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Chapters (82)
  1. Cover
  2. ALSO BY JAMIE BRENNER
  3. PART ONE
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. PART TWO
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. PART THREE
  64. 59
  65. 60
  66. 61
  67. 62
  68. 63
  69. 64
  70. 65
  71. 66
  72. 67
  73. 68
  74. 69
  75. 70
  76. 71
  77. 72
  78. 73
  79. 74
  80. Acknowledgments
  81. About the Author
  82. What’s next onyour reading list?

If Gemma had her way, the argument with Elodie in Manhattan would be the last time they ever spoke. Just thinking about the self-righteous expression on her aunt’s face when she spoke about her father still made her feel sick. But if she wanted to help Celeste, she had to put all of that aside.

She was so anxious about seeing Elodie, she wasn’t prepared to run into Jack. He descended the stairs carrying a large cooler.

“Hi, Jack,” she said, smiling awkwardly. Should she acknowledge what was going on, or just act normal, or what?

“Hey there, Gemma,” he said with a faint smile. The usual twinkle in his eye was gone. He looked tired, pale underneath his tan. She remembered his kindness to her the day she first arrived in town, so uncertain and unmoored.

“We’re having a party here tomorrow night. I know Alvie’s coming, so be sure to stop by.”

With that, he continued on. She swallowed hard. Tomorrow was supposed to be their wedding day. She hoped there was some way to make sure it still was. She needed to see at least one Pavlin woman get her happy ending. She didn’t believe in curses, but she did believe in love, even if she couldn’t find it herself.

She knocked on the screen door before opening it. Lidia sat at the kitchen table, which was covered by long brown fronds of some sort. The room smelled dank and salty.

“Gemma, what a nice surprise. Come on in. Don’t mind the smell—it’s just fresh kelp.”

Gemma had to resist the urge to cover her nose. She leaned against the counter.

“Is Elodie here?”

“She and Tito are out with the dogs. But they should be back anytime now. Have a seat.”

“I saw Jack on my way in,” she said.

Lidia frowned. “Yes. We have a full house here. I’m usually happy to have the whole family under one roof, but not under these circumstances.”

“I know. I’m trying to help Celeste see she’s making a mistake. That’s why I want to talk to Elodie. I need her help.”

Elodie’s pug, Pearl, ambled into the kitchen. Gemma tensed, knowing her owner wouldn’t be far behind. It was hot in the kitchen, the window behind the sink open and a ceiling fan lazily stirring the soupy air. Pearl trotted over to a water bowl.

Elodie, dressed in madras plaid shorts and navy Tory Burch ballerina flats, walked in.

“Why don’t you two go out on the porch and chat? I know you have a lot to discuss,” Lidia said with a wink.

“Oh,” Elodie said, caught off-guard. “Just a minute. I need to get something from upstairs.”

68

Gemma watched a silver catamaran bobbing on the bay. Below Lidia’s deck, seagulls battled over a discarded piece of bread. And on the chair next to her, Elodie rummaged through her handbag.