But Maggie wasn’t in a joking mood. She now stood in the doorway, and Louisa resisted the urge to remind the older woman that she was there to take care of her—not threaten her life.

“I knew it was him.” Alyssa appeared at Maggie’s side. “And back just months before your thirtieth birthday.”

“You mentioned that already.” Louisa glared at her friend.

“It was worth repeating.” Ally remained unwilling to read Louisa’s nonverbal cues.

“Haven’t you done enough?” Louisa asked.

Ally’s perfectly shaped eyebrows knit together in a straight line as if she was genuinely confused by Louisa’s reaction.

Maggie hadn’t moved. “Are you going to explain?”

Louisa felt like a caged animal with both of them blocking the doorway. “What is there to say? I should’ve worn a life vest. I didn’t. I won’t do it again.”

“You’re leaving out important details,” Maggie said.

“Like this.” Alyssa grabbed the sheet of paper and held it up facing Louisa. “Lou, this is Cody Boggs. I’ve heard you talk about him enough—I know his name.”

Louisa didn’t talk about Cody that much. And never to Maggie. Her eyes fell to the page where Cody’s profile jumped out at her. Man, he was a beautiful human being.

“That is the guy,” Maggie said. “You should’ve told me he was back and that he was the one who saved you from your own stupidity this morning.”

“Have you ever thought about a career in motivational speaking?” Louisa asked dryly.

Maggie didn’t flinch.

Louisa turned away, unfolded and refolded a kitchen towel. “I doubt he even remembers the pact. I hardly remember.” What a liar. After all, thoughts of the pact had flittered through her mind as she’d made her near-death bucket list while flopping around in the water that morning.

Also on that list was I wish I’d said I was sorry. I wish I’d mailed the letters. Was this God’s way of getting her attention? She considered pointing out to God he could’ve been a bit less terrifying in his approach.

“But what if he does remember?” Ally asked. “Do you think it’s just coincidence that he showed up here now? Do you think it’s a coincidence that he was your knight in a shining scuba suit?”

Louisa didn’t bother correcting her. Cody hadn’t been wearing a scuba suit. He’d been wearing an orange Coast Guard uniform, and while she couldn’t be sure, she thought he might’ve had a bright-white halo hovering over his head.

“Were you ever going to tell me Cody was back on the island?” Maggie asked.