I climbed the steps from the beach and opened the door. I put Charlotte’s phone back in our storage spot and grabbed my own.

“Hello!” I called as I walked inside. No answer. Grace must be at the grocery store. She went to the grocery store every day. I was a make-a-list-and-go-once-and-get-it-over-with kind of shopper—well, back when I used to do the shopping. I guessed that was another thing I’d have to get used to doing on my own again.

I went upstairs and walked into my bedroom, glancing at the church bulletin in the corner of my mirror. Today had soothed me. When people found out, when people knew I had not retaliated against Bill when I found out that he had stolen more than half of my last husband’s money, the money I had invested with him—no, the money I had begged to invest with him—surely they would see how giving I was and it would clear my name. Bill was a New York broker with a big reputation. He was notoriously hard to get in with, so when he called saying that someone I was certain I didn’t actually know had suggested he call me, I had jumped at the chance to become one of his only Juniper Shores clients; I had even boasted about it to friends. I had felt so proud that the famous Bill Sitterly had deemed me worthy of his skills.

Man, that had backfired. But I had done nothing. I had remained calm in the face of losing what was most of my retirement. Not only that, but I had taken in Bill’s wife and child. Surely people would see that, and I would be vindicated. I couldn’t wait for that day.

I put my shoes in my closet, trying to ignore what I had seen on Charlotte’s phone. It wasn’t like I didn’t know my first father-in-law had a hedge fund. It wasn’t like every now and then I didn’t google Jeremy’s parents to see what was going on in their lives. Over the years, they had started a scholarship in Jeremy’s name, named a tennis court for him at a park, had a tree lit at the hospital in his honor. Never once had they invited me to celebrate and remember him. That hurt almost as much as losing him. Why had they just abandoned me?

But what I couldn’t figure out now was why someone had sent Charlotte Dan’s fund information. Did they know each other? And, if so, did Dan know Charlotte was living with me? Was Dan up to something? I decided that I needed to put those thoughts aside. Grace had offered, but maybe I would go pick the little girls up from school. Nothing brightened my day quite like their three cheerful voices chittering and chattering about every detail of their days.