He felt the plane slope downward, felt his ears pop as they descended. He tried not to let the momentary disappointment over the Pacific’s blueness grow into something larger. It was, after all, just water. He could not view it as some kind of omen regarding the success of his trip. What he sought was not under the ocean; the proximity of the sea was merely incidental.

The ground rushed up at them. The landing gear was lowered. Hudson gripped the armrests as lightly as his anxiety would allow. This was it.

In the moment just before the plane touched down, his heart stopped. It resumed beating only when the plane, rattling ferociously, taxied the length of the runway and came to rest, intact, at its final destination.

CHAPTER 4

“There’s your father,” Carol said as Ben opened the door to the house and walked out onto the porch. She sounded to Caddie as if she were identifying for her an unfamiliar animal at the zoo, an okapi, maybe, or a bonobo. “He looks heavier than last time.”

Caddie didn’t move. On the porch, her father was giving a kind of half wave, his hand moving back and forth in the vicinity of his stomach. He had a strained smile on his face, as if he’d been practicing all morning but hadn’t quite gotten it down yet.

“I’m going to die,” Caddie said. “Really, I am. You might as well just shoot me right now.”

Her mother picked up her purse. “If it’s any consolation,” she said, “I’m sure he feels the same way.”

Carol opened the car door and stepped out. A moment later, Caddie followed her. As she emerged from the air-conditioned cocoon into the afternoon heat, she felt as if she were stepping into hell. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and trudged reluctantly toward the house.

“Hi,” Ben said. His voice was overly bright. The smile had contorted into a painful expression of fake cheer. “How was the trip?”

“It was fine,” Carol answered.

Ben turned to Caddie and opened his arms. Caddie looked at him, not exactly sure what he wanted. She glanced at her mother, who nodded slightly. Caddie stepped forward, and Ben’s arms surrounded her. He squeezed her tightly, so that her face was pressed painfully into his shoulder.

“How’s my little girl?” Ben asked.

Caddie pulled away. She was embarrassed for her father. Stepping back, in case he tried to hug her again, she glared stonily at the boards of the porch. The white paint had flaked away in places, showing the older blue paint underneath. One board had been replaced entirely and had yet to be painted at all. It reminded her of a diseased tooth.

“Why don’t we all go inside,” Ben suggested when Caddie didn’t say anything. “We can have some lunch.”

“I’ve got to get going,” Carol said, looking at her watch. She’d yet to even remove her sunglasses. “I have an appointment.”

“Oh,” Ben said. His smile faltered. “Can’t you even stay for lunch? It’s only half an hour. Maybe less. I can—”