It wasn’t like her past was some big awful secret. But she’d told the story often enough to know that it changed how people viewed her, and she sort of liked the way Alex looked at her now. Would he look at her the same way after he knew? Or would his gaze be tinged by that hint of sorrow others had directed her way once they knew the truth?

She hadn’t missed that since she moved away from home. She hadn’t missed the overwhelming care and concern of the well-meaning people who loved her. Her life was divided solidly in half—before the great tragedy and after. Those who’d known her before had been deeply affected by her loss, so much so that she found it painful at times to be around people she’d known all her life, including her parents and sisters.

That was why it was such a relief to be here on Gansett, where no one had known her before. While her close friends were aware of what she’d lost and had provided tremendous comfort, support and friendship, they didn’t look at her the way her family and friends at home did. They didn’t watch her vigilantly for the slightest sign of crisis or despair.

She didn’t want Alex watching her for those things. She wanted to move past the despair, and being with him made her feel hopeful again. Somehow she had to tell him the story and make it clear to him that as much as she missed Toby and would mourn his loss forever, she was ready to move on and to take a chance on something new. And that, right there, was a rather major development after having been stuck for a dozen years.

With the sun rising on the horizon, Jenny got up and walked to the bathroom on legs that were slightly less sore than the day before. She wasn’t ready to run a marathon or anything, but she didn’t feel like she’d been hit by a bus either. Her stomach growled, and the thought of coffee had her mouth watering—also good signs.

She showered, got dressed in another lightweight dress, had breakfast and two cups of coffee. And then she decided she needed to see Syd. Despite the rapid beat of her heart, Jenny moved slowly, washing her breakfast dishes before going upstairs to brush her teeth and make the bed. She came down the stairs, grabbed her purse and keys, went down one more level and out into the swampy heat.