“Still no idea who put this here?” Her question was quiet, as if she didn’t want to remind him. But he didn’t need the reminder. He routinely spent sleepless nights trying to figure it out—a mystery worth solving.

What difference did it make, really? So someone wanted to remember his dad. That was great—he should be thankful. But the not knowing nagged him. He kept replaying the seemingly disconnected details he did know, rolling them over in his mind along with Ted’s comments about Warren and his affinity for high-stakes poker. None of it seemed to fit together.

The mix of emotions was something he’d always been successful at ignoring—but not here on the island and certainly not standing in front of that cross.

“You’re quiet,” she said.

“Yeah.”

She slipped her hand in his and let him be still.

“But no, still no idea.” He squeezed her hand and turned to face her.

Louisa looked at him, and all his senses were on high alert. She saw the pain he kept hidden from everyone else—with her, he couldn’t hide. The thought terrified and comforted him at the same time.

“We won’t stop trying,” she said.

He felt like a jerk for not telling her about the poker. But he didn’t want to ruin the moment or think about anything other than the way she felt in his arms. Besides, he didn’t know much. Only that Warren played. Maybe Daniel had jumped into a game or two himself, and maybe he’d lost big. Maybe that’s why they had no money when he died. All speculation. No facts. It drove him nuts.

No, he didn’t want to talk about any of that. He’d tell Louisa another day. When the mood was different. Now he simply wanted to take her hand and continue down the beach, away from the memorial—away from the memories.

Found on Cody’s porch in the early hours of a Saturday morning: a chair he and Louisa had seen at a yard sale earlier in the week with a note pinned to it.

You’re not “just one guy” anymore. I’m going to need a place to sit. —Louisa

That night, Louisa was tied up with an especially difficult client, so Cody assured her he’d go check in on Maggie. When she finished her work, Louisa would meet him at the old woman’s house.