“But she wasn't leaving you,” Marisa said, remembering how she had left Sam at home first, going to school in Baltimore. And how she had then left her in Baltimore, to marry Paul and live outside Boston. “She was just living her life.”

“I know that now,” Anne said. “But back then . . .” She shook her head.

“I think it's different for me and Sam,” Marisa said. “She always celebrated my choices, no matter what. We'd miss each other, but we always found a way to be together. This time, though . . . I let myself be treated badly by someone, and I wouldn't let Sam help me.”

“Are you the oldest?” Anne asked.

“Yes.”

Anne's smile was loving and wise. “Younger sisters,” she said. “Always want their older sisters to be smarter than they are. They want them to know more than they know. They want them to show the way.”

“Are you the youngest?” Marisa asked.

Anne nodded. “Yes, I am.”

“And you and Emily . . . ?”

“We're closer than ever. It took me a while, but I came around. She was patient, right there waiting for me. I think sometimes sisters have to rebel against each other, just the way teenagers do with their parents. It doesn't mean they don't love each other. Sometimes you just have to go apart, to come back together.”

Marisa nodded, wishing it could be true.

“Who's the friend?” Anne asked.

“Excuse me?”

“The friend who went to Baltimore to find Sam,” Anne said. “Who was that?”

“Patrick Murphy,” Marisa said.

“The detective who came—?”

Marisa nodded. “Yes,” she said. “The one who came here to find Lily.”

“Maybe,” Anne said, “you should invite him to the ceili.”

“I mentioned it to him,” Marisa said. “But he won't come. I don't . . . I don't even really want him to. I'm not ready.” She thought of Ted, of the damage between her and Sam, of Jessica. “I don't think I'll ever be ready again.”

“You know,” Anne said gently, “I heard Lily say the same thing. But there was Liam. . . . Life had hurt them both. Lily's marriage to Edward—and Liam's brother being killed by that shark, Liam losing his arm. His family fell apart after that. They were both so closed off, but somehow they helped each other to live again. You and Patrick—”

“No,” Marisa said. “It's different. We hardly know each other.”

Anne tilted her head. “I think people look for each other. That's what ceili music is all about—so full of heart and love. We're all out at sea in our storm-tossed boats, getting washed clean of life's pain, making space for love to come in.”

Just then, Jude hailed Anne from the steps of the inn. She gave him a wave, then looked Marisa in the eyes. “I'm not giving up on Sam,” she said. “I'm saving you that spot in the program.”

“But—” Marisa began.