“Mamamama.” Hailey dropped the doughy mess on the floor and reached for her mother, dragging handfuls of wet bread into Maddie’s hair.

“Wow,” Jenny said. “She moves fast.”

“Why do you think I require two showers per day?” Maddie asked, cuddling her daughter close.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Today is about Syd. I feel terrible making it about me.”

“You didn’t. We all support one another. It’s what I love best about living here.”

“Yes, we do,” Maddie said. “And we’re so glad you’re here with us.”

“I am, too,” Jenny said, humbled as always by the genuine friendship she felt among this group of women and the men they loved. “So have Tiffany and Blaine resurfaced yet after their big day?”

“I heard she was seen briefly at the store yesterday,” Maddie said. “My mom and Ned asked to keep Ashleigh and Thomas for another night to give the newlyweds some more time to themselves. They can’t go away this time of year, so I guess they’ll take an official honeymoon in the fall.”

“You know,” Jenny said, “we never got to have a shower for her because the whole thing happened fast.”

Maddie’s eyes widened with interest. “You’re right!”

“Who’s to say we can’t do it after the fact?”

“Absolutely no one, and how funny would it be if we bought her a bunch of stuff from her own store?”

“Hilarious! I’d be happy to have it at the lighthouse. We could do it out in the yard.”

“Did the lawn finally get cut?”

Jenny felt like her face lit up like a neon sign at the mention of grass cutting. “Just today, in fact.”

“Hey, you guys,” Maddie said to the others. “Jenny just had the best idea. How about a bridal shower for Tiffany, complete with stuff from her own store?”

“Oh yeah,” Stephanie said. “I’m digging that.”

They spent the rest of the afternoon on Syd’s back porch, planning the shower for the following weekend while enjoying the sunshine and company of good friends. Syd’s dog, Buddy, was in the middle of everything, as was Hailey. While they all took turns holding Holden, the laughter and conversation never lagged.

“God, I needed this,” Grace said as the party finally broke up around five. “I feel like all I do is work.”

“Welcome to summer on Gansett,” Stephanie said. “I’m off to the restaurant for another wild Saturday night.”

“Oh, I forgot,” Grace said. “I’m supposed to tell you that Evan and Owen are playing at the Tiki tomorrow night, and they want us all to come.”

“We are so there,” Abby said.

Everyone else agreed they were long overdue for a group night out at the Tiki Bar. They hadn’t done that yet this summer.