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“There you are,” he said, praying his smile was a comfort to her.

She didn’t respond, and his heart nearly broke at the sight of her. She was as gorgeous as usual, but the fear across her features was enough to rattle the cages around his heart.

She tried to glance back down, but he reached out, keeping her gaze as he placed his curved finger beneath her chin.

“Hey, now,” he began, her skin soft to his touch. “I know that sea is allurin’, but I promise you, I’m more so.”

Again, she made no response, though her eyes remained on his, and suddenly, everything faded around him. The sea, the people behind them, those on the island and on the mainland. It was just him and the straggler who’d stolen his attention from day one.

He knew her stress was probably preventing her from feeling much of anything else, but as their connection continued, a light seemed to flourish between them, so palpable, he felt as if he could reach out and grasp it, and the light would shine through his hands in a beautiful way as bright as Maisie herself.

He’d felt this before when she’d first gotten onto his bus. But now? Now, it was stronger. The connection between them powerful. And he could no longer deny that whatever it was between them, it wasn’t just a little crush any longer. There was something growing within them—between them. And he couldn’t ignore it anymore.

“Finn,” she breathed, breaking through his thoughts, “I don’t want to cross it. I just want to go back.”

He nodded, understanding her perfectly as he drew all of his concentration to helping her. He pulled his finger away from her chin and rested his hand on hers on the rope. “Then we can go back.” He hesitated. “Or…”

She looked at him, her eyes wary.

“Or, if you felt like you could, you could finish the journey you’ve started and get to the other side…with me.”

She peered up at him as if what he’d suggested was impossible.

“There was a reason you came out here in the first place, wasn’t there?” he began. “Find that reasonin’ again and push forward. You can do this.”

“I can’t even move my feet, though,” she said.

“What? I thought those Kiziks were magical. What good are they if you can’t even move your feet in ’em?”

He wanted to cheer aloud when a smile cracked on her lips, but in a second, it was gone.

“Everyone is waiting for me,” she said, breathless once again.

“Trust me,” he said softly. “Everyone is cheerin’ you on.”

This seemed to do the trick. In the next instant, he saw the shift in her stance, the determination taking place of the fear in her eyes.

“Okay,” she breathed. “Let’s do this.”

He didn’t think he’d ever been prouder of anyone as she took a step forward, then another and another.

“That’s it,” he urged, walking backward to keep an eye on her. “Just keep movin’ one foot in front of the other. If it helps, feel free to look into me eyes. I’ve been told they look lovely in this lightin’.”

She glanced up at him, nerves still taut across her features, though her lips curved. “Who said that, Renee?”

“Me gran.” He flashed a smile. “You’ve got to admit, they’re appealin’. Like the color of chocolate.”

“Mud is also brown. And dirt. And⁠—”

“Hey, now. You best watch yourself, or I’ll call the color o’ your eyes…”

She stared up at him, those blue eyes watching him carefully. And for the first time in his life, he didn’t have a response.

“What, exactly?” she questioned, her breathing now steady.

What would he call that color? The sea beneath them? The sky above? Priceless sapphires? All of them seemed too weak, so instead, he simply said, “Beautiful.”

Her eyes softened, the stress and strain gone from her features, and suddenly, cheering sounded around them as their feet landed on solid ground.