“What do you think of our fair island so far, Quinn?” Paul asked over cocktails.

“It’s, um, small.”

“You live in New York City,” Lizzie said. “Anything would seem small to you after that.”

“There’s small and then there’s Gansett small,” Quinn said with a small grin.

Watching their back-and-forth, Erin could see how hard Lizzie was trying to convince her brother-in-law to embrace her project. She wanted him to be the staff physician at the new facility. While Quinn resembled his older brother in looks, he had none of Jared’s easygoing charm or wit. Quinn was more buttoned down, somber.

Though intrigued by the James family dynamic as talk turned to holiday plans, Erin found herself watching the door, waiting and anticipating. Any minute now. God, she was like a silly teenage girl waiting for her boyfriend to arrive. Could she be any more ridiculous? Except, that was how she felt. Her skin prickled with awareness of him, and he hadn’t even arrived yet. Knowing he was on his way had her heart beating faster. Her face felt warm, and she was probably flushed, giving away her secrets to the room full of friends.

Eager for a moment alone to get ahold of herself before he got there, she went into the kitchen for a glass of ice water.

Naturally, Jenny followed her and insisted on getting the water for her.

Erin took a sip, the cold liquid soothing her parched throat.

“You going to be all right?” Jenny asked in a teasing tone.

“I don’t know. I’m all wound up inside over him, and I shouldn’t be. He’s here for a short visit, and then he’s going back to Florida for the rest of the winter. What can possibly come of it?”

“Erin… Really? You’re honestly asking that? You’re not indentured to the island and the lighthouse. You could go with him.”

“I don’t know. Nothing has been decided.”

“You should go and see what happens. What do you have to lose? If it doesn’t work out, you can come back here for the summer.”

“I have everything to lose. I can’t… I don’t know if I’m ready for what this could be.”

Jenny left her perch by the sink and crossed the room to where Erin leaned against the counter. She put her hands on Erin’s shoulders, forcing her to make eye contact. “I’ve been right where you are. When Alex and his ghastly lawn mower came roaring into my life, I wasn’t in any way prepared to contend with him and all the things he wanted from me. In fact, neither was he with everything that was going on with his mom. But look at what we would’ve missed if we hadn’t found the courage to take a chance.”