Page 53 of Remember Me

Maddie cocks her head. “How is it magic?”

“The horn gives the unicorn powers.”

“You mean like super powers?”

“Yes. They are said to have healing powers. Like the unicorn’s tears which can be an antidote for poison.”

“An-tee-dote?”

“It’s a big word for ‘cure.’”

She repeats the word back to me, more smoothly. Now comfortable with it, she asks, “So, can unicorns make my asthma go away?”

I’m a little taken aback by her question, but reply quickly. “Yes, but unfortunately, they’re very hard to find. They live in hidden lands.”

Maddie frowns. “Do they have other powers?”

“Yes. Some people believe they can make wishes come true.”

Maddie’s eyes light up like bulbs. “Later, can we look for one?”

“Maybe tomorrow.” I smile, remembering with fondness how my mother used to search for them with me all over the world.

We silently go back to coloring, me focusing on creating the perfect unicorn. Several minutes in, I glance at Maddie’s picture. It’s no longer just a portrait of Finn. She’s added a little girl with long braids who without a doubt is a self-depiction. She’s holding her father’s hand. My eyes travel across the paper andwiden. Standing next to her on the right, holding her other hand, is a woman who looks just like me! She’s wearing jeans and a mint green T-shirt identical to the one I’m wearing.

“Do you like my picture?” asks Maddie, unaware of my startled reaction.

“It’s awesome,” I stammer.

She grins proudly. “I made a family. Daddy, me and . . . ”

I hear a vehicle pull up on the intercom and my breath catches in my throat. I cut her off. “I think your daddy may be home.”

I glance at the security monitor. My heart sinks. It’s only the mailman. He stuffs a bunch of envelopes into the drop-off box and drives off.

Our pictures all done, Maddie trots off to the adjacent media room to watch some television while I clean up, collecting the crayons scattered on the counter. My mind wanders as I put them back in the big yellow box in a systematic order. Lining up the colors, I think about Finn... about Kayla... aboutthem.Gripping the green crayon, I feel the color of envy seep into my veins.

Then, they turn blue with sadness.

CHAPTER 35

Finn

There must be over one hundred boats of varying sizes moored at the Marina Del Rey Yacht Club. But one dwarfs them all. It’s a monstrous yacht as long as a city block—close to three hundred feet—with five levels. Kayla, her arm tucked in the crook of mine, leads me toward the dock. Holding one of her oversized handbags, she’s dressed in her usual all-white—tight, high-waisted capris, a creamy leather jacket, and strappy stilettos. Her cropped platinum hair blows in the cool ocean breeze.

“That’s Sheldon’s yacht,” she says, pointing at the massive boat.

My eyes widen. I’ve never seen anything like it. The monstrosity looks more like a cruise ship. As we get closer, I can make out a name—Marilyn—scrawled in a bold red font across the bow.

“He calls itMarilyn. It’s named after his late mother.”

“Wow.”

“It cost two hundred million dollars. Sheldon got it in a fire sale—some Silicon Valley venture capitalist went bust and had to sell it in a hurry. He invested another fifty million dollars into retrofitting it, transforming it into the ultimate party boat. It can accommodate fifty overnight guests plus the one hundred-man crew, but the disco is big enough for five hundred people. There’s also a gym, spa, heated pool, full-service salon, 3-D theater, and even a helicopter landing on one of the outdoor decks. The one thing it’s still missing is artwork—I’m sureSheldon would love to put some of your choice pieces on the walls.”

“Maybe, he’ll give me a tour,” I deadpan, still in awe of the jaw-dropping vehicle.

“I doubt it,” replies Kayla. “Sheldon’s so not a show off.”