“He never used to be.” A shaft of pain lanced through Sydney as she remembered the Buddy from before the accident. “He was a holy terror—into everything. We used to joke that he was deaf to the sound of my voice and Seth’s. Max was the only one he minded. The two of them were joined at the hip. After…he laid outside Max’s room and cried for six months.”

“God,” Maddie said. “The poor guy.”

“One day, I woke up, and he was sleeping next to me. He’s been my dog ever since. Not once since Max died has Buddy done anything even slightly naughty or mischievous. He’s been on his best behavior, which is sad in its own way.” Sydney glanced at her friend and saw tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be a Debby Downer.”

“Oh please, you’re not at all. I just feel so sorry for Buddy—for both of you. I can’t begin to understand what you’ve been through.”

“I’m doing better. We both are.” Despite the torment of the last week, the torment of Luke’s offer, Sydney couldn’t deny she was better than she’d been. Much better. But was she far enough along that she was ready to take another chance on love? That was the great unknown. Until she was sure, how could she gamble with her heart or Luke’s? Especially when she’d done such tremendous damage to his heart once before.

“Did I dredge up bad memories?” Maddie asked as she drove them into town to meet the others.

“Not at all.”

“What’ve you been up to all week?”

“I’ve been taking it easy. This past school year was particularly exhausting.” She wanted to tell Maddie about what had transpired with Luke, but somehow she just couldn’t bring herself to share.

“I can’t imagine being responsible for twenty seven-year-olds. One two-year-old is killing me.”

Sydney laughed. “It does wear you out after ten months. I’m sure I’ll miss it, though.”

“Miss it? What do you mean?”

She told Maddie about her decision to leave her job—and why.

For a long moment, Maddie was quiet and pensive. “So what’ll you do now?”

“Not sure yet. I’m hoping to figure that out this month while I’m here.”

“You should stay out here with us permanently. This is your favorite place, after all.”

Sydney chuckled at Maddie’s shameless campaigning. “It’s nice to feel wanted.”

“We’d keep you plenty busy. You’d be surprised how much goes on around here in the winter these days.”

“You’ll be plenty busy this winter with a new baby.”

“That’s true,” Maddie said. “I can barely manage the one I have. I can’t imagine how I’ll handle two.” She gasped. “God, I’m sorry. I just keep putting my foot in my mouth.”