“That’s Gansett for you,” Daisy said as they walked up the stairs to the sprawling ranch house where Alex and Paul had grown up. “Everyone is always willing to lend a hand.”

“Daisy!” Marion cried when the three of them came in the door. “I’m so glad to see you!” She hugged Daisy as if she hadn’t seen the young woman in weeks, when in fact it had only been twenty-four hours since Daisy’s last visit. She’d been incredibly faithful to his mother since their inopportune meeting.

“I’m glad to see you, too. Your hair looks lovely. Did you have it done today?”

“I don’t know. Did I have it done today?”

“Yes, Mom.” The strain around Paul’s eyes and mouth were indicative of a difficult day. “Chloe was here this afternoon.”

“I did have it done today.” Marion patted her gray curls lightly. “Chloe came from town. My George always tells me to get my hair done, because he knows how much I enjoy it. He’s so good to me that way.”

“Let’s go outside on the porch.” Daisy extended her arm to Marion. “I know how much you love the heat.”

“I do so love it. I’m always cold.”

Yearning for the coldest shower in the history of cold showers—for more reasons than one—Alex watched them go. His mother’s constant insistence that his father was still alive was just another on a long list of painful things about her illness. Losing their father to cancer ten years ago had been among the worst things Alex and Paul had ever been through, and to hear her talk about him like he was still alive was a constant reopening of an old wound.

While they went out of their way not to talk about it, Alex knew it affected his brother just as profoundly.

David filled Paul in on the news about nursing applicants. Alex provided beers for all three of them while they pored over the résumés and emails from the two women. One of them disclosed in her email that she had a young son and was looking for a fresh start for both of them.

“Does your cottage have room for two people?” David asked, referring to the guesthouse they were making available to whomever accepted the nursing position.

“There’re two bedrooms,” Paul said. “So that wouldn’t be an issue. How soon can we get them over here?”

“That’s up to you,” David said. “I’ll make myself available whenever you want me to meet with them.”

“That’s really good of you,” Alex said. “I know we’ve said this a million times, but we never would’ve gotten this far without your help and support.”

“Happy to do it. That’s what friends are for, right?”

“Yeah,” Alex said gruffly. “Thank God for good friends.”