“Tansy. I had it out with her today. It was awful. She doesn’t want to come home this summer. And I saw these pictures of her, and she was smoking…smoking! Like hello! Was watching Dad die of lung cancer not enough?” Renee pressed a hand to her mouth as Bree’s eyes widened. “Never mind. Coming here was a bad idea. I don’t want to get into it with you, or Tansy, or anyone. I’ll go home and garden. Yell at the weeds.”

“Wait a second.” Bree hurried behind as she made her way toward the door. “Don’t leave in a huff. I was only being real! That’s what sisters do!”

Renee didn’t answer. She nearly tripped down the front steps and could hear Bree gasp from behind, “Be careful!”

She thrust her hands into the air. “I’m fine!”

For once she wished she could say those words and actually mean them.

It was time to add a few sprinkles to this smushed cupcake of a day.

When she got home, she stalked passed her garden without giving the dandelions a second glance. Instead, she marched up to her favorite Adirondack chair on the porch, took a seat, and whipped out her iPhone.

Tansy, Bree—heck, probably the whole frigging town—thought she was some cautionary tale of broken hearts and broken dreams. She’d show them. She’d show everyone.

Heart in her throat, she selected her message thread with Dan, which included painfully professional topics such as restocking their Sesame Street sticker supply and the missing address of an insurance provider.

“Here goes nothing,” she muttered.

Hi. Sorry yesterday ended so abruptly. Poor Dan had excused himself after Tansy’s unexpected phone call, saying they would catch up later. Now was as good a time as any. I had a lot of fun with you.

There. If that wasn’t a sprinkle, she didn’t know what was.

Renee shoved her phone back into her pocket, suddenly exhilarated by her own small act of boldness, and headed for the beach. She felt her jacket buzz but waited until she was sitting on the cool sand to look at the message.

I had fun, too! ☺

She smiled, loving the little smiley face emoji.

And then, another message came.

Are you free tomorrow night? Want to grill on my boat?

Renee screamed—a wonderful, guttural exhale.

Yes. That sounds great! She beamed as she pressed each letter. What time?

She wanted to twirl barefoot at the waterline. She wanted to dig a hole and hide down with the crabs.

This all felt thrilling and terrifying.

Her moves may be rusty, and her playbook completely blank, but she was ready to get on the field and put her heart back in the game.

If only she could send it off with a helmet and protective padding.

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

It couldn’t hurt to take a peek, right?