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near the boat.
    The life jackets were rolling away. It was so dark.
    “Pierce! Get Josh, he’s near you!”
    Alisha treading water. Joan enrolled them in swimming classes.
Didn’t she? Think! He didn’t know if his own children could swim.
    They have everything but a father .
    Alisha’s hand breaking the surface. Grabbing her hair as she went
under. Alisha coughing. Crying. “Pierce!” Pierce had Josh. “Good boy, son!” All
of them were together. Okay. Think. Keller gasping. Holding Josh to his chest.
Alisha and Pierce next to him. Their breath tight, their teeth chattering. His
too.
    Hypothermia. Shock. Josh silent, nearly out cold. He shook him.
Alisha moaned. Stomachache. The burgers and shakes!
    The boat gurgling. It’s going down. Stay with the boat. But it’s
sinking! What if there’s an undertow? Spotting a light. Thank God. It’s
something. A buoy? He could make it. He hadn’t eaten. He could make it. He had
to.
    “Listen! We’re going to that light! It’s not far! Do what Daddy
says. We’ll be okay! Kick your shoes off! Joshua!” His eyes were closed. Lips
blue. “Joshua! Wake up, goddamn it!” Keller shook him again. He woke. Turning
his back to Joshua. “Put your arms around Daddy’s neck! Now, Joshua!” Cold,
tiny arms slipping limply around his neck. “Tighter, Josh, tighter!” Joshua’s
hold tightened slightly. “Alisha, take my shoulder and hang on!” Trembling
hands clutching his shoulder. Alisha whimpering.
    “Pierce, grab hold! Hurry!” Pushing off. “Hang on to Daddy. Let
Daddy be the boat. Kick your feet slowly. Easy. Talk to me. We’re going to make
it. Nice easy strokes.” The water rolling terribly. Breaststrokes. Adrenaline
pumping. Doing fine. Confident. Going to make it.
    “That’s it. Kick your feet. Keep warm. Think warm. Kick slowly.
Easy. Help Daddy.
    Alisha! Her grip loosening, she was drifting away. Carefully
grabbing her arm. “Alisha! Stay awake! Hang on to Daddy. Easy strokes. Alisha
crying softer.
    Suddenly his neck is cold. Joshua slipping down his back and under.
Turning, reaching deep, nothing. Alisha. Joshua shaken off. “Joshua!” Diving
deep, arms flailing, seeing nothing, lungs aching, waves rolling. “Pierce!
Alisha!” Nothing. “Joshua!” shouting. “Someone help me! Oh God, please help
me.” Waves tossing him, screaming. “Why don’t they hear me? My children are
drowning.” The darkness. Oh God, please. The thunder, the waves, white crest,
black water now...
     
    ...jade against the churning wake of Reimer’s boat. Silence after
Reimer killed the engine. “We’re here.”
    Keller nodded but didn’t move.
    The wake lapping against the boat. The gulls were crying. Reimer let
Keller be, draped a hand over the wheel and looked off at the horizon. He
rubbed his neck, scratched his stubble, glanced at his watch, started hitting
his thumbnail. Maybe he’d get a sandwich.
    The boat swayed gently as Keller stood. Carefully, he unwrapped the
package, dropping the paper into the boat. He studied the wreath. Entwined with
white roses, it was beautiful. He held it before him for a moment, then lifted
his head to hear the boat’s wake reach a cove along the rocky shoreline. Tranquil
here today, like a church after a funeral. Keller placed the wreath tenderly on
the surface. It drifted away.
    Reimer saw a great seabird startled by the boat’s wake spread its
wings and lift off from the cove to fly low directly above them.
    Keller heard a flutter of wings. Angel wings.
    He saw something reflected in the water, passing over the wreath.
    Here is where his life ended and where he would resurrect it. His
heart now knew. It had been revealed to him.
    Your children are waiting, Edward .
     
    “Here you go, Logan and Good.” Willie Hampton turned to Keller,
stopping alongside the curb. “That’s twelve-fifty.”
    Keller gave him a twenty and collected the sleeping child.
    “Hope your daughter feels better.” Willie fished for changed.
    “My