So maybe he wasn’t the only one not entirely sure what to make of last night. There’s nothing to make of it. Why was he making this weird? “I’ve only ever let them drag me to one Heritage Society meeting in the past. Not really my thing. Though it is technically the closest thing we’ve got to real entertainment in Muir Harbor—well, other than the seasonal markets. There’s four of those each year. The autumn one’s this coming weekend. We actually get tourists for those.”

Great, now he was rambling.

But she only smiled. Turned to Maggie. “You won’t feel like I’m ditching you if I go?”

“Of course not, dear. I’m the one who suggested it. Anyway, I’ve got a feast to prepare for Indi’s fiancé tonight.”

“I could stay and help.”

Maggie shook her head. “I wouldn’t dream of it. Neil’s not lying. Those meetings can get downright zany. You need to go.”

He knew even before he said the words, they were pointless. But they slipped out anyway. “You could go too, Maggie. It’s been a long time. I’m sure everyone misses you.”

Just as he knew she would, she shook her head again. Waved a hand. Pasted on a nonchalance he wasn’t at all sure she really felt. Why, Maggie? She used to love town events. Used to be so involved in everything that happened in Muir Harbor. But there wasn’t any use in arguing.

He felt Sydney’s eyes on him then, slid his gaze to her once more, could tell she hadn’t missed the change in the air around them. He did his best to cover Maggie’s unease with a small smile. “Well, have fun in town. That is, unless you’d rather stay here and come hang out in the barn with me and Melba.”

She grimaced. “No thanks.”

“One of these days, you’ll believe me when I say Melba is the most harmless creature you’ll ever meet.”

She rolled her eyes before leaning in to kiss Maggie’s cheek just as he had moments ago. “See you later, Maggie.” She tipped her head to look at him. “Enjoy the company of your cow, Neil.”

And then she was hurrying down the porch steps and jogging through the rain to Lilian’s Honda.

“She’s not like the others, Neil.”

Maggie leaned against the doorframe now, her white braid draped over one shoulder, her gaze fixed on Lilian’s car as it motored away.

“I like her better than Greta, anyway.”

He expected Maggie to laugh. Instead, she touched his arm. “I think she might need us. Whether or not she’s Diana’s. Whether or not she’s Cynthia. I can feel it. She needs us.”

He stepped to Maggie’s side and tucked his arm around her shoulder. He hoped he never forgot to be grateful for this woman who’d given him a home, a family, everything. “Well, maybe there’s some reason we need her too.” He dropped his arm, felt his forehead wrinkle. “Though I have no idea why I just said that.”