With Marion’s move complete, Hope told Ethan that they’d be leaving Gansett after the wedding to move back to the mainland. Ethan didn’t take the news well, lashing out at his mother, Paul, Alex and anyone who would listen to how unfair it was that he had to leave the best place he’d ever lived. Paul’s heart broke all over again at realizing how devastated Ethan was to be leaving.

From his post on the back porch later that night, he could hear Hope arguing with Ethan, who was refusing to take a shower. Though it wasn’t his place or his business, Paul got up from the step, crossed the yard and went up the stairs to the cabin, knocking on the door.

Looking frazzled, Hope came to the door. “Paul.”

He gestured to the interior of the cabin. “May I?”

Wearily, she opened the door to admit him. He took a chance and put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her forehead. It was the first time he’d touched her in days, and it took everything he had to let his hands drop from her shoulders when all he wanted was to touch her everywhere. “Take a break. I got this.”

Walking around the boxes she’d begun to pack, Paul went into Ethan’s room, where the little guy was sitting on his bed, his arms crossed and his face set with fury. Paul’s father would’ve said he was “bull-necking.”

“What’re you doing here?” Ethan asked sullenly.

“I heard the way you were talking to your mom, and I thought, that’s not the way my buddy Ethan talks to his mom. My buddy Ethan is respectful and does what he’s told.”

“I’m not your buddy anymore. We’re leaving.”

“I know, and that totally sucks.”

“Sucks is a bad word.”

“How’s stinks?” Paul asked as he sat at the foot of Ethan’s bed, taking note of the Avengers comforter. “Is that better?”

His big eyes filled with tears as he shook his head. “I’m so mad at her.”

“You’re not being fair, Ethan. We hired her to take care of Mrs. Marion, and her illness got a lot worse, so she can’t live here with us anymore.”

“Why not?” he asked, his voice breaking. “Is my mom not a good enough nurse?”

“She’s a great nurse, but there’s only so much she or anyone can do to help Mrs. Marion.”

“She doesn’t remember things.”

“No, she doesn’t. Soon she’s going to forget how to eat and breathe, which is going to be really, really scary. That’s why she needs to live somewhere else, so they can help her when that happens.”

“Is-is she going to die like Kyle and Jackson’s mom did?”

“Eventually.”

Ethan threw himself at Paul. “I don’t want her to die.”