Tom Callahan smiled and squeezed my shoulder.

“Thank you for chartering the plane,” I said.

“You’re welcome, Anna.”

Sarah sent David over to tell the media I wouldn’t be giving a statement. John came and stood beside me. He started to reach for my hand and then changed his mind.

“I’m sorry about your parents, Anna.”

“Thank you.”

We stood there awkwardly, like strangers, and he finally said, “I was so happy when Sarah called. I couldn’t believe what she was telling me.”

I took a deep breath and said, “John –”

“Don’t say anything. Just take some time and when you’re ready we’ll talk. I know you probably want to get out of here.” He glanced over at T.J. who stood nearby with his family. “I gave all your things to Sarah about a year ago. I hadn’t been able to do it until then.” His eyes locked on mine. “I’m really glad you made it home, Anna.”

He hugged me and walked away and then Sarah and David led me from the gate.

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Chapter 44 – T.J.

My family surrounded me. Alexis and Grace each held one of my hands and my mom couldn’t decide whether she wanted to laugh or cry so she did both.

“I can’t believe how tall you are,” my dad said.

Everyone freaked out about my ponytail.

“No scissors,” I explained.

I noticed a tall, blond guy out of the corner of my eye. He walked up to Anna.

Don’t talk to her. She doesn’t love you anymore.

I watched them until my mom tugged on my arm.

“Let’s get you home, T.J.”

I glanced over at Anna one more time. John hugged her and then walked away. I exhaled and said, “I’m ready, Mom.”

Before we got outside, my mom handed me a coat and some socks and tennis shoes. I shoved the flip-flops in the plastic bag with the rest of my stuff and followed my family to the car.

When we got home, I took a shower, wrapped a towel around my waist, and walked into my old bedroom. It looked exactly the same. My double bed still had the same navy blue bedspread on it and my stereo and CD collection sat in the corner next to my desk. A stack of clothes lay folded on the dresser. My mom did a good job guessing my size considering how much I’d grown.

When I came out of my room, my mom was in the kitchen making breakfast. She gave me a plate of pancakes and bacon and when I finished eating, I sat in the living room talking to my family. Grace, now fourteen, wanted to sit next to me. Alexis, who had just turned twelve, sat at my feet.

I told them everything – Mick, the crash, the contaminated water, the thirst, and hunger, the shark, getting sick, and the tsunami – and I answered all their questions. My mom started crying again when she heard how sick I’d been.

Later that night my sisters went to bed and it was just my parents and me.

“You can’t imagine what it’s like, T.J.,” my mom said. “To think your son is dead and then he calls you on the phone. If that’s not a miracle I don’t know what is.”

“Me, neither,” I agreed. “Anna dreamed about the day we’d get to make those calls. She couldn’t wait for everyone to find out we were alive.”

Silence filled the room for the first time since we’d started talking.

My mom cleared her throat. “What kind of relationship did you and Anna have?” she asked.

“Exactly the kind you think we did.”

“How old were you?”

“Almost nineteen,” I said. “And Mom?”

“Yes?”

“It was definitely my idea.”

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Chapter 45 – Anna

We stopped at the restroom because I desperately needed to blow my nose and wipe my eyes. Sarah handed me some Kleenex.

“I should have known something was wrong when their phone number didn’t work. You said they sold the house.”

“I said the house was sold. David and I put it on the market as soon as their estate cleared probate.”

I leaned forward, bracing myself on the bathroom counter. “What happened to them?”

“Dad had another heart attack.”

“When?”

She hesitated. “Two weeks after your plane went down.”

I started crying again. “What about Mom?”

“Ovarian cancer. She died a year ago.”

David yelled into the bathroom. Sarah popped her head out for a second then came back in and said, “The reporters are headed this way. Let’s get out of here, unless you want to talk to them.”

I shook my head. Sarah had brought me a coat and fleece-lined boots. I slipped them on and we walked to the parking garage, the media trailing not far behind. I breathed in the smell of snow and exhaust.

“Where are the kids?” I asked when we arrived at Sarah and David’s apartment. I really wanted to hold Joe and Chloe in my arms.

“We took them to David’s parents. I’ll pick them up tomorrow. They’re so excited to see you.”

“What do you want to eat?” David asked.

My stomach churned. I had looked forward to ordering a feast but now I didn’t think I could eat.

David must have sensed it because he said, “How about if I run out for some bagels and you can eat when you’re ready?”

“That sounds great, David. Thanks.”

I took off my coat and boots.

“Your clothes are all here,” Sarah said. “I put them in the spare bedroom closet after John brought them over. Your jewelry and shoes and some other things are in there, too. I’ve never been able to get rid of any of it.”

I followed Sarah down the hall to the spare bedroom. She opened the closet and I stared at my clothes. Most of them were on hangers and the rest were stacked neatly on the top shelf. A light blue cashmere sweater caught my eye, and I reached out and touched the sleeve, amazed at how soft it felt under my fingers.

“Do you want to take a shower first?” Sarah asked.

“Yes,” I said, grabbing a pair of gray yoga pants and a long-sleeved white T-shirt. I pulled the blue sweater off the shelf, too. A dresser in the corner held my socks, bras, and underwear. I headed into the bathroom and stood under the shower for a long time.

My clothes swam on me, but they were familiar and warm.

“Stefani’s on her way over,” Sarah said, handing me a mug of coffee once I settled myself on the couch in the living room.

I smiled at the mention of my best friend.

“I can’t wait to see her.” I took a sip of my coffee. Sarah had spiked it. “Bailey’s Irish Cream?”

“I thought you could use a drink.”

“Okay, but only one. I’m a bit of a lightweight these days.” I held the warm mug in my hands. “How did Mom get along after Dad died?” I asked.

“Okay. She refused to sell the house so David took over the yard work and we hired someone to shovel the driveway and sidewalks when it snowed. We made sure she wasn’t lonely.”

“How bad was the cancer?”

“It wasn’t good. She fought hard, though, all the way to the end.”

“Did she go to hospice?”

“No. She died at home the way she wanted it.”

We finished our coffee. David came home with the bagels and Sarah urged me to eat.

“You’re so thin,” she said, spreading cream cheese on a bagel and handing it to me.

We returned to the couch after finishing our meal. Sarah turned the stereo on and found a classic rock station. She handed me a fresh cup of coffee, no Bailey’s this time. David joined us and he and Sarah asked me about the island.

I told them everything. Sarah cried when I told her and David how T.J. and I almost died of dehydration. Hearing that two planes had flown overhead really tore her apart. They were shocked when I told them about the shark and Bones and the tsunami.