“Hey there.” Nate stood up and gave her an easy smile, keeping a tight hold on Bess’s collar. “We were having some issues with the intensity of the greeting, but it’s all under control now, which is good because I don’t want her to think it’s all right to knock visitors flat. Greg already has food on the grill. I hope you’re hungry. It’s simple stuff—” he glanced at Joanna, checking “—nothing gourmet.”

“Sounds perfect.”

They walked around to the back of the house and Ashley saw the pretty borders, a stretch of lawn and a gate with a path beyond that presumably led to the beach. She could hear the sounds of the waves in the distance and the shriek of children playing.

Her chest ached.

I want this, she thought. One day I want this. A home of my own, by the sea.

She was never going to have anything as breathtaking as Otter’s Nest but this, or a smaller version of this, would be the dream.

Mel appeared. “Joanna! You look gorgeous.” She hesitated briefly and then hugged Joanna first and then Ashley.

Ashley hugged her back, relieved. “Thanks for inviting me.”

It could have been awkward, but it seemed Mel was putting the past behind them.

“I’m glad you both came. You already know Greg. Eden was supposed to be here, but she’s been surfing and she’s not back yet.” She glanced over her shoulder, frustrated, and Ashley felt sympathy for Eden. How many times had her mother given her that exact same look? Adults forgot what it was like to be a teenager. They told you to grow up, but then they often treated you like a child, wanting to control your every movement.

Now, of course, she’d give anything for even one more day of being nagged at by her mother but at the time it had driven her to screaming pitch.

“I’m here!” A girl pushed her way through the gate and jogged across the grass. She was wearing a wet suit and her hair was damp around her shoulders. “Sorry. Lost track of time.”

Mel let out a sigh. “You need to shower, change and—”

“I know I need to shower and change! I’m not six years old. On a good day I can even dress myself, Mom.” The flash of irritation in Eden’s eyes faded as she turned to Joanna. “Hi—” She gave Joanna a friendly smile and then glanced at Ashley. “I recognize you from the picture on TV. Also, there’s loads of stuff about you today on the internet, and—”

“Eden!” Mel looked embarrassed. “Apologize.”

“For what?” Eden rolled her eyes, but she looked embarrassed, too. “Sorry. I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to mention it. It’s everywhere, so I thought—sorry.”