She’d suffered another sleepless night, but this time her concerns were for herself as well as Lizzy. How had she managed to fall in love? She didn’t understand how it had happened. All she knew was that she had to reverse the feeling fast. She had to fall out of love with him, and, more important, she had to help Lizzy fall out of love with him, too.

“So, the final verdict was a virus?” He slid behind the wheel. “Virus is a word doctors use when they don’t have a clue what’s going on.”

Exhausted, Emily fought the urge to rest her throbbing head against those wide shoulders.

“They don’t really know what it was, but it wasn’t meningitis, and she’s on the mend, so that’s all that matters.”

Now that the immediate panic about Lizzy had passed, she knew she had to think about the future. She’d woken up to the mistakes she’d made. Her mind was trying to make sense of it all, but the stress of the past few days caught up with her, and the smooth purr of the engine rocked her to sleep.

She woke as they drove off the ferry along with carloads of summer visitors.

John, the harbormaster, waved them over, and Ryan pulled up.

“She’s doing fine, John.”

“Good to know.” Needing to check for himself, John stepped forward and looked at Lizzy. The smile spread along his weathered face. “We missed you, pumpkin. Ryan has been keeping us updated. Wait there. I have something for you.” He vanished into his hut and emerged moments later holding a miniature version of the ferry, handmade and beautifully carved. “I’ve called her the Captain Lizzy. I made it in my workshop.”

“For me?” Lizzy reached for it, enchanted. “It’s like the Captain Hook. Does it float?”

“Should do. You’ll have to take it down to the beach and test it. Let me know.”

“Will you come?”

“To the beach?” John scratched his beard. “Maybe I will. Dora and I enjoy a walk on the sand. I appreciate the invitation.”

“Look.” Lizzy leaned forward to show Emily, and she examined the boat, marveling at the detail. There was a ramp that lifted and lowered and a little chain that fastened across the back.

“It’s perfect. Thank you, John.” She admired the craftsmanship, touched by the sentiment as much as the hours he’d obviously spent. She remembered how afraid of him she, Sky and Brittany had been.

As Ryan drove away, she mentioned it to him. “We used to be scared of him.”

“Plenty of folk are. It’s a trick he uses to stop people messing around near the ferry.”

“I thought Lizzy had driven him crazy asking questions.”

“John loves anyone who shows interest in the Captain Hook.” He eased the car along the crowded roads. “And you’re an honorary islander.”