“She’d be happy you know your parables.” He looked to the sea again. “I don’t think I realized until just now how strong Maggie is. She has more love to give than anyone I’ve ever met.”

One quiet moment slipped into the next, stars like diamond studs peeking one after another through the sky’s canvas of velvety black.

“How’d you come to live with Maggie? If you don’t mind sharing . . .”

“Maggie had a pen pal from Scotland when she was young—my grandma. They stayed friends through the decades, such close friends that my grandparents would visit her in the States every other summer or so. They took me for the first time when I was five.” He looked to Sydney. “My parents died when I was a baby—plane accident.”

“Oh, Neil, that’s . . . awful.”

“I know, though I don’t have any memories of them. My grandparents raised me and that’s how I first knew Maggie, as Grandma’s friend from across the Atlantic. But then Grandpa died when I was twelve and Grandma when I was thirteen. My aunt and uncle were named my guardians, but, uh . . . taking in a teenager hadn’t really been in either of their life plans.”

He said it all in such a detached way, almost indifferent. But it had to have been a painful time in his life.

“Anyway, the summer after I went to live with them in Edinburgh, Maggie emailed my aunt and explained her connection to my grandparents and invited us for the summer. My aunt flew over with me. Then she flew back without me.”

Something—not a frown, but not quite a grin—passed over his face. “The funny thing is, I always got the feeling Maggie knew I’d be staying. To this day, I don’t know how she and Aunt Irene came to the decision. I just know I’m glad they did.”

“But Maggie never formally adopted you. Your last name . . . not Muir like the girls.”

The indifference returned to his face, but this time it seemed forced. Instead of replying, he let out a sharp breath and then surprised her when he stood. “We should probably get back.”

“Oh. Okay.” Had she said something wrong? He leaned to retrieve the pie dish, wrapped both forks in a napkin, kept his gaze away from hers. “Neil, if I—”

“You’re wrong, by the way.”

She rose slowly. “What?”

“You haven’t brought pain and disappointment to Maggie.”

Now she was the one to exhale, more relieved than she should be when his eyes finally connected with hers.

“She spends so much time in that house alone while the girls and I are off doing our thing. But not this week. It’s not pain and disappointment you’ve brought to Maggie. It’s joy. And it’s time the rest of us start helping both of you find your answers.”

Chapter 13