“This is still your home, Joanna. You’re still one of us. Plenty of folks had a problem with Denise, but never you. There are no journalists or photographers snooping around in town. If there were, I’d know about it. And I’m not going to tell anyone you’re here. Obviously.” Was it obvious? “You should come into town and have a look around. The place hasn’t changed much. Your favorite Beach Bookstore is still there, still run by Mary-Lou although she’s always torn between the store and caring for her mother.”

“Care for her? What’s wrong with Vivian?”

“Arthritis. Can’t get around too well. Mary-Lou goes home a few times a day and closes the store.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Life sucks sometimes.” She tried to think of places from their past. “Remember every Friday we stopped at Frozen Flavor for ice cream? You always chose double chocolate, and I—”

“Mint chocolate chip.” Joanna finished her sentence. “It’s still there?”

“Exactly the same. Had a few makeovers, and a few extra fancy flavors, but basically the same. Jane took over from her mother. Put all the prices up. Eden and her friends hang out there after school, just as we did.” She felt a little pang. “I miss the days when we thought an ice cream solved everything.”

“Me, too.”

“Maybe we could—” Mel broke off midsentence as Joanna shook her head.

“I can’t do things like that without attracting attention. It would turn into a circus.”

“But you can’t stay locked away up here forever.”

“There are worse places to be locked away.” Joanna walked to the kitchen. “Do you want a drink? Something to eat?”

“Are you offering to cook me something?”

“I don’t cook.” Joanna pushed the basket toward her. “Choose something.”

Mel took a cookie. Joanna had been married to a top chef for two decades. How could she possibly still not cook? “Nate makes the best cookies. He’s not married. Nate, I mean. He was married, for a while, but it didn’t work out.”

Joanna poured lemonade into tall glasses. “It happens.”

That was it? That was all she was going to say? “Don’t you care?”

“It was a long time ago. Another life. He probably barely remembers me.” Joanna took a sip of lemonade and Mel saw the slight shake of her hand and knew that no matter what she said, she did care.

“Of course he remembers you. He was a total mess after you left.”

Joanna put the glass down slowly. “A mess?”

“Yes. I wanted to kill you for a while, for leaving like that with no warning. You broke his heart.” She saw Joanna’s expression change. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that, but I’m his twin and I’m overprotective, you know that. I’m not trying to make you feel guilty. It was a long time ago.”