The Di Lucas discovered that Luna, who could run forever, had a weakness. The grasses and thistles stuck in her tender paws. So much to the dog’s distress, she was frequently sidelined, locked in the house, while Rae bicycled far and wide across the island. Luna made her displeasure at being left behind clear; she hid in the closets or the corners, in unused rooms and the far reaches of the house. They had to find her, coax her, show her their love until she deigned to come out and be her usual cheerful self.

Interestingly enough, Max seemed to be having more trouble adjusting to life on Isla Paraíso than either Kellen or Rae. He had been in charge of so much of the Di Luca businesses for so long, the lack of responsibility made him twitchy. He had even been known to sit at night in the library and listen to Kellen read Ruby’s diary. Luckily, the Ford F-100 did not run, and somehow, somewhere in his past, he’d wanted an old pickup to fix up. As a distraction, Kellen judged the F-100 to be a godsend.

All in all, Kellen believed that, as a family, they were doing pretty well. Having all the time in the world had had an odd effect; without structure they constructed their lives along their needs and preferences.

I’ll take everything from her, the way she took everything from me. I’ll make her sorry she betrayed me.

Yet the memory of Mara’s threat cut into Kellen like a wound that threatened to turn gangrenous.

Today, as the sun rose, she ran the narrow path south and downhill, through the waving grasses, east on the winding track through the deeply shaded redwoods. The massive trees muffled the sounds of the waves, and the silence here was old and watchful, as if a soul lived in each redwood, and each soul had seen too much of change and sorrow. She was glad to turn east into the bright sunlight toward the Conkles’ cottage, but when she saw Jamie working in the yard, she veered off.

JAMIE CONKLE:

FEMALE OF COLOR, 32YO, 5'7", 125 LBS. BEAUTIFUL, BUT—BLACK HAIR AND DARK, RESENTFUL EYES BEHIND NARROW BLACK-FRAMED GLASSES. PERPETUAL WARDROBE: LONG SLEEVELESS DRESS THAT SHOWS OFF ARMS SCULPTED BY DAILY SHOVEL AND HAMMER LABOR, AND SNEAKERS WITH SOCKS. LIVING HER DREAM, BUT NEVER HAPPY, AS IF REALITY COULD NEVER COMPETE WITH THE SHANGRI-LA OF HER IDEAL WORLD.

In the first week on the island, Rae had begged to visit Jamie. She didn’t believe Jamie wouldn’t like her. So Kellen and Rae had biked to the small house carrying the gift of one of Olympia’s pound cakes wrapped in a bow.