Page 13 of Adrift

It’s dumb to feel this lonely just remembering it all these years later. I had plenty of other friends, and a pretty normal childhood.

So I rush on to the part that always makes me smile.

“But then came that last summer. My parents let me stay with Grandma for the rest of the summer, after our two weeks here.”

Kieran grins. “And you got to know this place for real?”

“Exactly.”

All the best memories are flooding back to me, and I can’t help smiling.

Walking down to the dock for ice cream by myself, playing with whoever I wanted, getting muddy and staying out until dark for those long summer evenings…

“I finally got in with the cool kids. There were five of them. The Sunrise Brothers, everyone called them.”

I still remember their names: Alph and Carter, the big guys. Drew, the one who liked to tinker with machines. Zach was the jokester, and then there was quiet Murph.

All of them took me under their wing. They even made me an honorary Brother, even though everyone knew I didn’t live here.

It meant a lot to me, finally feeling like a cool kid for those few short weeks.

Kieran’s eyes are wide as dinner plates. He leans in like he’s entranced by the story. “Uh huh? And?”

I shrug and sigh. “It was great. Best summer of my life. I promised them I’d come back next year, and I’d try to talk my family into letting me stay with Grandma all summer long.”

Kieran’s smile slowly starts to fade as he guesses what’s coming next. I already told him that was the last summer, after all.

“Then Grandma had to move to be closer to my parents,” I finish with a sigh. “We sold her house and kept the orchard. And I never came back.”

Kieran nods slowly, his brow furrowed. “But you always missed it here?”

“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “I don’t know, man. This island. Once it has a piece of your heart…”

“It never lets go.”

“Yeah,” I smile.

But Kieran actually looks away from me, his lips twisting for a moment, like that bothers him.

Shit.

I have no idea what I said wrong, but before I can ask, Kieran nods and sits back in his chair, folding his arms.

“You’re still a Russell. It’s in your blood. That’s why the island has such a hold on you.”

Kieran’s speaking plainly, so bluntly that it almost sounds like he’s daring me to disagree.

I stop and do a double-take. Then I glance around the restaurant with a frown, drumming my fingers on the table.

Is that true? Do I believe in that kind of stuff?

“Most people have a place they belong—somewhere they’re really meant to be. They’re born there, or they find it later. You inherited yours.”

Everything herehasalways felt familiar. I figured it’s because of those vacations here, and the way Sunrise is almost a background character in so many family stories.

But arriving here today, walking into that orchard for the first time… it jut felt easy. Like comingback.

“You really think so?” I ask, frowning at him.

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