RAVEN

Seven ibis flew over her, and she stopped to listen. Raven never tired of hearing air whoosh through the wings of water birds. It was a new sound for her. Herons, egrets, ibis, cranes. They flew over Ellis’s land all day. The big birds were one of her favorite things about living there.

But if she had to pick one favorite, it would be the old live oaks. Matriarchs of the woods, each had a different personality. Raven went to the one she loved most, an ancient fern-covered mama with an immense trunk and myriad twisted limbs snaking out like the fat strands of Medusa’s hair.

Raven looked down at two Askings she’d made at the base of the tree. One was to bring her home to Washington. The other was to send her feelings out into the universe: “I love you, Jackie.”

She sat between two humps of the oak’s mossy roots and leaned against the massive trunk. She closed her eyes, tried to imagine what Jackie was doing.

“How can you stand these mosquitoes?”

She opened her eyes. River peered at her through a screen of young cabbage palms.

“Did you follow me here?”

“Sort of,” he said.

“Why not just say yes?”

“Because that would sound creepy stalker, and I’m not. I had to go somewhere because they’re all pissed at me up there.” He pushed through the palms to get closer. “I saw you leave, and that looked like a good idea—until I started to stew in my own juices. How do people live in this steam bath?”

“You get used to it.”

“You look like one of your earth spirits sitting there like that.”

She had come to the tree because she felt sick and needed rest, but she’d get none of that now.

River noticed one of her Askings and walked over to it. “What’s this? Offerings to the goddess tree?” When she didn’t answer, he said, “Spirit got your tongue?”

“Why do you like to make people angry?”

“Because it’s much more interesting than having people be happy with me.”

She maybe understood. People who were happy with you would have higher expectations.

“Do you want to go do something? They’re all looking daggers at me for bringing Zane. Even that scar-faced woman.”

“Her name is Maxine. And she doesn’t know about Zane.”

“Mom probably told her.”

“I doubt that. Maxine is deaf.”

“Oh. That explains it.”

“What?”

“How weird she acts.”

Raven stood. “Just shut up, will you?”

“Whoa. What’s this all about?”

“I like her.”

Soon after Raven moved in, Maxine saw her vomit in the trees. She must have understood that Raven was homesick. Max sat next to her and gently wiped her mouth with a bandanna she had in her pocket. Then she wrapped one arm around her the way Reece did and stayed like that, just holding her for a while.

“So do you want to go somewhere?” he asked. “It’s almost five o’clock. We could do an early dinner.”

She felt sorry for him. He clearly didn’t like to be alone, yet he compulsively provoked people into shunning him.

“Why did you lie to make Zane come here?” she asked.

“The truth?”

She nodded.

“I’d drunk no small amount of whiskey when I messaged him. This morning when he wrote back to say he was almost here, I honestly freaked out. But it was too late to do anything.”

“You regret it?”

“I don’t know. The guy didn’t exactly seem bummed about ocean fishing. And my mother found out who her father was. Maybe I did them both a favor.”

“I think it’s good that Ellis found out who her father was, too.”

He smiled. “Yeah? Great, one person in this family doesn’t hate my guts.”

“Except I don’t like the lie you told to bring him here. That was mean.”

“I know. It was. My drunk side is an even worse person than I am. But he’s not the one who’s asking you to dinner. I am. Do you like steak?”

“I love steak.” She was reminded of Reece’s birthday party.

“And you’ve been eating my mother’s rabbit food? We need to get some high-quality protein into you.” He added, “Not to be mean like my drunkard ego, but I was surprised by how wiped out you looked when I got here. Have you lost weight?”

“I don’t know.”

“I think a steak would do you good.”

Maybe he was right. She was used to eating meat with Mama. And now she felt sick and tired all the time.

“I’m buying, of course,” he said to encourage her. “Jesus, this sounds like a date and you’re my sister.” He put his hand to his throat and pretended to gag.

Just like Reece. Hiding his insecurity in humor.

“Okay, let’s get a steak,” she said.

He looked genuinely happy, and she felt better than she had for a long time.

He contemplated the tree. “How do we leave the blessed mother? Should I bow, maybe kiss her roots?”

She swatted his arm.

“Ow. You’re mean,” he said.

They walked back to the house to change. River told her to meet him at the car and avoid telling Jasper and Ellis about their plans. “I’ve had enough of their judgment for one day,” he said.