“You just remembered what I said I’d do, right? What I meant to do.” He made a groaning noise in the back of his throat and she had to turn away from him, from the sound.

“That was a long time ago. Sorry. I didn’t mean to imply you weren’t—” she said.

“No, it’s true. You’re right. I’m not doing what I said I would. But if it helps anything—I do a lot of volunteer work.”

“That’s how you know the Eco-Tours guy taking us out today?”

“You got it.”

She needed to stay on the subject—she couldn’t discuss broken plans, past promises. “I’m thrilled you’re able to help us. Seems you’ve showed up at the perfect time.”

Nick leaned in, placed his hand on her knee. She felt it as skin to skin although her jeans separated them.

“Amy, we have to talk at some point today. There are some things I need to tell you.”

“Well, right now the OWP is probably pacing the dock waiting for us and we’ll be on the island until tonight . . . maybe another time would be better.”

Despite how much she’d wanted to know what had happened to him, she now felt that what he had to say could wait—that it would ruin the calm joy of just having him around, just knowing he was here, alive, well.

He stood and reached out his hand. “Well, then, let’s go.”

She took his hand and stood, felt the ground sway as if the unseen moved beneath her.

“This island is beautiful. You’ll love it. And because of you, OWP now accepts me as a real part of their group, not just the housewife from Darby.”

“Ah, that’s because they didn’t know you before you were the housewife from Darby and the beach, well, did certain things to you.”

She felt a wide opening beneath her—the unseen now a gaping hole.

“Nick.”

He touched her face and she turned away.

“Come on. They’re waiting,” she said.

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

A ragged trawler bobbed on the calm surface of the Sound, tied to a splintered wooden dock at the marina. The OWP committee, two men and one woman, stood on the dock in a scattered group dressed in khaki shorts and sun-faded T-shirts. Revvy, the leader, stepped forward and waved. Rubber bands bound his long blond ponytail every inch; his face was ruddy from outdoor life, and a camera hung around his neck and bounced against his chest as he walked toward Nick and Amy.

He thrust his hand out to Nick as he reached them at the dock’s edge. “Dude, it’s so great that you’re here.”

Revvy didn’t even look at Amy as she spoke. “Revvy, this is Nick Lowry.”