“You do that a lot.”

“Sorry. I’ll pay better attention.” She slung her bag over her shoulder and fell into step beside him, and it occurred to her that in that moment, there was nowhere else in the world she’d rather be.

Louisa had received twenty-seven RSVPs to Maggie’s birthday party, including one from her own parents, one from the Meyers family who’d left the island six years ago and hadn’t returned due to their ailing health, and one from Freddy Santino, the man Maggie claimed was her first love. They’d gone to elementary school together, and the old lady swore he wouldn’t remember her in a million years.

But here he was, agreeing to come to the fish fry at the beginning of July.

Marissa Boggs had not responded.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

LOUISA STOOD ON THE PORCH OF HER PARENTS’ COTTAGE and inhaled a deep breath. It hadn’t been a great day. After her panic episode in the sailboat, Cody had driven her home, then told her if she needed a ride to get her Vespa later on, he could come back.

She assured him that Alyssa could take her, of course, and she’d already been enough of a burden on him. But secretly she wanted to tell him that yes, she would very much like to see him when he finished work that evening, and could he please stop by, and—oh, look, I just happened to make dinner for us and why, yes, it will be served by candlelight.

But things had grown quiet between them again on the ride to the cottage that used to be his and was now hers because she’d foolishly purchased it thinking somehow it would keep them connected.

She had so many questions she wanted to ask him: Had he ever looked her up? Did he still think about her? Would he like to get married and live happily ever after? So much for her post-Eric plan of swearing off love forever.

Of course, even she knew to keep these thoughts to herself.

She stared at the front door of her parents’ cottage. Was she doing the right thing? Should she do what Cody asked and butt out? Besides, if something had been going on between her mother and Daniel, did she even want to know?

It seemed counterproductive to keep digging when the only thing in the world she wanted was to put back together what she’d destroyed. Her family. Cody’s family. Her and Cody.

How did she do that?

She looked down at her feet and prayed for wisdom, something she did sometimes, though she noticed God seemed to have doled out fair amounts to everyone else while Louisa still waited in the wings for her portion.

“Louisa?” Her father’s voice spun her around. He stood in the yard wearing a fisherman’s hat (he didn’t fish) and carrying a bucket. Teddy lolled beside him.