Maddie winced. She’d planned to ease into the subject, but leave it to Tiffany to put it right out there.

“I haven’t got a boyfriend,” Francine huffed.

“Sure looked like it to me—and everyone else—when you were holding hands with him.”

Francine glowered at her younger daughter. “People on this island need to mind their own damned business.”

“When have you ever known that to happen?” Tiffany asked.

“How are you feeling, Maddie?” Francine asked, turning her back on Tiffany.

“I’m fine but on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy.”

“Don’t worry,” Francine said. “I’ll help with Thomas. We both will, right, Tiffany?”

“Of course we will. Now, tell us about your boyfriend.”

Francine threw up her hands and said, “Ugh!”

“Mac thinks the world of him,” Maddie said. “He’s like a beloved uncle to all the McCarthy kids. In fact, Mac bought our house from him.”

Francine’s eyes went wide. “He did not own that big house!”

“Mom, he owns half this island.”

Francine laughed. “You’re mistaking him for someone else. He drives a cab.”

“That’s only his hobby. Real estate is his business.”

Francine had apparently been shocked speechless.

“Way to go, Mom,” Tiffany said.

“I, um, I have to go,” Francine said. “I’ll check on you tomorrow.” She rushed out of the room.

“Was it something we said?” Tiffany asked in a teasing tone.

“Go after her,” Maddie said. “Make sure she’s okay.”

“All right, I’m going.”

“Thanks for coming, and keep me posted on the situation with Jim.”

Tiffany’s smile faded at the reminder of her marital problems. “I will.”

Francine found Ned waiting for her outside in the clinic parking lot, leaning against the dilapidated woody station wagon he used for a cab. Everything about him was dilapidated, so how was she supposed to believe that he actually owned half the island?

As she walked toward him, he didn’t seem to blink, but he did smile as if he was delighted to see her. How silly was that? She’d seen him just half an hour ago. But since then, everything had changed, and she was still processing what Maddie had told her.

“Is it true?” she asked, wincing inside because she hadn’t intended to blurt it right out like that. But damn it, she wanted to know.

“Is what true?”

“That you own half this island?” In the darkness, she couldn’t be entirely sure, but she swore he blushed. “More than half?”

He shrugged sheepishly. “I dunno. Hardly keep track.”

Francine blew out a long deep breath. “So then what’s all this?” she asked, gesturing to the cab.

“Gets me outta the house. Meet a lotta nice people. Get ta know who’s a’comin and who’s a’goin.”

“Did you really sell that big house to Mac?”

“Yep.”

“How did you. . . where did you. . .”