“Thanks. Don’t get me wrong. I really appreciate the way Jess always has Libby’s back, but—” The cell phone buzzed again and this time he glanced at the screen. A muscle close to his jaw twitched and he declined the call.

“But?” Alice prompted, hoping to hear more negative thoughts about Jess and knowing it was probably unhealthy to want it this much.

“Sometimes she goes too far and plonks herself into my marriage.”

“Is that what she’s done today?”

“Yeah. She’s booked us a weekend at Dinner Plain.”

Disappointment doused Alice. Given how much Libby and Nick did for Jess, this didn’t look anything like Jess inserting herself into their marriage—it looked like a token of appreciation. “And that’s a bad thing how?”

“Hell, I don’t know!” He flinched and rubbed his chest. “Just saying it out loud makes me sound stupid. I’m probably overreacting, right?”

Alice wasn’t following. His words sounded reasonable but the tension in his body told a different story. “Overreacting’s not something you’re known for. I’m sure you’ve got your reasons.”

He screwed up his mouth as if he was holding back words before huffing out a sigh. “It’s just with the practice being one doctor down, it’s a monumental effort for us to get away. I suppose it would be worth it. We’ve all gone away together before and I know the kids will love it.”

“All of you?” Alice was confused. “I thought Jess was minding the girls so you and Libby can have a weekend away?” Nick shook his head and suddenly she understood where he was coming from. “If you’re going to all that effort to make it happen, I think it’s only fair and reasonable you’d rather go on a vacation with just your family. What does Libs think?”

“She doesn’t know about it yet. Jess wants it to be a surprise. The thing is, she’s insisting we go the day after Dom’s birth—what should have been his birthday.”

“That’s—” Alice realized she needed a moment to process how she felt about this plan, not that she had any experience of giving birth to a baby, let alone a dead baby. But she was intimate with a level of pain and heartache when life dealt a stinging backhander. And for some reason, Libby had always found Dom’s due date harder to bear than the day he’d been stillborn.

“I suppose it could be something nice after a tough day, although it might not be …”

Nick threw her a grateful look. “Exactly! Thank you for understanding. If Libby was pregnant I wouldn’t be so worried, but she tends to drop her bundle around—”

His phone buzzed again. “Jesus!” He flicked it onto silent, slid it into a drawer and slammed it shut.

His stress hit Alice in the chest, ratcheting up her concern. “Nick, tell Libby how you’re feeling about this otherwise you’re going to make yourself sick.”