Page 71 of The Chain

“OK, Mom, I’m on Route 101 in the Dunkin’ Donuts bit of a Sunoco station.”

“What town?”

“I don’t know, Mom, I don’t want to ask again. It seems weird showing up at this time of the night and not knowing where you are.”

“Jesus, Kylie, just ask them.”

“Mom, listen, Google it, I’m in New Hampshire on 101 just off I-95.”

Rachel Googles it. “Is it the Sunoco near Exeter?”

“Yes. There’s a sign that says Exeter.”

“I’ll be there in twenty minutes! Can you wait twenty minutes?”

“OK, Mom.”

“Get a drink of water if you don’t have money to buy food.”

“No, they gave me money. I’ll get a doughnut and a Coke. I asked them for my phone and they said they didn’t have it.”

“We found your phone,” Rachel says, running out to the car.

“Can you bring it?”

“Later. I’m in the car now.”

“What did you tell Stuart?” Kylie asks.

“I told Stuart you were sick and I told your father you had gone to New York. Oh my God, Kylie, is it really you? Did you really come back to me?”

“It’s really me, Mom. I’m hungry. I’m going to get a doughnut. Maybe a couple of them. I’m hanging up to get a doughnut, Mom,” Kylie says.

“Don’t hang up! I’ll be there in a minute,” Rachel says but Kylie is gone again.

I-95 is only a few minutes away and Rachel tears up it at eighty miles an hour, pretty much the Volvo’s maximum velocity.

Google Maps takes her to the 101 turnoff and there right in front of her is the Sunoco station.

Kylie is sitting in the window seat of the Dunkin’ Donuts by herself. Her brown hair, her freckly face, the little silver headband. It’s really her!

She looks so small and frail under the harsh lights.

“Kylie!” Rachel screams. She slides the Volvo into a parking spot, opens the door, and runs in.

They hug each other and burst into tears.

Kylie is crying. Rachel is crying.

It’s real.

It’s actually real.

Her little girl back again.TheI Chingpromised a yellow arrow when it would all be over.

There’s no yellow arrow anywhere, but Kylie is back with her in the world.

Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Thank you.

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