That afternoon, Maggie waved off the last of the tradesmen and debated whether she should shower first before heading into town to the inn.

The debate was put on hold when a yellow SUV crawled toward the house. Beyoncé carried through the open windows until the driver cut the engine and stepped out of the car.

She was fitness-model lean with a sassy, messy bob haircut. Athletic, attractive. She took off her sunglasses and eyed Maggie with curiosity. Then she squared her shoulders and approached.

“Maggie Nichols?” she asked.

“That’s me,” Maggie answered, leaning against the porch post.

“I’m Michelle.”

Uh-oh. Michelle as in Silas Wright’s ex Michelle?

“I dated Silas Wright.”

Yep. That’s the one. Well, this should be interesting. And hopefully not terrifying.

“What can I do for you?” Maggie asked.

“Don’t worry. I’m not here to hack you into pieces or hurl insults and tell you to stay away from ‘my man,’” she said, adding air quotes.

“Well, that’s a relief,” she said to Michelle.

“I was just dropping by to say thank you.”

People sure drop by a lot around these parts.

“Thank you for what, exactly?” Maggie asked.

“I know Sy’s told you about us and our on-again, off-again…thing.”

“He may have mentioned it.”

“And I know he’s interested in you,” Michelle added.

Maggie wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

“I also know my boy-crazy cousin made a pass at him in front of you,” Michelle continued. “She’s nineteen. Anyway, I guess I’m dropping by to say thank you and apologize for my idiot cousin.”

“Do you want a drink or something?” Maggie asked, hooking her thumb toward the house.

“No. Thanks,” Michelle said. “I’m actually hitting the road. You’re my last stop.”

Maggie noticed that the SUV was full. Suitcases. Boxes. Dear God. Had she somehow accidentally chased this woman out of her hometown?

“Anyway,” Michelle pressed on, sticking her sunglasses in the scoop neck of her T-shirt. “Silas was my dream guy in high school. I had the biggest crush on him. It seemed only natural that we’d end up together as adults. Both being single. Both still here in Kinship. But it never quite worked. And I think I held on for too long because of that teenage fantasy, you know?”

Maggie nodded. “I am familiar with that particular experience.”

“We just never fit right. But we were convenient, and part of me thought that, if we just tried a little harder, we could make it work. We could do the marriage-and-kids thing. And I could tell everyone that I won at life with my high school sweetheart.”

She put a foot on the first step and looked around the yard.

“But when something’s not right, it’s not right, and no amount of forcing it will make it right. And then you showed up.”