“And if one of us feels uncomfortable, we talk about it,” Taylor says. “Agreed?”

“Agreed.”

“Right now I’m asking myself what Taylor wants, and Taylor wants lasagna.”

Willa cracks up laughing. “Come on, schweetie. Let’s go eat dinner with Captain Norm.”

“Hang on. There’s something I want to do first.”

While Taylor is gone, Willa empties Pumpkin’s litter box—something she swore she’d never do, but it’s the last thing left to clean—and a few minutes later Taylor returns with a small bouquet of red tea roses.

“Where’d you get those?” Willa asks.

“I might have taken them off a bush in someone’s yard.”

“You know that’s something Finley would totally do, right?”

“We shouldn’t go empty-handed. It’s bad manners.” Taylor has the same mischievous grin as her brother, but Willa can’t help laughing.

“I love how you justify theft with proper etiquette.”

“Hey,” Taylor says. “My mom raised me right.”

Willa is still giggling as they approach the trawler. A man with a white Hemingway beard comes out onto the back deck and waves a hand in greeting.

“Do you think he looks like the guy in the book?”

“Not sure,” Taylor whispers back. “Maybe.”

Norm opens a little gate to let them onto the boat. Through an open double doorway, the cabin looks as if a Cracker Barrel gift shop exploded. Candles. Antiqued bird knickknacks. A galvanized tray full of shells. Paneled walls are covered with framed pictures of smiling children and vintage-look wooden signs that say things like BETTER TOGETHER and BLESS THIS BOAT. Country plaid cushions adorn the settee. It’s not really Willa’s style, but she has to admire Amy’s commitment to the theme.

Amy stands at a counter, chopping yellow peppers in a galley with a proper oven, a small fridge, and even a microwave. After a month of food unevenly warmed on the camp stove—or just eating meals cold—Willa would sell her soul for a microwave.

“Come on in,” Amy says, gesturing at the large U-shaped settee with a table in the middle, as Norm settles in a recliner and picks up the remote for a full-size TV. Sunshine runs over to sniff the girls’ ankles. “Make yourselves at home.”

“These are for you.” Taylor offers Amy the roses.

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that,” she says. “But they’re beautiful. Thank you. Norm, honey, will you fetch me the short vase?”

Even though he hasn’t been in the recliner long enough to get comfortable, he puts down the remote and joins her in the galley. Norm opens a high cupboard, takes down a clear plastic vase, fills it with water, and even arranges the flowers.

“Thank you.” Amy kisses his cheek. “You’re the best.”

He grumbles, but Willa catches a hint of a smile before he returns to his chair.

“So, um—where are you from?” Willa asks.