“How has it been?” I ask.

“A little better starting this morning.”

Sawyer and I exchange a glance. Did we do something right today by deciding to buy tickets? Sure seems that way.

“Is there anything new?”

“No.”

I take in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “We bought our tickets for Monday.”

Tori nods slowly. “That makes sense to me.” She opens her eyes. “I wish this didn’t have to happen at all, but since it does, the sooner the better.”

“We’re going to need to be in touch with you,” I say. “Call or text my phone if anything changes. I want you to watch the vision Monday morning starting at six, okay? Watch it like crazy, and send me a text now and then even if nothing’s changing.”

“I will, Jules. I promise.”

“Okay.” I look at Sawyer and he nods. I squeeze Tori’s hand. “We’re going to let you rest now. I’ll call you if anything changes, but plan on this happening Monday morning.”

“Thanks,” she says. “And please be safe. I’d rather deal with this than have any of you get hurt. I mean it.”

“We’ll be fine,” Sawyer says. But he kind of looks like he’s going to hurl.

Mrs. Hayes walks us out and thanks us again.

On the ride home, I realize how exhausted I am from getting up early and thinking hard about this all day. Sawyer’s tired too. I drop him off at Kate’s, drive home, and go straight to bed.

• • •

Ben and Sawyer show up shortly after Mom and Dad go to mass on Sunday morning. Ben comes into the house carrying two thick garment bags. Sawyer arrives with duffel bags.

“Are you guys moving in?” Rowan asks with a grin.

Ben smiles. “Got a little surprise,” he says. He opens the first garment bag and pulls out four wet suits. He eyeballs Sawyer and picks one, then does the same for Trey. “Try these on. They’ll keep us warm if we end up in the water. Not commando, please—they’re rentals. Here are instructions on the best way to get them on.” He hands each of them a half sheet of paper. “Main thing is to take your time. They should fit tightly. Don’t dig your fingernails in.”

Sawyer looks at the wet suit like it might bite him. Trey takes both suits and drags Sawyer along with him, shoving him into the bathroom, and then continues to his bedroom.

“I can’t wait to see your package in that suit,” I call out.

“Thanks!” Trey answers.

“Not you!”

“Jules,” Rowan says, disgusted.

“What? Might as well point out the obvious elephant in the room instead of stare and say nothing.”

“I’m not quite that big,” comes Sawyer’s muffled response through the bathroom door.

Rowan rolls her eyes and turns to Ben. “Won’t we look weird wearing them on the ferry?” Rowan asks.

“You can wear clothes over it. No one will even notice. These are top-of-the-line, superflexible, and you’ll have complete range of motion.”

“You’re brilliant, Ben,” I say. “How did you get these?”

“We rent them out at the marina. I woke up this morning and couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of snagging some before. My parents are out of the country, so I didn’t even need an excuse to grab a bunch of sizes I thought would fit.” He unzips the other garment bag and pulls out a few more, then takes a good look at us and hands them over. “Let me know if you need a different size,” he says, loud enough for the guys to hear too.

It takes forever to get them on. Once we have the right sizes figured out, we’re exhausted. Ben then hauls out some green life vests that are so petite they look like they couldn’t possibly hold us up in the water, but he assures us they are some of the best around. We practice getting into them, and then we have to take everything off again. We make plans to wear our wet suits from the time we get up tomorrow morning so we don’t have to mess with them on the ferry.

Once we’re back into regular clothes, Sawyer gives us an evil grin and holds up one of the duffel bags. “My turn,” he says. “Get in the car.”

Thirty-Seven

“Rock climbing?” I ask.

Sawyer leads the way into the gym. “It’s a class. We’re taking it.”

“This is like seventh-grade PE all over again, when everybody called me gay,” Trey grumbles.

“Me too,” Ben says glumly.

“Clearly their taunts had no effect on either of you,” Rowan says.

“I’m basically gay in defiance,” Trey says. “Rowan, can you write me an excuse to get me out of this?”

“Because you’re gay?”

“No, loser, because I got shot last month. Sheesh.” He rubs his shoulder.

“Yeah, I thought about that,” Sawyer says. “Just take it easy and don’t overdo it, Trey.”

Trey flashes a triumphant look.

“You’re such a rebel.” Ben slips his arm over Trey’s shoulders and turns to Sawyer. “Now explain this. What are we doing? Is this the traditional day-before-disaster team-building event or something? Please tell me I don’t have to do a trust fall. Because the last time I did a trust fall was in seventh-grade PE. Just saying.”

“Yeah, what is this?” Rowan asks. “I don’t want to mess up my hair, because I have to say good-bye forever to Charlie tonight in case I whiff.”