When We Believed in Mermaids: A Novel

An earthquake causes Mari to panic and cling to a tree in her yard. Simon, who is familiar with Mari’s post-traumatic stress disorder in relation to earthquakes, talks her off the tree. Simon finishes cooking breakfast and reminds Mari that the children have a swim tournament that night, so they will be out late. Later, Mari goes to meet her friend, Gweneth, for a hike. Mari recalls meeting Gweneth on a ferry where they bonded over art. Mari has another good friend, Nan, a lawyer. Mari was having dinner with Nan in the CBD the evening of the nightclub fire and accidentally wandered into the path of the news reporter as he gave his live report. Mari considers these two women her sisters but knows they will never replace the relationship she had with Kit.

Kit goes for a swim in the building’s rooftop pool and is surprised to find Javier there. They swim together for a while, then move to the sauna to warm up. The earthquake hits while they are there, so they move into the hallway between the sauna and the pool. As they wait it out, Kit tells Javier about living through the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989.