“I should have said no to Aunt Margaret,” Louisa said as they strolled past the reflecting pool. Kirra looked up and cocked her head. She was an excellent listener, and Louisa found herself telling the dog things she’d never share with another person. “But the minute I saw her number on my phone, all I could think was that she must know what’s wrong with Daddy and that’s why she wants to meet with me.”

The possibilities raced through her head. Cancer? Heart attack? Liver disease? Was he dying? What would Aunt Margaret tell her Friday night?

On the way back into the building, the young doorman gave her a wide smile. “Someone left a package for you, Miss Hancock. It’s at the desk.”

“Thank you, Gerome.” Louisa followed him to the small reception desk in the lobby. He handed her a distinctive teal-blue gift bag. Tiffany’s. She peeked inside. Below a spray of tissue paper was a small box. “And thanks for walking Kirra this afternoon.”

“Anytime, Dr. Hancock. She’s sweet.”

Gift bag in hand, Louisa took the elevator up to her apartment. What could it be? The only person who sent her jewelry these days was her father, but her birthday wasn’t for months. He hadn’t been in the States to say good-bye when she’d left Maine, and he’d seemed distracted when he’d visited last spring. But then, she’d just been fired and had assumed his disappointment in her professional failure had sent him away. Maybe he missed her. With a lighter step, she went into the bedroom to change out of her work clothes.

In yoga pants and a sweatshirt, she settled on the living room sofa. The pillow and blanket Conor had used last night were stacked next to her. She lifted the pillow to her face and inhaled. It smelled like him. She tucked it behind her. With reminders of Conor, and the dog at her feet, the large apartment didn’t seem as empty. Perhaps she’d buy it after all.

Placing the gift bag in her lap, she removed the delicate, white tissue paper and reached in for the present. TIFFANY & CO. was printed on the top of the teal box. She gently slid off the white ribbon and lifted the lid. It must be from Daddy.

She opened the lid. Gold caught the light. It was a charm shaped like a sailboat. Louisa dropped the box.

No.

It couldn’t be.

The box had landed right-side up on the rug at her feet. The golden sailboat gleamed in the light from the end table. Bracing herself, she tipped the gift bag and peered inside. A small white envelope sat on the bottom. She opened it, hoping she was wrong.

Dear Louisa,