Before dawn.
The house was quiet... almost like the particular stillness of rooms that knew they were about to become emptier.
Noel came downstairs with his bag and found Agatha already in the hallway.
She looked at the bag.
Her face did the thing.
"Come here," she said.
She pulled him in before he could say anything and held on with both arms. She's been sniffing in and holding back her tears.
Noel stood in it and let it happen.
She started talking.
Giving one million and one instructions, at first... how to manage seasickness, which was apparently a serious threat she had done research on. Then, what should he eat when he arrived, how to know if the water was safe, what to do if the weather was bad, how to find a doctor if he needed one, and what signs indicated he was pushing himself too hard, and...
"Mom," Joel said.
Agatha stopped.
"If you keep talking," he said, "he's going to miss the ship."
Agatha looked at Noel's face.
She pressed her lips together.
