“There’s one more thing,” Ace said, and the corner of his mouth moved in a way that wasn’t quite a smile but was doing its best. “Your mom wants to talk to you.”
Something in Willa’s chest unknotted at that.
“My mom?” Willa looked at him in confusion.
“Yes,” Ace said with a nod and held up the phone. “She’s holding on the line right now.”
Willa’s brow shot up as she took the satellite phone and moved carefully through the sleeping bags toward the cave entrance, stepping over outstretched legs and around the edge of the fire ring with the practiced quiet of someone who had spent years navigating a house full of sleeping children.
“Mom?” Willa said into the receiver. “Mom? Are you there?”
“Willa.” Her mother’s voice came through, and she could hear how frantic she’d been. “Honey. Oh my word, honey, I’ve been so worried.”
“It’s okay, Mom,” Willa assured her. “I’m okay. Everyone’s okay.”
“Don’t ever do that again,” June lightly scolded her. “You know better than to stand on a dock in high seas.”
“I know, Mom,” Willa said with a sigh. “But right then, it was the only place I could get a signal on the phone, and I had to call in our location.”
“I know, sweetheart,” June told her. “But still, next time let someone else do it.” There was a pause. “Wait, I don’t think there should be a next time, as I’m sure you’ve shaved a few years off my life.”
Willa gave a low chuckle. “Don’t worry, I think I did that to my kids and Ace, too.”
“Are you at least dry?” June asked her. “I hope you didn’t go to sleep wet?”
“No, Andy and Tyler thought to bring mine and Ace’s emergency packs with them to the cave,” Willa told her.
“Good,” June said, relief resonating in her voice. “What about Margo and Rad? They must’ve been soaked too. I know they had those yellow rain covers on, but still.”
“Don’t worry, between all of us here, we managed to get them some dry clothes too,” Willa told her mother.
“Thats good,” June said. “Well, it’s so nice to hear your voice, sweetheart. But I won’t keep you as you need to preserve the battery on the phone.”
“You’re right,” Willa agreed. “We’ll see you soon, Mom. You should go home and get some sleep.” She glanced at her wristwatch. “You’ve been up for two straight nights.”
“I got a few hours in earlier,” June told her. “And I’ll sleep when we’re all home safe and sound together.”
They ended the call, and Willa sat for a moment with the phone in her hand, listening to the rain against the rock outside, breathing in a few moments of quiet peace.
“Willa.” Ace’s voice came from right behind her.
His voice sounded strange. The kind of strange someone has when you’re about to step on something, and they’re trying to warn you.
Willa started to turn.
“Don’t move,” Ace said.
She froze realizing she was either about to step on something or… Willa’s eyes widened, and she tried to keep as still as she could, realizing something was on her.
“Ace,” Willa said carefully, trying not to freak out. “What is on me?”
“It’s fine,” Ace hedged. “It’s completely harmless.”
“That’s not the reassurance you think it is.” Willa suddenly felt something. It was a faint, light pressure between her shoulder blades that her skin was sending extremely urgent messages about. “What is it?”
“It’s a lizard,” Ace said.
“A what?” Willa breathed in utter fear. She hated the slick, wiggly things.
