CHAPTER 13
What She’ll Say
The village was quieter after sunset.
Naia liked it that way.
During the day, Kaimana belonged to everyone—the tourists, the fishermen, the station crews, the emergency office, the people who came looking for the mountain and the people who had learned to live beneath it.
At night, the island became itself again.
Naia walked toward the overlook with two cups of tea.
She hadn't asked Elena to come.
She'd simply found herself making two.
That annoyed her slightly.
Elena was already there.
She was sitting on the low stone wall, looking toward the summit.
"You brought me tea."
Naia handed her one.
"Don't make it significant."
Elena smiled.
"Too late."
Naia sat beside her.
For a while, they watched the mountain.
The dome was faintly visible against the darker sky.
No dramatic glow tonight.
Just a dull red pulse occasionally appearing through the haze.
The volcano breathed.
The island listened.
Elena took a sip.
"Do you ever wonder what you'd be doing if you weren't here?"
Naia looked at her.
"That's a dangerous question."
"Why?"
"Because I might have to answer it."
Elena smiled.
"I'm asking."
Naia looked back toward the mountain.
"I don't know."
It was technically true.
She had never seriously imagined another life.
There had always been the island.
The trails.
The guide station.
The mountain.
And after a certain point, leaving had stopped feeling like an option and started feeling like betrayal.
Elena waited.
Naia could feel her waiting without being pushed.
That was different.
Most people filled silence for her.
Elena didn't.
Naia took another sip of tea.
"You really want to know?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Elena looked at her.
"Because I want to understand you."
Naia's fingers tightened slightly around the cup.
There it was.
The dangerous part.
Not why do you stay?
Not what happened?
Understand.
She looked away.
"My father used to say the mountain doesn't lie to you."
Elena remained quiet.
Naia watched a faint glow appear beneath the summit.
"Even when it's dangerous."
She paused.
Then added,
"People do that more."
The words sounded different once they were outside her head.
Too exposed.
She hadn't meant to say that much.
Elena didn't reach for her.
Didn't ask what happened.
Didn't immediately turn the sentence into another question.
She simply said,
"Your father."
Naia nodded.
"Yeah."
It was the first time she'd spoken about him to Elena.
Not the whole story.
Not even close.
Just enough for the shape of him to exist between them.
Elena waited.
Naia could feel the next question coming.
She didn't blame her.
Instead, she closed the door herself.
"That's all you're getting tonight."
Elena's mouth curved slightly.
"Okay."
Naia looked at her.
"Okay?"
"Okay."
No argument.
No why?
No gentle attempt to pry another piece loose.
Just acceptance.
Naia looked back at the mountain.
Something inside her eased.
Only slightly.
But it was there.
Elena sat beside her, shoulder near enough that Naia could feel the warmth through their jackets.
Neither moved closer.
Neither moved away.
After a while, Elena said,
"I think I'd have liked him."
Naia looked at her.
"You never met him."
"No."
A pause.
"But I like the way you talk about him."
Naia swallowed.
She hadn't expected that.
"Don't get sentimental."
"I'm a scientist."
"That's not a denial."
Elena laughed quietly.
Naia smiled.
The mountain gave a distant rumble.
Neither woman looked up.
For once, neither needed to.
Naia stared at the horizon.
She had spent years learning how to close doors before anyone could reach them.
Tonight, she'd opened one.
Just a little.
And Elena had not tried to walk through it.
Somehow, that made Naia want to leave it open.
Just a little longer.