After toweling him off, Sadie found Ethan’s favorite pair of sweatpants and a “Maine Is for Lobsters” T-shirt for him to change into. Both smelled of fabric softener and home. She helped him into their king-sized bed, and pulled the comforter up over his lap.

“Thank you,” he said with such sincerity, such tenderness, Sadie almost cried. “The moment of the car crash, all I could think about was you, Lincoln, and the baby. And how our final memories wouldn’t be that great. The pie shop argument, and all…” He trailed off.

“I was so worried about you,” she stated, sitting on the bed beside him. “If you were dead, I’d have crossed over and killed you.”

“You’re such a force of nature.” He gave her a wry smile. “I was grabbing a late lunch at the diner when the breaking news bulletin came on the TVs. I threw down whatever cash I had in my wallet, and I got on the road as fast as I could. I was so worried about you guys, Sade. I’ve never been so afraid in my entire life. I just kept thinking how I should be in the Cove already and what a shitty husband and father I must be for not being there to protect you guys.”

She rested her head on his shoulder. “Does that hurt?”

“No, feels good.”

She nodded, trying to gather her thoughts and words.

No more secrets. Not anymore.

“I actually tried calling your work—you know, after I hadn’t heard from you for an entire day—and Patty told me you were let go weeks ago,” she said. “Ethan, what’s been going on? Why wouldn’t you tell me that?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “I guess that’s as good a place as any to start.”

He tightened his arms around Sadie. “Marlow started on his rampage about a month ago, but I didn’t want to worry you, even though I knew it would be my head on the chopping block soon enough. He thought the company was spending too much money on our developers, that our roles could be outsourced. Three weeks ago—when it finally happened—well, we’d just found out about the baby. I couldn’t bear to tell you.”

“Kind of like I couldn’t bear to tell you about the pie shop.”

“I’m sorry. I am so sorry about that. Not telling you was totally wrong. I convinced myself it was so I could spare you the stress. But Sadie, you are my life partner. I want—no, I need—we both need to stop keeping secrets.”

“Completely agree,” confirmed Sadie. “Even if things get shitty, we need to tell each other. Neither one of us is going to break.”