Epilogue

Kali stood at the edge of the dock, watching as the ship was loaded with the cargo of all the passengers.  People bustled around her, seagulls flew above her, and the wind blew a mist of sea and sand in her face.  She had never been to the port before but she already loved it there.

She didn't have any luggage to carry and wasn't it much of a hurry, so she stood there for awhile watching people board the ship. She couldn't wait to find her family, though she knew it would have to take a lot of patience.  And she knew that she would miss Gary and Brigitte and the others, but she just had to find her family. 

Taking a deep breath, she moved from her place by the fence and headed towards the ramp. There were slightly less people around her, most of them were waving towards their loved ones who were already aboard.  Kali reached the ramp and was just starting up it when a cold wind swirled around her, tossing her hair around.

Turning, she looked through the crowd. She was the only one on the ramp now.  The back of the crowd was parting and she noticed a the form of a man shoving his way though. The crowd finished parting and Gary emerged, running up to the ramp to meet her.

"Gary, what are you doing here?  I thought you were staying in the city with Sophia," Kali said, confused.

"What are you doing here?" Gary demanded.

"Didn't you read my note?  I'm going to--"

"America.  But why didn't you tell us?"

"Tell you . . . but I told you in the note . . . "

"Why didn't you ask us . . . if we wanted to come?" he asked gently.

"I didn't know--I didn't think you'd want to . . . do you?" Kali asked, gazing up at him.  The crowd was silent now; even the sailors aboard the ship were watching them. Kali and Gary didn't notice.

"Of course I do. I mean--"

"Well, to answer your first question I didn't have time. I wanted to start my search for my parents as soon as possible and I had to make this ship."

"I see."

"Speaking of which, I have to go, they're supposed to leave soon." Kali turned to walk up the ramp, but Gary caught her arm.

"I'm coming with you."

"I don't think--"

"Hurry up, ma'am.  The ship will be leaving in five minutes," the ticket collector said.

"Shh!" one woman nearby said.

"But Gary, don't you want to stay with Sophia?" Kali asked.

"I want to be with you," he stated matter-o-factly.

Kali looked up at him with tearful eyes. "Do you really?  Are you sure? I mean, it won't be an easy trip and-"

Gary leaned forward suddenly and kissed her. Kali's eyes widened, but then she closed them and deepened the kiss. When they parted, she was smiling.

"You have to get a ticket . . . " she said. 

"One step ahead of you." He pulled out a ticket from a fold in his shirt. "Let's go find your family."

And hand-in-hand, the two walked up the ramp, handing the ticket collector their tickets.  And in ten minutes, they were out at sea, heading for a new country, a new world, and a whole new adventure.

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