It still hurt to think about it now, the way he’d dismissed her so flippantly. Somehow she’d found the courage to move forward with her idea. It took a couple more weeks of realizing The Good Life wouldn’t leave her alone. Then a conversation or two with Ally and a very pointed kick in the pants from Maggie, but she eventually started to believe in herself.

When she gave her notice at the hotel, she told Eric they were over. “I can’t be with someone who doesn’t believe in me.”

He’d protested, of course, because he never wanted to look like the bad guy, but she knew it was the right thing.

She needed to find someone who supported her dreams, who thought her adventures were fun and intriguing, who didn’t find the flaws in every single idea she had. That person might not exist, so for the time being, romance was not a priority. It hurt too much to realize someone wasn’t who you thought they were. Besides, she was doing just fine on her own.

Mostly. She was doing mostly just fine on her own.

Her business was all-consuming, and she was determined to make it a success—not just to prove Eric wrong, but to prove to herself she had it in her. She worked hard, harder than she ever had when she was punching the hotel clock, but she wouldn’t trade it for anything.

She’d been right—creating experiences for her clients, the kind they would never forget, the kind that would rank as the best of their lives, was fulfilling in a way her work hadn’t been before.

Who cared if there was no man to celebrate her? She was a legitimate businesswoman. She was almost even a success. But she still had something to prove, and she knew it.

So the anniversary party was important. Fifty years was a long time for a couple to be married, especially nowadays. The Timmons family was counting on her—surely Maggie would understand that.

But one glance at the old woman’s face told her that she was officially on lockdown.

“You want to talk about it?” Maggie asked.

“No.” Louisa looked down so she wouldn’t have to see Maggie’s disapproval.

“Are you going to call your parents?”

“No.”

“They might find out. Your dad still reads Nantucket news, and you know it’ll show up online.”

Louisa groaned again.

“Should I make you something to eat?”

“I had enough seawater to keep me full for the rest of the day, but thanks.” Louisa glanced at her unwelcome guest.

“You keep cracking your jokes, but you know this isn’t funny.”