Page 20 of Jack Raider

“You forgot to kiss her goodbye,” he said with a wink.

“We’re notthatfar into our dating,” I muttered, trying not to laugh. I looked at the girl standing beside him. “Hi.”

“Hi. You look like my brothers,” she said.

“That’s probably the other way around,” I said, just as two boys stepped out behind her.

“Hi,” I said. “You must be the crew. Want to tell me your names?”

“I’m Bonnie,” the girl said proudly.

“Hello, Bonnie,” I said, shaking her hand.

“I’m Liam.”

“I’m Nile.”

“Nice to meet all of you. Do you play any sports?”

That one question opened the floodgates. They all lit up like stadium lights.

“Bonnie wants to be in the Olympics—she’s a gymnast!” Nile said.

“Liam and I play baseball,” Nile added. “We both got scholarships. Different schools.”

“That’s amazing,” I said, smiling. “Let’s sit down somewhere and keep talking.”

Bonnie pointed at Nate and Frasier. “Who are they?”

“Nate and Frasier,” I said. “Old friends. We were Navy SEALs together. Now we run a business.”

“You were aNavy SEAL?” Bonnie said, eyes wide. “That’s so cool!”

We stayed for two hours. I talked with my siblings. My father. I could tell he wanted to say something. His eyes kept finding mine like he was trying to figure out how to bring it up.

“You’ve got a beautiful family,” I finally told him. “Don’t go digging around for memories. Your best life is standing right here in front of you.”

“I want to keep you in our lives too,” he said quietly.

“Let me know when the boys have a game. Or when Bonnie competes. I’d like to come and watch. And just so you know, you were already divorced from my mother when you disappeared.I don’t even know if she’s still alive. But you don’t need to remember that old life. It wasn’t a good one.”

When we finally said goodbye, they hugged me and entered their name and number into my phone. I gave them my address. Took theirs. As we pulled away, I realized I already missed them.

Isn’t that proof enough that I’m not like my mother?

I turned to Mable. “Thank you. For everything.”

“You’re welcome, honey,” Mable said with a small smile. “I was meant to go on that mountain and meet you.”

9

Eloise

I wonderedhow Jack’s visit with his family went, but I wasn’t about to call him and ask what happened. Instead, I called Mable.

Hello, dear. Can you hang on for a moment, please? Your grandma owes me fifty dollars,” Mable said, cackling.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

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