“We’re hosting a regatta,” Louisa said quietly. “A whole day of bringing awareness to water safety and to raising money for a worthy cause.”

“What cause?” Deborah asked.

Louisa looked up and straight into the woman’s eyes. “Your family.”

“We’re not a charity case,” Deborah said.

“Honey, let her talk,” Mr. Wirth said. He glanced at Louisa. “Our insurance covers some of Jackson’s expenses, but we’ve taken a second mortgage on our house to try and cover part of what’s left.”

Louisa nodded. “Medical bills can be so hard. We just want to help ease the burden if we can.”

“Who’s ‘we’?” Deborah’s shoulders had gone stiff, as if she knew there was something about this idea Louisa wasn’t telling her, something she wouldn’t like.

“The event is hosted by the Coast Guard station at Brant Point,” Louisa said firmly, and once again Cody admired that she didn’t try to sugarcoat the truth.

“No way,” Deborah said.

“Deb,” her husband said quietly.

“Mr. and Mrs. Wirth,” Louisa said kindly, “we know you’re in a lot of pain right now.”

The woman’s lower lip quivered. “You don’t know anything about our pain.”

Louisa inched back in her chair. “You’re right. I don’t understand this kind of pain.”

Deborah swiped a tear that slid down her cheek.

“But I might.” Cody hadn’t meant to say the words out loud. He felt Louisa’s eyes on him.

Jackson’s parents looked at him too, confusion on their faces.

“I don’t know exactly what you’re going through, but my father drowned when I was eighteen,” he said.

Deborah’s face softened, but only slightly, and the man stilled.

“It’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Deborah wiped her cheek again. “You want to use Jackson to ease your guilty conscience.” The anger was back. It flashed in her eyes, hot and cold at the same time.

“No. We only want to help,” Cody said, and he meant it. It was the first time he wondered if the pain he’d endured might actually be able to help someone else.

Maybe he should’ve kept his mouth shut. It wasn’t like he’d figured out anything about grief or loss.

“That Coast Guardsman should’ve done more. He should’ve gotten Jackson out first. Instead, he waited too long, and our son may never wake up.” With that, her voice cracked. “I don’t know much, but I know he is not supposed to be in this bed right now.”

He wouldn’t remind her that Jessup had tried to save Jackson right away. He wouldn’t say that it was an accident because that might negate her feelings, and she was certainly entitled to them. Besides, they weren’t here to convince her she was wrong.

They were only here to offer help.