“It’s a beautiful boat,” Avery said, remembering the day in June when she and Connie Clarkson had taken it for a sail through Green Bay. That morning’s sail had been a final inspection during which Avery made sure the vessel could do what it needed to.

“I’ll take your word for it,” Walt said.

Then, it was quiet for a long time as Walt navigated out of the airport and onto the main highway that would take them to Negril. He finally spoke after thirty minutes.

“I missed you,” he said.

Avery looked over at him. “I still think you’re an asshole.”

“No argument from me on that front. Just know that I’m working really hard on changing that.”

A minute of silence passed before Avery spoke.

“I missed you, too.”

“I’ll take that,” Walt said, keeping his eyes on the road. “I’ll take that any day of the week.”

Walt reached over and took her hand. She didn’t resist.

* * *

Most of the drive to Negril was on the main road, which was populated with tour buses, vans, and motorcycles that slithered in and out of traffic. The ocean was to Avery’s right. The water was crystal clear nearer to shore, offering a glimpse of coral deep beneath its surface. Farther from land the water turned a rich cobalt. Palm trees were everywhere. In the city of Negril they exited the main road and headed toward the interior of the island—away from the tour buses and far from the ocean and beaches. The roads on this leg of the journey were narrow and shaded by heavy foliage. In some spots the road was so slight that Walt had to pull to the side to allow oncoming traffic to pass.

The further into the rain forest Walt drove, the more excited she became. She didn’t speak for the last thirty minutes of the trip. All Avery wanted was to get there and see him.

“Five more minutes,” Walt said.

Those minutes felt like hours until Walt finally slowed the car, made a right turn, and pulled up the driveway of a well-kept blue house tucked into a nook of mangroves and palm trees. The closest neighbor was two acres away and very much out of sight. This had been the perfect place for Christopher to stay while Avery finished the last of her plans. Walt had promised that it would be.

“Thank you,” she said.

Walt nodded, and then pointed at the house. “Get in there.”

Avery opened the door and stepped onto the pebbled driveway. A dog ran down the driveway to greet her. The front door of the house opened and Christopher walked onto the front patio. Avery ran for him.

CHAPTER 76 - Negril, Jamaica Friday, October 29, 2021

CHAPTER 76

Negril, Jamaica Friday, October 29, 2021