The party was a smashing success, Jenny decided, as she sat on Alex’s lap in a chair at the fire pit while Evan and Owen played for them. Ned and Francine had taken Ashleigh and Thomas home for a sleepover, and Holden and Hailey were sleeping inside in a portable crib with a baby monitor attached to Maddie’s hip.

Paul and Jared had come and seemed to be having a great time, which made Jenny happy she’d invited them.

Together, they celebrated Dan and Kara’s happy news and enjoyed the retelling of her confrontation with the sister who’d hurt her so badly. Jenny couldn’t imagine one of her beloved sisters doing such a thing to her, and it had made her smile to hear that Kara had gotten the chance to tell off her sister.

Jenny’s group of friends had reacted with surprise and pleasure to the fact that she and Alex were a couple now. He’d behaved admirably when she talked to Jared. There’d been no comments, scowls or other signs of the green-eyed monster, for which she was grateful. She appreciated that he understood that was something she didn’t find attractive and was trying to change.

Paul left at eleven to go home to relieve the friend who’d stayed with his mom so he could go out for a while. Alex had offered to go, but Paul insisted he stay and enjoy the time with Jenny.

“He’s being really cool about everything,” Alex said after his brother left.

“He told me I’m good for you.”

“Did he? Well, you are. I’m glad he sees that, too.”

Jenny dropped her head onto his shoulder, loving the feel of his strong arms around her and the clean, sexy scent of him filling her senses. As she sat on his lap in front of the fire with her closest friends surrounding her, the sky above filled with stars and Evan and Owen’s music providing a backdrop to endless conversation, Jenny realized she was truly content for the first time since Toby died.

Alex was a big part of the reason for her contentment, but so too were her wonderful friends, her lighthouse and the island where they lived together. As she looked up at the stars, she hoped Toby was looking down at her and was pleased with the life she’d made for herself.

***

She had the dream again that night. As always, Toby appeared in living, breathing color, so vital and alive, so handsome in a custom-made suit. He got up from breakfast, put his cereal bowl in the dishwasher and poured coffee into a travel mug. Then he went into the bathroom to brush his teeth and returned with the bag he carried to work.