“Don’t even think about it,” Burke said. “Things are going to be crazy enough around here without a dog to worry about.”

Brianna added some soy sauce to her cashew chicken. “Liam loves dogs,” she said. “Maybe he could . . .” She trailed off, as if realizing she’d said the wrong thing.

“Liam again.” Burke’s face had become a thundercloud. “How many times do I have to tell you, Brianna? You can do better than a long-haired biker bum who works on cars and lives over a garage.”

Tears glistened in Brianna’s eyes. “Don’t say that! Liam works hard. He’s saving money for his own business, and he loves me.”

“I love you, too, Brianna. That’s why I worry about your throwing your life away for a man who’s not worthy of you. What would your mother say?”

Brianna rose from her chair. “My mother would say that you can’t judge a book by its cover, and you can’t judge a man without getting to know him. Please, Dad, don’t jump to conclusions until you’ve seen Liam and talked with him face-to-face.” She turned to Allison, her eyes pleading for support. “You met Liam. What did you think of him, Allison?”

“He seemed very nice,” Allison said. “He was polite and responsible, and he even insisted on paying for our dinner. Brianna’s right, Burke. You should at least meet him before passing judgment. Liam might have a few rough edges, but not every long-haired biker is, as you say, a bum.”

Burke’s dark look was enough to let Allison know that she’d come down on the wrong side. But Brianna was right. Liam deserved a chance to prove that he was a worthy man.

“I’ll think about meeting him,” Burke said. “But don’t rush me, you two. I’ve got more urgent things on my mind right now.”

“Thank you, Dad.” Brianna sat down again and speared another egg roll from the box. Silence hung over the table.

“I have a question.” Allison broke the silence. “Your boat. I’ve heard your friends mention it, Burke, and I’ve seen it in photographs. I know you have it in storage at the marina. Why don’t we take it out on the water sometime?”

Burke and Brianna glanced at each other. In bringing up the boat, Allison had feared she might be touching on an emotional subject. Evidently she’d been right.

“We haven’t taken the boat out since Kate passed,” Burke said. “It wasn’t that we planned it that way. But without Kate, there just didn’t seem much reason to go on the water. As time went by, I had the boat put in dry dock because it was cheaper and easier on the hull. Lately I’ve thought about selling it. If we run short of cash, I might have to.”