Bianca was Jack’s cantankerous—okay, hostile—cousin who moved to Florida. She knew he honestly would include her, and it was hard to make the case that Elodie was anywhere near as bad as Bianca.

“It’s not just about my own comfort level. Elodie and Gemma don’t get along, and Gemma’s our houseguest. So, for tonight, no.”

She won that battle. But the war was ahead of her. Now that the initial thrill of the proposal—romantic, unexpected, and typical Jack in its sweetness—was wearing off, fear was setting in.

When she moved to Provincetown in the mid-nineties, she’d done so with the intention of living her life differently from her parents in every way. Where she worked, where she lived, and how she lived. After the Electric Rose fiasco, she never wanted to hear the word “engagement” again. And after Paulina’s death, she found it difficult to believe in happy endings. If she hadn’t already been with Jack, she might never have found her way to a loving relationship.

It was around this time that she turned to astrology in a serious way. She felt so unmoored, so adrift and cynical, she could only look to the stars to make sense of it all. It was comforting to find a system that told her that while life could be random and cruel, she could at least have a greater understanding of herself and the people around her and make decisions with some guidance. As long as she understood the moon and the stars, she wasn’t alone. She wasn’t lost.

“Who’s the extra place setting for?” Jack said, mopping up water that she’d spilled setting out mason jars stuffed with wildflowers.

“Maud’s able to join us after all.” Maud usually didn’t have time for socializing at dinnertime once the season kicked into full gear, but she told Celeste she wouldn’t miss the celebration for anything.

“The more, the merrier,” Jack said, kissing her on the cheek. “A preview for our wedding.”

“Did I hear the word ‘wedding’?” Lidia said, traipsing through the grass holding a bottle of champagne. Celeste swallowed hard. Lidia rushed over and hugged her. “This is so exciting! Oh, and Manny should be here any minute. He had a late seal tour.”

“Can you believe it?” Jack said, beaming. “She’s finally letting me make an honest woman out of her.”

“So have you set a date?” Lidia said.

“I’m thinking my birthday,” Jack said.

Celeste looked at him. “On your actual birthday? But that’s . . . the first week in August.”

He smiled at her, either not noticing or choosing to ignore the alarm in her voice.

“Perfect, right?”