“Let me guess,” she said. “You want us to dance under the stars.”

“No,” Tara said, grabbing her and Bay's hands, starting to run toward the rocks. “I want us to dance underwater.”

Suddenly they were fourteen again. Tara didn't have to say another word for Lily and Bay to know what she meant. They had left many parties right in the middle to do this very thing. End-of-summer nights, with music soaring through the air, were made for this. They climbed down the seawall and walked across the rock ledges. Lily knew she could do this blindfolded. Her bare feet knew every inch of the rocks—every ridge, every crevice.

When they got to the edge, the black zone of shore, where the rocks were wet and slippery, they pulled their dresses over their heads, dropped them in a heap, and dove in. The water was silky and warm. Lily stroked through, tasting salt, her fingertips brushing her friends' hands as they all swam underwater.

She came up for air, to a night sky painted with stars. Brushing water from her eyes, she floated on her back, looking up. This was her element. Salt water surrounding her, holding her afloat, with constellations all around. Her best friends were floating beside her, and her daughter and true love were up at the house, and her grandmother was fine, and Lily had never been so happy—and sad—in her life.

“I can't believe I'm leaving tomorrow,” she said.

“Sssh,” Bay said. “Let's pretend that's not happening.”

“We have to face facts,” Tara said. “Or else we'll be really, really upset when we realize she's left.”

Lily's heart swelled. To have come all the way here, and to have had so many wonderful things happen, and then to have to leave again. Was this what life was all about? Comings and goings, needing to let go again and again, never able to hold on to the things she loved most? Because how could she have it both ways: her love for everyone here at Hubbard's Point, and her life with Liam and Rose up in Cape Hawk? And what about Nanny? Lily glanced around the darkness, looking for that big, beautiful flash of white. But Nanny was gone. . . .

“You know,” Tara said, swimming over to lift a handful of Lily's wet hair. “I almost hoped you wouldn't want to come swimming with us.”

“Why?”

“Because I was hoping that tonight you were going to surprise us. Bay and I both secretly thought you'd stage a wedding. That we were all being invited here for a supposed farewell bash—when in fact, you and Liam were going to tie the knot.”

Lily smiled, treading water.

“Liam's the one, isn't he?” Bay asked.