“And you said?” I was curious to this side of Savannah, and I wanted to eat up every bit of information she allowed me. I needed to consume her vulnerability, and help make her whole once more.

“At first I didn’t really have an answer.” She sat on my lap, quiet for a moment. “Brynn had this crazy idea she would live in a shack on the beach and own an ice cream stand. But the thing is, she would do it. Not much held her back. Next to her, I felt stuck. All I’d known was my dad, the diner, and dreams that never came to fruition. And sadness. I was really good at being sad.”

I was quiet, waiting for her to continue. I didn’t want to break the spell that transpired between us.

“Finally, I thought, if I could do anything in the world, I would be free. Not tied down to bills and a job I hated. Not stuck in an apartment I couldn’t afford. I would love every moment of my life, not constantly be looking for a way to escape.”

“Oh, my darling girl,” I murmured.

She shook her head. “Let me finish. Brynn pointed out all the things I did have. Her friendship. Drive. Determination. And the law of conservation of energy.”

Sometimes modern words were too much for me. Most of the time I just pretended I knew what they meant, but this felt important. “Excuse me?”

“Scientifically, it means energy can’t be created or destroyed. Only transferred. She meant just because my dad wasn’t here physically in his body anymore, he could still be with me in spirit.”

“Credence,” I offered. “She meant it as credence. Accepting something as true, on faith.”

Savannah spun around in my arms, looking up at me with wide eyes. “Exactly. I’d never thought of it like that before. So I started actively pursuing my dreams of owning a thrift shop. Every penny I had went into a coffee tin, savings that might take me years to accumulate, but I was determined. For the first time in my life, I had a goal. When the lawyer informed me my dad’s favorite uncle had passed away and left me an inheritance, I didn’t think twice. In my mind, it was the good energy I was putting out in the world finally coming back to me. Dad was looking out for me from beyond.”

I gave her a sad smile. “Except you ended up here.”