The next thing Campbell takes from the box is a spiral-bound book called Getting Loopy with Captain Norm, a self-published guidebook to America’s Great Loop. The Great Loop is a series of connected waterways that form a circle around the eastern half of the United States. Some “loopers” spend months, or even years, traveling the full circle, but Finley narrowed their trip to just one section. She bought the book because of the silly title, but it’s actually filled with marina recommendations, anchorage locations, and boating tips.

Finally, something useful.

“Is there a list in there?” Taylor asks impatiently.

“I’m getting to it,” Cam says, pulling out a Jolly Roger. Above the skull, in pink lettering, it says NO QUARTER, and below the crossed cutlasses, it says NO SURRENDER. “This flag was in the box with the boat name lettering. So she probably meant it as a surprise.”

“So cool.” Willa breaks into a huge smile, and even Taylor has to admit the flag will look badass fluttering up in the rigging. Willa wraps it around her shoulders. “What’s next?”

Campbell reaches into the box and brings out a sheet of paper.

This is it.

Before Willa has a chance to react, Taylor snatches the list from her brother’s hand, greedy for this last bit of Finley. Taylor has a shoebox stashed on a high shelf in her closet filled with all the notes they ever wrote to each other, dating all the way back to kindergarten, when they drew pictures of their favorite animals, giraffes (Taylor) and elephants (Finley). Taylor takes comfort in Finley’s familiar sloppy scrawl.

1. Start here.

2. Music is good for the soul.

3. Make time for wonder.

4. Time travel whenever possible.

5. Don’t lose your head.

6. Take a bite out of life.

7. Make your own luck.

8. Give a “ship.”

9. Get a little wild.

10. Believe the unbelievable.

11. Stay young.

12. Reach for the stars.

13. It’s not the destination . . . (You know the rest.)

Willa

THE FORGOTTEN THINGS HAVE BEEN remembered-including the cat food, Taylor’s retainer, and Willa’s bike—and the boat is ready to sail, when Mrs. Donoghue shows up unexpectedly. Seeing her is like looking at Finley through a time machine. She is Finley in middle age, her light-brown hair highlighted to cover the gray and crinkles at the corners of her eyes. Willa feels a squeezing sensation in her chest—as though a fist just tightened around her heart—at the loss of a Finley she’ll never know. It takes everything not to excuse herself for some air. She stays because Finley’s mom has done more for her than she can ever repay.