“I’m working on it. I didn’t get a great settlement for the Porsche—the word vintage translates as old to an insurance company. I might be driving around in some clunker—or better yet, maybe I can get a motorcycle, grow my hair long, and pal around with Brianna’s new boyfriend, what’s-his-name.”

“It’s Liam, and he seems like a decent guy. He deserves a chance to show you who he is before you judge him.”

Burke sighed. “Yes, I remember what I promised Brianna. But she’s too young to know her own mind. And I didn’t raise my daughter to be a damned biker chick. Look what’s happening with her. She never got arrested till she met him!”

“For your information, Liam doesn’t drink at all. And he wasn’t even around when she had those beers with her friends and tried to drive home. All your daughter is asking is that you meet him before you jump to conclusions.”

“I said I would, didn’t I?” Burke turned off the main road at a sign with an arrow that said MARINA.

“We’re going to see your boat?”

“That’s right. Brianna got me thinking last night. We could still have a few weeks of good weather left. The Lady Brianna deserves better than to end her days with us in dry dock. If there’s a chance I’ll have to sell her later, why not take her out on the water and enjoy her—even if it’s only one last time?”

“Oh! Brianna would love that!” Allison said. “So would I. I’ve never been out on a boat! Could we fish? I don’t know if I could catch one, but I’d love to watch.”

Burke pulled into the marina parking lot and turned to look at her. “You’d really like to go out in the boat? You never said a thing. I always assumed you wouldn’t want to.”

“And I always assumed you didn’t want to take me,” Allison said. “All the time I’ve lived here, I’ve heard how much Kate loved that boat. Now, all those memories . . . Won’t it be hard for you?”

“Maybe. But not so much if it makes Brianna happy—and you. Come on. Today I need to inspect the hull and make sure she’s shipshape. If nothing needs fixing, we can talk to Brianna and make some plans. I know she’ll want to take her boyfriend if he can come for a visit. But we can work that out.”

He got out of the car and came around to let Allison out. She handed him the cane she’d brought along. He’d refused to take it into the bank. But on the uneven ground here, he was going to need it. Allison had wrapped her ankle before leaving the house and had no trouble walking.