Page 70 of Wired Ghost

“Do you still want the chip? Do you want to be someone that this wanted fugitive can find, anywhere in the world, at the touch of a button?” Dr. Wilson’s elegant eyebrows had risen. “Maybe that’s something you should think about.” She pointed to the small bag. “What are you going to do with the ashes?”

“I don’t know yet.” Sophie slid the little Ziploc back into the velvet pouch and put it in the hidden pocket of her dress. She wanted it close to her, on her body—like the ring.

“I’ve worked with a lot of grieving people, and here’s a bit of advice: don’t hold onto those ashes too long.” Dr. Wilson set down her empty teacup and stood up.

Across from her, Sophie did the same.

“We’ve covered a lot of ground today. I’m going to be on the island for a couple more days, if you want to meet again. But now I’m off to the mall, to buy myself a few new dresses.”

Sophie smiled. “If you don’t mind, I’ll come with you. I need a few new dresses too—from the maternity store.”

* * *

Hours later,Sophie pulled into the parking lot at Waikiki Beach. She was tired, but in a good way, wrung out from laughing and crying and shopping.

She and Dr. Wilson had enjoyed their time at the mall. Buying maternity clothes and a few tiny baby things had made her pregnancy feel more real. But she wasn’t yet ready to go home to the evening routine with Armita, Momi, and the dogs.

She was going to take Dr. Wilson’s advice—it had served her well in the past.

Sophie made sure her shopping bags in the back seat were covered by a beach towel. Break-ins were common in this area. She got out of the SUV her father had bought her so long ago, after her FBI Academy graduation, and locked it. The floaty dress she had worn that day felt soft and comfortable, blowing around her body as she walked down onto the sand of the beloved beach she had run on and swum at for so many years.

She and Jake hadn’t visited it often. The bulk of the time they’d spent as a couple had been in Hilo. But this was a special place to her, and always would be. She wanted to think of Jake when she was here with her babies, teaching them to swim in the gentle waves and running with her dogs on the sand.

Sophie walked down to the water’s edge. The ocean purled softly over her feet. Sunset glazed the waves with the colors of fire and lava. Palm trees fluttered their fronds in the breeze. This was paradise—and it was home.

Sophie reached into her pocket and took out the small black velvet pouch. She pulled the cord that opened it, revealing the miniature bag inside, filled with a handful of ash.

All that was left of herkun dii.

“Cootie, you mean,” his voice said in her mind. “Get it right, babe.”

She smiled.

Because that wasn’t all that was left of Jake. She carried him in her body, in the DNA of her child, and he would live on.Such a divine mystery.

Sophie opened the tiny Ziploc and scattered the bit of ashes on the next wave that moved in to caress her toes.

She shut her eyes—and almost, almost—could feel him kiss her goodbye.

* * *

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