“So you bought our old cottage?” Why was he pressing the issue? He didn’t care. It was great for her to live there—it was all in the past. But then maybe it wasn’t. Maybe knowing she was living in the last place he’d seen his father alive had burrowed its way under his skin.

“I’m sorry, Cody.”

“Just tell me why, Louisa.”

She didn’t respond. Really, what could she say? No reason would be good enough, and she probably knew it. She should’ve left the cottage in someone else’s hands and she should leave his family out of the plans for Maggie’s party.

He’d call his mom and tell her about Maggie’s health. She and his sister could say goodbye their own way. Louisa had no idea what they’d all been through. How long it had taken them to find a new normal. And he wasn’t about to tell her because it was none of her business.

“I should go.” Louisa stood. “I have a big anniversary party on a yacht tonight.”

He stood too.

“I’ll be in touch.” She started for the door, but before she walked through, she stopped, reached into her bag, drew something out, and turned back toward him.

“It would mean a lot to Maggie if you came.” She handed him a white envelope. On it, in the same frilly handwriting, was his name.

She didn’t make eye contact before she turned and left the room. But once she was gone, a part of him wanted to call her back in. Because as angry as he still was, there was something about Louisa that made him feel at peace.

And he hadn’t been at peace since the day his father died.

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE TIMMONS ANNIVERSARY PARTY went off without a hitch. The older couple couldn’t have been more complimentary to Louisa and Ally.

“We nailed it,” Ally said, halfway through the party.

Louisa murmured a reply, but mostly she couldn’t stop watching the beautiful couple of honor. They were surrounded by friends and family. Children and grandchildren and siblings and people they’d known their whole lives.

Four members of their wedding party shared memories of that happy day fifty years prior, and Mr. and Mrs. Timmons beamed.

Louisa had hosted parties before, many of them celebrating a wedding anniversary. Sometimes the couples seemed to be putting on airs. Throwing a party to make themselves look good in front of their friends. Once, she caught a husband upstairs in a compromising position with his daughter’s college roommate while his wife accepted congratulations from a house full of guests.

But the Timmons family was different. They were the kind of family Louisa wished she had. Genuine and honest and loving.