He let himself look at her for a split second, then realized she’d done it. She’d found a way in. Somehow she’d gotten him to open up about the one topic he’d had no intention of discussing. “I need to go.”

“Maybe I can help?”

He stopped, hand on the door handle of his Jeep. “You can’t.”

“I can talk to my mom. I’ll know if she’s lying. She’s never been very good at that.”

“Just drop it, Lou,” he said. “You don’t need to deal with this.”

But he could tell by the look on her face that asking her to drop anything was an exercise in futility.

“Just let it go,” he said.

She shrugged.

“Louisa.” His tone sounded stern, like a warning, but Louisa wasn’t afraid of him.

She turned and started for Maggie’s house. “I’ll let you know if I find anything out.” She gave him a quick wave and went back inside.

Cody couldn’t help but feel a twinge of relief that for the first time in a long time at least he wasn’t alone.

Today 9:35 PM

Louisa: When is our first sailing lesson?

Cody: I thought you traded me?

Louisa: I tried. The fundraiser has a no-return, no-exchange policy. All sales are final.

Cody: Who made up that rule?

Louisa: Well . . .

Cody: Bet you’re wishing you weren’t such a stickler right about now, eh?

Louisa: Tomorrow?

Cody: I’ll meet you at the marina at dawn.

Louisa: What time is dawn?

Cody: Look it up, sailor. You’re in my world now.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

LOUISA HADN’T SLEPT WELL. The nightmare was back, and this time Cody pulled her from the water and then threw her back in. She awoke sweaty and gasping for air.

If this continued, she really might have to get professional help.

The regatta was less than two weeks away, and now, because of her impulsiveness, she not only had to plan all the details; she also had to train for the race. She knew she wouldn’t be much of a partner, but she didn’t want to embarrass herself.

She’d done that enough already for one summer.

She arrived at the marina at exactly 5:07 a.m., just in time for a truly spectacular sunrise. As she trudged up the dock toward the water, she spotted Cody in a small sailboat, borrowed from a client of Louisa’s. He noticed her and waved.

At least that was something.

The knowledge that their birthday was quickly approaching bounced around in her mind, as if there were a clock ticking and the alarm would go off on that exact day. For so many years she’d built up their pact, and only now did she realize it was because a part of her hoped—even with so many years of silence between them—that on their birthday he’d keep the promise they made.