“I don’t mean to tell you what to do, but why are you out here when your family is with your dad?”

“Because my ex-girlfriend is apparently engaged to the island’s only doctor, and I’m better off out here than in there plotting ways to kill the guy who’s keeping my dad alive.”

“You should act like you don’t care that they’re engaged.”

“Is that so?”

She flushed again. “It’s certainly none of my business.”

“No, please. Tell me why you think that’ll work.”

“Because your indifference will bother her more than your anger does.”

“Huh,” Grant said, pondering what she’d said.

“I’ll go get you something to fix up that hangover.” Intrigued, he watched her head for the parking lot. She was nothing like his usual type. In other words, she was nothing like Abby, who was curvy and filled a bra to overflowing. Stephanie, by contrast, was almost boyish with her spiked hair and lack of curves.

Deciding to take her advice, Grant went back inside to find everyone gone from the waiting room except for Ned, who was sitting next to Maddie’s mother. Francine was holding Ned’s hand and talking softly to him. They never even noticed Grant as he went to the reception desk to ask for directions to his father’s room.

In the hallway outside the room, a crowd had formed.

Luke, propped on crutches, was standing with Sydney, Maddie and Mac, who leaned against the wall, visibly exhausted.

“How is he?” Grant asked his brother.

“Still out cold,” Mac said. “But his color seems a little better than it was earlier.”

“That’s good,” Grant said, relieved. The group went quiet, everyone lost in their own thoughts. When the quiet began to grate on his nerves, Grant said, “So what’s going on with Ned and Maddie’s mom?”

Chapter 19

“What’re you talking about?” Maddie asked Grant.

“Dad was ribbing Ned this morning about a hot date he had last night,” Mac explained. “But Ned was being tight-lipped about it.”

Maddie’s mouth fell open. “My mom and Ned?”

“She was holding his hand and whispering to him in the waiting room just now,” Grant said. “I was with Dad last night when he saw them together.”

“Well, I’ll be,” Mac said, laughing. “No wonder why Dad was acting like he’d stumbled upon the hottest scoop on the island.”

“My mom and Ned?” Maddie said again.

Chuckling, Mac slid an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “Take a breath, babe.”

“I had an odd conversation with Ned the other night,” Luke said. “He was talking about a girl he’d once known who’d left him for another guy. When he said she still lives on the island, I encouraged him to go see her.”

“So they were together before?” Maddie asked. “When?”