“Really. I love being here with you.”

“I love having you here.”

“Mmm, there’s a whole lotta love flying around this morning. And speaking of flying, why don’t we go for a ride before we go visiting later? I can show you some of my other skills.”

Erin hadn’t been expecting him to say that and had no idea how to respond. After a long pause, she said, “We’ve already got a lot going on today. Maybe another day?”

“Sure, whatever you want.” He let her go and began to butter the toast, leaving Erin to breathe a sigh of relief. She was on borrowed time on this issue, and before long, she was going to have to tell him she didn’t do airplanes. Not anymore.

Slim and Erin left the lighthouse shortly after three to go to dinner at Jenny and Alex’s house. On the way, they stopped by to see Luke and Sydney, who were enjoying a quiet day at home.

“Thank God you’re here,” Syd said when they came into the living room where she was on the sofa, a blanket over her lap. “He’s keeping me prisoner. I need someone to spring me.”

Slim laughed at the way Luke rolled his eyes at his wife’s complaints.

“She’s doing exactly what the doctor told her to do—nothing.”

“He acts like I was put on official bed rest. He’s even carrying me to the bathroom! Erin, tell him this has to stop!”

“Umm, well…”

“Not you, too! I thought we were friends.”

“We are friends,” Erin said with a laugh, “which is why I want you to do what you’re told and take it easy for a few more days.”

Sydney scowled at her.

“Thank you, Erin,” Luke said. “She’s driving me crazy.”

“I’m driving you crazy? That’s a laugh!”

“Love you, sweetheart,” Luke said with a big goofy grin that made all of them laugh, even Sydney.

“This sucks,” she said. “We had all kinds of fun plans for today, and we’re stuck at home.”

Luke sat on the sofa and placed his wife’s feet on his lap. “It’s for a good cause.”

“Yes, it is,” Sydney said, smiling at him.

Slim and Erin sat on the love seat and kept the happy couple company for an hour before they had to leave to continue on to Jenny’s.

“Tell everyone we said Merry Christmas,” Syd said glumly.

“I will,” Erin said.

“Did you hear we’ve got a New Year’s Eve wedding to look forward to?” Slim asked Luke.

“Yes! Adam and Abby are tying the knot. Can’t wait. What a fun night for a wedding.”

Slim recalled Abby’s tearstained face on the flight back to Gansett the day of the anniversary party and wondered if there wasn’t more to the story of their impromptu wedding than anyone had yet heard.