She couldn’t find words—not one single sentence to refute his awful accusation. How could he think that of her?

She turned away, hurt tussling with anger.

“You’re wrong, Micah. Everything you just said—so wrong. These people . . .” She closed her eyes, giving herself a moment to regain her composure. “They’re the best people you’ll ever meet. And because they’re the best, they’ll offer to let you stay. Neil will probably give you his bedroom and Maggie will make a great big meal tonight and they’ll welcome you like one of the family.”

One of the family. Pining washed over her, so fierce it could swallow her like the sea.

“But if you so much as ask them for a penny, I’ll march you to the car myself.” Drive him to the airport and sit in the seat next to him the whole way home, if that’s what it took. “I want to help you and if I can think of any way—”

His frustrated expression turned into a sneer. “Save it, Syd. I’ll find a hotel.” He spun and marched away, but only made it a few steps before about-facing. He reached into his pocket and thrust something at her. A small rectangular piece of paper, curled at the edges.

The photo! Diana and CarleeAnn and JP.

Micah pivoted once more, steps carrying him away, but his voice reaching her as he yelled over his shoulder. “And it’s JR, not JP.”

Wait . . . what? She flipped the photograph over, stretching and straightening it with both hands, peering at the scribbled handwriting. She moved it closer to her face. Oh. Oh. He was right. There, where the paper was a little rougher . . . the tiniest tail of an R, cut off by the merest scratch of the surface.

JR. Not JP.

“Something’s wrong.”

Maggie’s words hovered in the kitchen, stopping Neil midway through plucking grapes from a bagged bunch. He dropped the few he held into a glass bowl and turned.

Maggie’s cheeks were flushed, several white hairs that had escaped her braid hanging limp around her face. She looked exhausted. He shouldn’t have left that to-do list for the girls this morning, should’ve known Maggie would insist on helping.

He strode to the table and pulled out a chair for her. “You didn’t have to go to all this work for dinner tonight. We could’ve picked something up in town.” For all they knew, Indi’s big-city fiancé, if he actually showed up this time, wouldn’t know a home-cooked meal from a spread supplied by the deli in town.

Or if they’d needed to get fancy, they could’ve ordered catering from Muir Harbor’s one upscale restaurant—Cobalt Pier. Not in the grocery budget, but they could handle the splurge if it would make Indi happy.

Hmm, maybe one of these nights he should take Syd to Cobalt Pier. She’d love the view overlooking the harbor. Probably the live music and candlelight, too. He’d love the time away from prying eyes. The number of times Lil and Indi had taunted him today was ridiculous.