And then a disturbing thought crept into Annie’s mind: One summer after Donna graduated from high school. Could that have been when she’d gotten pregnant? With her? Annie froze. Had she been conceived right there on Martha’s Vineyard?

But before she had a chance to think it through, Restless bounced into the room, vaulted onto Donna’s lap, and shifted the conversation to what a wonderful comfort dogs could be.

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

“Well, that was fun,” Kevin said.

After Annie and Donna had left Earl and Claire’s and were tucked into their separate spaces, Annie had known that sleep would elude her. So she’d texted her brother and asked him to come to the Inn. They sat in her “temporary” room now, each in one of the wing chairs that faced the bow window that still had no blinds.

“They were nice to Donna,” Annie replied. “All of them.” She hated that John had had to bring Lucy back to Edgartown then get ready for his midnight shift. She had wanted him to come home with her. She knew that was how it needed to be and yet . . . and yet she was glad that at least she had Kevin to talk to. “You didn’t say much, though.”

“Did you hear Mom ask Lucy to visit anytime and to bring the damn dog? She never let me have a dog when I was a kid, and now she can’t get enough of that one. What’s its name again?”

“Restless. So you were a boy without a dog?”

She was about to feel sorry for him until he replied, “Yeah. Well, I’m allergic.”

“And that’s why you were sneezing.” She threw a toss pillow at him. “You are such a pain.”

He picked it up and tossed it back. “I am, aren’t I?”

“Well, I hope Lucy follows through. Lots of nursing homes now have programs where they bring pets in to visit. Apparently the patients love them.”

“Is that why you wanted me to come over? Do you think we should get Mom a dog?” He almost looked as if he were serious.

Annie remained often amazed at his seeming innocence. “No. I wanted to ask you if... Mom . . . well, if she ever told you she’d been to the Vineyard before.”

He thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No. Not that I remember.” He frowned a little. “Well, she came here when she first met you. Is that what you mean?”

“No. Earlier. Like when she was young.”