right back.”
I followed Sabine to a heap of black rocks—four giant boulders shaped like beanbags, but as smooth as granite and just as hard. Natalie returned, carrying three coconut-shell cups and another piece of bread, which she dropped on my plank. After passing out the cups, she took a full plank from Sabine and sat.
“Cheers,” Sabine said, lifting her cup. “It’s nice to meet you, Charley, even if it is under these circumstances.”
“It could be worse,” I said. “At least we’ve got breakfast and fire.”
Sabine chuckled. “I forgot. You’ve been meandering for twelve days.” She leaned forward. “Did you see any gates?”
“One, I think. Oh, and I saw some my first day here.”
She nodded, then picked up the fish with her fingers. I copied her, happy to have a crash course in island etiquette.
White and flaky, with a hint of citrus, the fish melted in my mouth. I’d never had fish for breakfast before, but then again, I was all about new experiences these days. Before I knew it, my fish was gone. I started on my pineapple, forcing myself to slow down.
The fire crackled, the ocean rumbled in the distance, and voices and laughter blended into comforting background noise. It was the most surreal breakfast of my life.
Sabine’s face lit up. “I see Heesham,” she said, setting down her plank. “Be right back.”
“Where’s Sabine from?” I asked Natalie as Sabine hurried away. “I can’t place her accent.”
“Switzerland. No—wait, that was Andrea. Sabine’s from… Belgium? No.” Natalie shook her head, groaning. “Crap. That was Stella. I’m totally blanking on where Sabine is from.” Natalie rubbed her temples. “I should know this, right?”
“What about you?” I asked. “Where’s home?”
“The United States. A little town in Minnesota called Rochester. Not to be confused with Rochester, New York.” She smiled. “You sound Southern. You’re American, too?”
“Born and raised. I’m from a little town outside Atlanta called Roswell, not to be confused with Roswell, New Mexico.” I smiled as Natalie laughed. But she still looked tired, and despite her smile, she seemed blue.
“Hey, are you okay?” I asked.
“Yeah.” She looked down, twisting a tiny shell bracelet on her wrist. “I just really miss Kevin. All I can think about is getting home and finding him.”
