McKenna took her grandmother's advice.  She forced herself to get out of bed, take a nice long shower, and dress in a clean pair of jeans and a t-shirt. She brushed her long red hair out to let it dry naturally, took a quick peek in the mirror, and headed downstairs.

She found her parents in the kitchen. Her grandparents were nowhere to be found.

"Where's Grandma and Grandpa?" she asked.

"Kenna, honey, sit down.” Her dad held a chair out for her. “We need to talk to you.”

" My, don't you look nice," her mother turned from the stove, interrupting her father.

"I'm feeling much better, Mom," she lied. "What's for dinner?"

"And an appetite? Goodness, what have you done with my daughter," her mother laughed at her own joke. "I’m glad you’re finally hungry. It’s meatloaf tonight."

McKenna hated meatloaf, but she forced a smile. "Sounds yummy. Need any help?"

"No, I've got it under control. And your dad can help if I need it."

"Great," McKenna bounced out of the room. "I'm going to call Kelly," she tossed over her shoulder.

She stopped short as soon as she passed the doorway leading into the living room. She stood on the other side of the wall and listened to her parent’s conversation. She was sick and tired of the secret glances passing between them. The things they wouldn't tell her she needed to know, and she needed to know now.

"You were going to tell her."

McKenna's heart jumped up to her throat.

"It's time, Sarah. Don't you think?"

"It's never going to be time," she hissed. "You're the one that created this mess. You just had to go against my wishes and take her in that boat. And after you were drinking."

"Sarah, stop," her father begged. "I haven't touched a drink since that day."

"I won't stop. I've hated you ever since that moment, and I don't know how to get past it."

McKenna held her breath. What was this was all about?

"It was an accident. A terrible one, I admit. But maybe we can get past it by telling her."

"You were so drunk, Connor," she almost shouted.

"I know I was, Sarah. You don't have to keep reminding me.”

"She fell in the lake because of you!"

“Please, lower your voice. Personally, I don’t care if you want to keep this godawful secret or shout it to the rooftops. What I don’t want is our daughter finding out this way!”

McKenna stood against the wall, the conversation coming from the kitchen confusing her more than she was. Why would falling in the lake cause this much chaos? The answer came in her mother’s next declaration.

"She drowned because of you, Conner!”

Did her mother say she drowned? McKenna couldn’t be sure. She heard kitchen chair legs scraping on the floor, then a heavy sigh as one of them sat down. She assumed her mother ran out of steam.

But that wasn’t the case. Her mother’s next words rocked her entire world forever.

“She died because of you!”

McKenna stood in shock against the wall. She died? How was that possible. She was here, flesh and blood and bone. She couldn’t be dead.

Her legs felt heavy as she pushed herself away from the wall and climbed the steps to her bedroom. She fell on her bed, unable to feel anything. Her parents' argument ran through her mind repeatedly.

She drowned? She died?

She drowned. She died.

What? How?

Was that why they shared hidden glances and conversations? Was this the big secret?

The sound of footsteps coming up the stairs sent McKenna into a panic. She sat up on the bed. Not knowing what else to do, she grabbed her cell phone and pressed it to her ear.

"Yeah," she nodded her head. "Yeah, Kel," she said. "Yeah, it was a great time. I sure hope we can do it again soon."

Her mother peeked her head in, her eyes questioning.

McKenna gave her the thumbs up.

Satisfied, her mother left the room, closing the door behind her.

McKenna dropped her phone on the bed and pressed a hand to her forehead. She needed to know more.

Rising from the bed, McKenna went to her computer and kicked it on. Her dad said that she was about three years old. She counted back on her fingers to find the year and plugged it into the search engine.

The words jumped out at her from the computer screen.

THREE-YEAR-OLD DROWNS IN LAKE: FOUND ALIVE

She stared at the screen.

It was impossible.

Her eyes scanned the article.

"Three-year-old McKenna Dunn was found alive after falling from her father's boat into Mosquito Lake. Her father, Connor Dunn, had been drinking but jumped in after his daughter. Dunn said he was in the water searching for her before giving up and calling 911. The search team arrived later but couldn't find the little girl after searching for more than four hours. The toddler was presumed dead.

This reporter has learned that the parents found their daughter on the beach located beside Hillside Cemetery. McKenna Dunn is in good condition at St. Joseph's Riverside Hospital, where she will be released into the custody of her parents tomorrow."

She sat back in her chair.

Did she really drown? Did she die?

And how did she get to the other side of the lake? She couldn't have just washed up on the shore. The lake didn't have waves like that.

Her mind was a kaleidoscope of images going around and around and around.

There was a brief knock on her door. She quickly closed the lid on her computer.

"Supper's ready, Kenna," her dad called through the door.

"Okay, I'll be right there," she answered. How was she ever going to eat dinner after information like this? And how was she ever going to force down meatloaf?

Meatloaf, she thought. Ugh.

***

Something told her there was more. It had to do with the strange looks her parents shared when she spoke of her grandparents. She hated eavesdropping but didn’t know what else to do.

When her mother decided they would go to the lake the following weekend, McKenna was elated and didn't mind helping load the camping equipment and the coolers. She wanted to get on the road. The sooner the SUV was loaded, the sooner they could leave.

The trip seemed to take longer than the standard three hours. McKenna kept picking up her phone and checking the time.

The last time she did this, her mother turned around in her seat. "Are you checking to see if your friends are coming this weekend?" she asked.

"Um, yea," she lied. "I thought they might, but I don't have an answer yet."

"Well, it would be nice if they could come again. I know they had a good time."

Truthfully, she didn't want her friends to come. She felt guilty about this because they had been her friends since kindergarten, and she loved them dearly. But if they were there, she would have to divide her time, and she just couldn't. She had to be with Dane. She just had to.

It was close to the evening when they pulled into their campsite. McKenna jumped from the car and started pulling equipment from the SUV.

"Slow down, Kenna," her dad laughed. "We're going to be here all weekend."

"I know, Dad," she kept glancing around the campground, looking back over her shoulder toward the trees. She was afraid of giving herself away, but she was helpless to stop.

It seemed to take forever to unload everything and get her tent set up. Once she had finally accomplished this, even with her hands trembling with anxiety, she started to settle down a bit. Now she had to find a way out of camp so she could look for Dane.

As it turned out, her parents found it for her.

"Kenna, Mom, and I are going to walk the beach for a bit. You don't mind being alone for a while, do you?

"We've been coming here since I can remember. It's like a second home. Take your time. Walk the beach. Go, be romantic. The two of you need it."

They both laughed. "I don't know where you get these ideas, Kenna." her dad laughed. "But we won't be very long. What are you going to do?"

McKenna forced a yawn. "I think I just might hit my tent. I'm somewhat tired. Then I can get a fresh start tomorrow."

"That sounds like a good idea, Honey," her mother said, making McKenna's eyes widen in surprise. Honey? She couldn't remember her mother ever calling her that.

Then she even surprised her more by pecking her on the cheek.

"We'll see you in the morning."

What the hell was going on?

Something had changed between her parents. The anger was no longer present. The tension no longer there. It seemed as if they had come to a significant decision, and they both happened to agree on the outcome.

She waited until they had disappeared before she ran to her tent, ruffled her blankets and sleeping bag so that it looked like she was there, then closed the zipper on the flap and left the campsite.

The blood was rushing in her ears by the time she reached the cabin. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest. She knew she was hyperventilating but couldn't stop. 

The cabin was dark when she arrived. Disappointment washed through her. Where could he be? Did she ruin things by not coming back last weekend?

Then she remembered. The time he came for her was on the beach. The cabin was unique, a special place for the two of them, where no one could find them. The beach was there they first met.

McKenna turned and ran back to the beach, careful not to run into her parents. Her eyes searched the woods as she ran. Why, oh, why did she not ask him where he lived?

She was out of breath when she reached the shore. She sat down at the edge of the lake to slow her heartbeat. She pulled off her shoes and put her feet in the water to cool them.

She stared out into the night, hoping beyond hope that he was somewhere out there, watching, waiting for her. Her vision grew blurry as the tears started to come.

Was it over?

Had he lost faith in her?

Didn't he love her anymore?

"I'm here, McKenna."

"Dane!" She rose swiftly and threw her arms around his neck. "Oh my God, Dane. I couldn't find you. I was so scared!"

"Shh." He silenced her as his lips found hers. "I'm here," he whispered against her cheek. "I'll always be here."

She followed him back to the cabin. After lighting the oil lamps, he took her in his arms.

"It's been forever, Dane," she cried softly against his chest. "I didn't think I would ever get back here."

"But you're here now," he murmured. "And we're together again. I've missed you, McKenna."

"It's been horrible without you," she admitted.

They sat down on the rugs that Dane laid down their first night together. She told him how her grandmother gave her the best advice of her life.

"Give your grandmother a great big thank you from me," Dane laughed.

McKenna laughed with him. "I most certainly will," she agreed. "So, how was your time without me?"

"Just horrible," he echoed.

"Really?"

He placed his forehead against hers and stared into her eyes. "Really. McKenna, I love you. Nothing is going to change that. I don't know how else to convince you."

She brushed the hair from his forehead, her hand lingering on his face. "I do," she whispered. She leaned forward and searched for his mouth. Her lips were soft, gentle, and hungry.

***

"You never go in the water," Dane said over his shoulder as he stoked the fire. "I noticed that when your friends were here. When they were swimming, you never joined them."

"I'm afraid of water," she admitted, her face turning a light crimson.

"You’re afraid of water?" he echoed.

"I am," she answered.

"And why is that, I wonder?"

"You would never believe it."

"I'll believe anything you tell me, McKenna."

She nodded. “Because I drowned here.” Then she told him the rest.

He narrowed his eyes, listened intently to her words. When she finished, he was silent.

“You do believe me, don’t you?”

He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer. “Of course, I believe you. When did this happen?”

“I was around three years old.”

Dane nodded. “That explains a lot,” he said, almost to himself.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s nothing, McKenna. I just have some thoughts. I’m trying to put things together. You know, I'm afraid of water, too.”

"You are?"

He nodded his head. He glanced at her then looked away. "My father drowned in the lake. I saw it happen. It happened a long time ago."

"Oh!" She reached out for him, clasping his hands together with hers. "I'm so sorry, Dane."

"We were night fishing," he went on, leaving his hands in hers. "He was drunk, as usual. He had on those rubber boots that fishermen wear. You know the kind?"

She nodded.

"He tipped the boat over, staggering around like a fool. We both went into the lake. His boots filled up with water, and he sank to the bottom. I didn't know what to do, and I was never much of a swimmer. He wasn't found until four days later, standing on the bottom of the lake, his eyes still open, his arms outstretched as if pleading for help. I was there when they found him. I'll never forget it."

"Oh, God, how terrible! How did you get out of the water?"

"I don't know," he said. "The only thing I remember is falling in the water. Then I woke up here. I went back to the lake and got there just as they were pulling him out. It wasn’t a pretty sight."

"Do you think it's possible, the reason for our connection, I mean? That we both had the same experience in the same place?"

"I think anything is possible.”

"My God," she whispered as she lay back on the rug. "This is amazing."

He leaned down and kissed her. "I think this is amazing."

"It certainly is," she agreed. "It's so amazing that you have to keep doing it."'

"I think I can oblige," he grinned, then kissed her again.

***

The sun was rising in the east as Dane walked her back to her camp. She hoped to get back earlier and began to feel a little trepidation at the thought of her mom or dad having awakened and found her gone.

"I'll look for you later?" she asked him.

"Yes."

"I love you, Dane."

"McKenna," he touched her face. "I love you, too."

"I'll miss you. It's going to feel like forever again, but I know it's not. It's just a few hours."

"Who are you talking to, McKenna, and what in God's name are you doing up at this hour?"

A cold hand squeezed McKenna's guts, and she whirled around to face her mother.

She was coming out of the outhouse adjusting her pajamas.

"I..." she faltered. "I..."

"Didn't you even change clothes before you went to bed? You must have been tired." Her mother walked to the makeshift kitchen. "You want coffee?"

McKenna stared at her, her heart pounding loud in her ears. Her mind whirled, and she felt faint. "I'm sorry, Mother," she stammered.

Her mother laughed. "You don't have to be sorry, Honey. I don't care if you rough it. But you might want to shower and put some fresh clothes on unless you plan on going to the beach. You never answered me about the coffee."

McKenna stared at her mother, her heart fluttering in her chest. She couldn’t breathe. She would never be able to explain this. She turned around to look at Dane.

But he was gone.

McKenna fainted.

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