“Did they find out what killed Audrey?”
“She had heart disease—similar to what killed her mother. But she probably died of hypothermia. She removed her clothing, lay down in a hollow she’d excavated, and pulled dead leaves over her body to hide it.”
Raven easily saw her doing that. Vividly. More tears mixed with the rain on her face.
“I’m sorry,” Ellis said. “I’m sorry I had to tell you that. But we’ve seen what hiding the truth has done to our family.”
“Where is Audrey now?” Raven asked.
“I don’t know.”
Raven was surprised she wasn’t more upset that she didn’t know where the body was. She didn’t know what she felt about Audrey Lind. What River had told her at lunch on Wednesday haunted her. To think that poor little boy blamed himself all those years for the abduction. For what Audrey Lind had done. It tore at Raven’s heart.
Ellis held her by the shoulders. “Your boyfriend and his mother will probably know these things. The story of what Audrey did has been a big deal in their community. It’s on the TV news and in all the papers. That’s why no one talks about you going back. I doubt you’d want to be out there right now.”
Raven could easily envision it. Everyone at school talking about it. Poor Jackie. How strange that must be for him.
“Maybe we could fly Jack out here for a visit,” Ellis said. “I’m tight on money, but Sondra can easily pay out of your inheritance.”
“He could come here?”
“Is he in school?”
“He’s a senior in high school.”
“That could be a problem. But ask him, if we can get him on the phone.” She huddled closer. “We’d better call. Here comes more rain.”
Ellis typed things into the phone and finally spoke to someone. She asked Raven the town and road. Then she said, “Yes, please connect me.” She handed Raven the phone. “It’s ringing. Wait for her to answer.”
“Hello?” Ms. Danner said.
It was strange to hear her voice through the metal-and-glass machine in her hand.
“This is Raven,” she said.
“Raven! Oh gosh. Oh dear. I’m tearing up. Hold on a minute.”
Raven started crying, too.
Ellis walked away to give her privacy.
After a few sniffles, Ms. Danner said, “How are you, darling?”
“I’m okay. I miss you.”
“Boy, do we miss you! Where are you calling from?”
“Florida. I live with my mom now.”
My mom. She couldn’t believe she’d said that. Ms. Danner started crying again.
“Let me get Jackie,” she said. “He’s upstairs.”
The flutters in Raven’s stomach weren’t the baby.
The wind blew hard again. She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to hear Jackie. She climbed inside the tree while Ms. Danner called Jackie to the phone.
“Raven?” Jackie said.
“Yes.” The word came out as a sob.
“Where are you?” He was trying not to cry.
“Florida. At my mother’s house.”
“Is that okay? Do you like it there?”
“It’s getting better. It was really hard at first.”
“I can imagine.”
“I’ve missed you so much,” she said.
“Me too.”
“How’s school?” she asked.
“Horrible without you.”
“Is everyone talking about me?”
“Yes. And that makes it worse. I even had a reporter try to ask me questions about you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault!”
“Jackie . . . ?”
“What?”
“Do you think you could fly out here? My mother said my inheritance from Audrey could pay for it.”
“Yeah! When?”
“Now.”
“Now? Like, today?”
“No. But after we get the ticket.”
“I’d have to ask my mom about missing school.”
“I need to talk to you. I have to tell you something.”
“What?”
She wanted to see him when she told him. And touch him.
“Raven, tell me! What’s wrong?”
She had to tell him. Maybe it was better that she couldn’t see him if he got angry.
“Audrey Lind—the woman who stole me—she told me lies. She told me I’m different from other people.”
“Well, you are,” he said, trying to be cheerful. “In the best ways possible.”
“She told me my body is different. She said it wouldn’t make babies.”
Silence.
She slid down the tree to the ground. “I’m pregnant with our baby.”
“Oh my god,” he whispered.
“I didn’t know until today. I felt it move. She lied to me. I’m sorry, Jackie. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize! It was her.”
“Are you upset?”
“I’m surprised, but not mad, if that’s what you mean. I’m more worried about you—that you have to go through this . . . on top of everything else . . .” He went quiet, too emotional to speak.
She couldn’t either.
“I’m coming out there,” he said. “I can miss some school. I’m sure my mom will be okay with that.”
“She can come, too, if she wants. And maybe Huck and Reece. I can get tickets for everyone.”
“Huck’s too busy at college to take time off. And Reece . . .”
“What?”
“There’s sad news. His mother died in July. He lives with us now.”
“Reece lives at your house?”
“He didn’t have anywhere else to go. He doesn’t have enough money to rent a place. He’s really down.”
“Please bring him!”
“I wish I could. But he has two jobs now. He’s trying to save money for college.”
Ellis peered into the tree. “The wind is really picking up out here,” she said. “I want you to get out of this tree. It’s making me very nervous.”
“Who is that?” Jackie said.
“Ellis. My mother.”
“What did she say about the wind?”
“There’s a hurricane here.”
“I saw that on the news. I had no idea you were in it.”
“Please come out,” Ellis said.
Raven heard the roar of the wind, felt it shudder the tree walls.
“I have to go,” Raven said. “I’m inside a hollow tree, and the wind is really strong.”
“You’re inside a tree? In a hurricane?”
“Yes.”
“I have to tell Reece this. He’ll love it.”
“Give him a big hug for me.”
“I will—even if I get teased.”
“I love you, Jackie.”
Silence, maybe because he was crying.
“I was afraid I’d never hear you say that again,” he said. “I was afraid to keep being in love with you.”
“You are still?”
“I love you as much as ever.”
“I can’t wait to see you.”
“I know. Give the baby a kiss for me.”
“That might be difficult.”
“It was a joke. Get out of that tree before it blows down.”
She handed the phone to Ellis and climbed out of the oak
