“You’ve got a couple of days to figure it out, but I can see why you want to go—and I can see why he doesn’t want you there. He’s trying to protect you.”

“And I love him for that, but I want to protect him. I want to be there with him through all of this. He’d never let me go through something like this by myself. Remember the night I went to Providence to have it out with Justin when he was refusing to sign the divorce papers?”

Shane nodded.

“Owen went with me and sat at a different table so he could be right there if I needed him. He couldn’t bear the thought of me going alone, and that’s how I feel about him going to the trial without me.”

“Perhaps you should remind him of that incident and how important it was to him to be there for you.”

“You’re right. I should. Thanks, Shane. I appreciate you listening.”

“Happy to do something for you for a change.”

Holden let out a squeak from his crib.

“I was hoping if I hung out long enough, he’d wake up.” Shane swallowed the last of his soda. “I’ll get him.”

“He’s probably got a thirty-pound diaper.”

“I can handle it. Relax for a few more minutes while you can.”

“Thanks.” Laura lay back on the pillows, smiling as she listened to the delightful chatter between Shane and Holden. The two of them shared a beautiful bond, and Holden lit up at the sight of Shane, which thrilled her brother. Being here with them had been good for him. It had given him time and space to heal but had kept him engaged with the people who loved him while he worked his way through the awful pain that followed Courtney’s descent into addiction. He’d stood by her through rehab only to hear at the end that his marriage was over.

Laura and their dad, Frank, had wondered more than once if Shane would ever get past the pain of his divorce. Since he’d been on the island, however, she’d seen a noticeable improvement, and being around Holden had definitely helped. Having Frank here for the summer had also been great for her and Shane, and Laura was hoping her dad would stay after the summer ended.

Everything was falling into place for them. She just had to get Owen through the next few weeks, and then they could look forward to their wedding and the life they’d have together. She appreciated Shane’s suggestion that she talk to Sarah about the trial and how best to help Owen through it. She’d do that in the morning.

For now, it was time to soldier through the ever-present exhaustion and enjoy this evening with three of her favorite guys.