Page 61 of The Two Last Moments

“Don’t,” I say, though I’m not sure which man I’m talking to.

The world is tilting on its axis, the color draining away. Like I’m in some messed-up movie.

How do I know what’s true? What’s real?

Cam’s still talking, telling me more about our life together, but I’ve heard so many things that not much more is sinking in.

“You have friends here in Solvang,” Cam says. “Everybody misses you. They’ve been wondering how you are. Do you want to see them?”

A swell of emotions overwhelms me. I shake my head slowly. It’s not ano, exactly, but I can’t deal with that question right now. “Maybe some other time.”

“Could I get your number, at least?” he asks.

Danny takes out his phone. “I’ll give you mine. If you think of anything else, you can let me know. And if Lark wants to reach you, she can.” Cam seems offended that he’s getting Danny’s number instead of mine, but he takes the info and gives Danny his.

“Wait,” I manage to say. “There’s one more thing.”

Cam turns back, eyes brightening with hope.

None of this is what I expected. The new facts that Denise and Cam have shared are like small fragments swimming around without a fixed place in my head. It doesn’t make sense, and this isn’t why we came. The trip was supposed to be about Travis, notme, and I can’t leave here without trying to understand how it all connects.

I dig into my pocket and pull out the photo of Danny’s uncle. “This is Travis Bradley. Any chance you know him? Or you’ve seen him?” My voice is much steadier than I feel.

Cam shakes his head.

“What about Nina Bradley?” Danny asks. “Do you know that name? Did you ever contact her?”

Cam squints. “No. Those names mean nothing to me. If these are people Lark knew and never told me about, I can’t help you there.” The pain he’s feeling is palpable. I hate that I’m the cause.

“Cam, I’m sorry I hurt you. I wish…” I shrug. I wish I could fix these things that happened in the past, things that I don’t even understand. But I can’t.

His frown turns bitter. “The thing is, Lark, despiteeverything, I thought I knew you. But I guess I didn’t. I wonder ifanyonedoes.”

* * *

“What are you thinking?”Danny asks.

We’re on our way back to West Oaks. Danny hasn’t said much since we left the café. I know he’s giving me time to process, as he often does. He never pushes me. But my thoughts won’t settle.

After Kathy, I’m hesitant to believe anyone’s claims about me. But what motive would Cam have to lie? Cam wasn’t asking me for anything, except maybe to see me again. He had no idea I would show up today.

The reason we came here at all was Danny’s uncle, not me. What does that even mean? How does it fit together? Why did the emails to Nina come from that café, a place where I spent time and where my boyfriend worked?

Who am I?

I look over at Danny and realize I didn’t answer his question. “I’m thinking that I understand even less than when we started today.”

He’s watching me from the corner of his eye as we drive. “Want to go to the beach?”

The sudden change in topic confuses me at first. “The beach? Why?”

“Why not? We haven’t gone there yet. And I find the waves soothing.”

I huff a laugh, though none of this is the least bit funny. “Is that what I need? Soothing?”

His grin is lopsided. “Couldn’t hurt.”

Danny picks a quieter place than the more popular West Oaks beaches. We park in a lot where there’s just a few other cars and walk across the sand to the water. The sun is shining, and the sky is turquoise. Someone’s flying a kite down the beach, but otherwise we’re alone.

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