I pulled a face, relieved she’d been the one to break the tension. “I’m glad you’re still in town. I was worried you might leave before I got to see you again.”

She looked away, her face turning serious. “I thought about it. Leaving, I mean.”

“Did you?”

“Yeah... I’m confused. I’m angry. And it’s all so...weird.”

“I’m not sure the word is strong enough.”

“Let me know when you come up with a better one.”

I smiled. “But...you decided to stay. Why?”

She took a deep breath before counting on her fingers. “Because I have questions, because I want to help, but most of all...because—” she shook her head “—because I need to know how much I still care about you.” Her eyes met mine, deep and intense. “I can’t believe I found you. Or that you’re alive. My life has been hell.”

“I’m not even going to pretend to understand,” I whispered, almost reaching for her hand. “I keep reminding myself I’m not the only one trying to figure it out, but I owe you whatever explanation I can give.” After taking a deep breath, I told her about the beach and the trailer, and what had happened since I’d got to Newdale. She sat, nodding and listening, taking in every word. The more I talked, the more I realized something about her presence seemed to have a calming effect on me, making my pulse rate and breathing slow down for the first time in days.

“I get you have amnesia,” she said when I’d finished. “I get you don’t remember me. I mean, I don’t understand but...you know. What I don’t get is why you lied about who you are.”

“I wish I knew,” I said. “I honestly wish I had all the answers we’re looking for... After we saw you in the street earlier, Maya told me how you found me with an old Facebook photo.”

“After you saw me in the street?” Lily said, her eyebrows darting upward. “She didn’t tell you before?”

“She didn’t connect the dots,” I said.

Lily looked like she was going to argue the point but instead she paused and changed the subject. I listened as she talked about her trip to Newdale, took in how she gesticulated with her hands for emphasis, tucked the same lock of stray hair behind her ear, her heart-pendant bracelet twinkling in the moonlight as she did so.

“I need to ask you something,” she said. “And I want you to be honest. Promise?”

“I promise I will if I know the answer.”

“That’s fair... All right, here goes. You need time to work things through, so do you think it’s a good idea for me to stay in Newdale?”