“I can count on you, too, to keep me sane when I’m losing my mind over something ridiculous.”

“This wasn’t ridiculous.”

“In the grand scheme of things, it was pretty ridiculous. After everything that happened when P.J. was born, I prefer to focus on my many blessings rather than obsessing about things that don’t really matter.”

“That’s a nice goal, but you’re still human, Janey, and something like this is going to throw you no matter how badly you’d like to think otherwise.”

“I love you, Joseph. Thanks for always having my back.”

“I love you, too, Jane Elizabeth. And your back is my favorite back in the whole world.”

Wrapped in her husband’s arms with her baby at her breast, Janey was at peace.

A somber group gathered at the ferry landing the next morning for the trip to the mainland. Laura’s mind raced with all the details involved with leaving the hotel for a week or more. Shane had assured her she had nothing to worry about. Even though his construction season was short, he was taking a week off from the affordable-housing project to oversee the hotel in their absence. Stephanie and Abby would be helping, as would the eager group of young summer staffers.

Though she knew her brother was more than capable, Laura was still nervous about leaving the hotel in the midst of the busy summer season. However, she was determined to put those worries aside so she could focus exclusively on Owen, who seemed to be focused exclusively on her.

“How do you feel?”

“Fantastic,” she said truthfully. Though neither of them had slept well the night before, she’d woken for the first time in months without the nausea and with more energy than she’d had in ages. “I feel like a new woman.”

“I’m so glad.” He eyed the open water outside the breakwater with trepidation. “Looks a little choppy out there. I hope you don’t get sick.”

“I won’t,” she said with more conviction than she actually felt. She’d been a victim of seasickness on nearly every crossing to the island for as long as she could remember. But the sickness had always been worth the payoff of seeing her beloved aunt, uncle and cousins. “Maybe the stuff Victoria gave me works for seasickness, too.”

“Let’s hope so.”

“What’s this? I thought you found puking women attractive?”

“Only one puking woman is attractive to me, and I think she’s had enough with the puking for now.”

“Yes, she has.”

David arrived with Daisy, who had come to drop him off at the ferry. She approached Sarah and gave her a hug. “I’ll be hoping and praying for a successful outcome,” Daisy said.

“Thank you, honey,” Sarah said.

The two women had bonded over their unfortunate histories with violent men.