“No,” Peter said. “She wasn't on board. We're keeping an eye out for her, but there've been no sightings. If it's any consolation, Lafarge is in custody for violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act.”

“Thanks,” Liam said. “Let me know if you see her.”

“I will,” Pete promised, and they hung up.

Liam's heart kicked over. He hadn't realized how upset he felt about Nanny—even in spite of what was going on with the people he loved—until now. Rose stood on the rocks, pointing out to sea.

“That's a school of blues,” he said as the seagulls began to wheel and dive on the slick of bluefish, silver and gleaming at the surface.

“It's so shiny, just like Nanny's head,” Rose said, disappointed.

“Rose, try not to worry,” Lily said, crouching beside her daughter, taking her hand. “You know that Nanny always takes care of herself. She found her way down here, to Hubbard's Point. I'm sure she's making her way somewhere else, right now. We'll hear about her soon.”

“But I already miss her,” Rose whispered.

“So do I,” Lily said.

“Do you think she's swimming back to Cape Hawk?” Rose asked.

Lily and Rose both turned to look at Liam.

“I don't know, Rose,” he said.

Worry lines creased her brow. Holding her mother's hand, she turned back toward the bay, gazing into the unknown.

Liam stared at the backs of their heads, this mother and daughter he loved so much. He and Lily were dressed in the dark, conservative clothes they had brought along from Cape Hawk. Although they hadn't discussed it, he knew they had brought them fearing that something would happen to Maeve—that her coma would prove to be irreversible. They had been prepared for the worst—and it hadn't happened. That could be true for Nanny too.

“Have faith, Rose,” he said now.

“Faith?” she asked.

“We've got to trust that everything is going to work out,” he said.

“For Nanny?” Rose asked.

“For everyone,” Liam said, staring straight into Lily's blue, questioning, worried eyes.

Rose, her mother, and Dr. Neill were making their way up the hill, away from the rocks. Nanny hadn't shown up, and now it was time for the grownups to go to court. Rose was going to stay with Maeve and Clara. They had plans to plant four new rosebushes right beside the wishing well. Maeve had even bought Rose her own straw hat, trowel, and garden gloves. But the funny thing was, when Rose looked into the bag, she saw two new hats, two new trowels, and two new pairs of garden gloves.

“Who's the other one for?” Rose had asked, but Maeve had just smiled with that great-grandmotherly twinkle in her eye.

Now, coming around the side of the house, Rose saw Maeve and Clara by the wishing well, starting to dig. The garden smelled of fresh earth. Rose clung to her mother's hand. She didn't want her to leave.