“You go ahead, Dad,” Harper said. “Daniel can take me home.”

Her father hesitated before nodding. “Okay. I’ll see you later, then.” He leaned over and kissed Harper quickly on the temple before walking away.

“So…” Harper said once her father had left. “Do you often peruse the obituaries for funerals?”

“No.” Daniel stepped away, walking among the headstones, and Harper fell in step with him. “I’ve actually been checking the paper a lot for any info on Gemma.”

“Oh, yeah,” Harper said. “I’ve been doing the same thing.”

“So you haven’t heard anything from her yet?” Daniel asked, watching Harper as she spoke.

“No. Alex has gotten a couple e-mails, but they’ve been false leads so far.” She sighed. “I have no idea where she is. And I don’t know what I’ll do if she never comes home.”

“I hate to break it to you, but … you’ll live,” Daniel said solemnly.

“Why do you make that sound like bad news?”

“Because I’m under the impression that you want to curl up and die,” he said. “Or at least that’s what you think you’re supposed to do if something happens to your sister. But the hard truth is that you won’t. Life will move on, and you’re strong and smart, so you’ll move on with it.”

Harper shook her head. “I can’t imagine that. I can’t ever give up on her.”

“Nobody’s asking you to give up,” Daniel said. “I’m just suggesting that you keep things in perspective.”

“How so?” Harper asked.

Daniel had stopped walking, so she stopped and looked up at him. The sun was shining brightly above them, and the day felt far too lovely for a funeral. He squinted in the light, then gestured to a headstone behind Harper.

“That’s my brother John’s grave,” he said.

Daniel had told her about the accident he’d been in with his brother five years before. John had died, and Daniel had been left with scars covering his back and a few on his head, hidden by his hair.

“I’m sorry,” Harper said.

“I visit him from time to time.” Daniel stared down at the headstone, sounding uncharacteristically solemn. “I loved him a lot. But he’s still dead, and I’m still here.” He looked up at Harper, his eyes resting on her. “And so are you.”

“I know.” She smiled wanly at him. “And I don’t plan on going anywhere.”

“Good.” He smiled at that. “Now come on. It’s too nice out to spend the day at a cemetery. Let’s get out of here.”

10. Sirensong

TEN

Sirensong

Since going for a swim yesterday, Gemma was reenergized. Once she got past her guilt about enjoying any part of this experience, she felt pretty good. Penn hadn’t spoken to her much after that, and that was fine by Gemma.