“Well, that's the kind of stuff we'll all do at Hubbard's Point,” Tara said. “I think you're really going to like it here.”

“We're just so happy to meet you, Rose,” Bay said. “We love your mother, and we already love you.”

Rose blushed, and smiled shyly.

Liam watched her, feeling as proud as any father. She had her mother's kindness and curiosity. Her natural desire to learn pushed her to try new things and read books beyond her school level; two days ago, Liam had found her on her knees by the bookcase, pulling out old copies of Cetacean Journal, looking for articles about belugas.

“They're toothed whales,” she'd announced to Liam. “They eat a diet of crustaceans, cephalopods, and sea worms. Crustaceans—that's crabs and lobsters! No wonder Nanny likes it down south here. I've seen so many seagulls flying by with crabs in their bills.”

“Yes.” Liam had smiled, overflowing with pride. “You'll be quite an oceanographer, Rose Malone. You proved it on the boat at Ghost Hills.”

“Like you,” she'd said, beaming.

Evening breezes blew off the Sound, salty and warm. The sun began to set, casting gold light on the waves and long ledges of glacial moraine. Tara and Bay had brought over pizza, keeping it warm in the oven. Lily steamed corn and sliced tomatoes. Bay and Dan's kids—Eliza, Annie, Billy, and Pegeen—gathered with Tara and Joe's little boy, Joe Jr., around Rose, obviously thrilled to welcome the latest addition to a long line of Hubbard's Point children.

Liam sat beside Lily on the porch swing, his arm around her shoulders. With the kids around, the talk was very general—summer weather, tennis plans, back to school, the latest on Maeve. Liam opened his laptop, logged onto his whale program, felt a wave of relief to see the familiar green light.

“Where's Nanny?” Rose asked, scanning the bay.

“She's out there,” Liam said. He pointed at his screen, at her light registering in a spot just about two hundred yards offshore.

“Maybe she's looking for crabs to eat,” Rose said. “Beluga whales eat crustaceans.”

“We could go crabbing down front,” Billy suggested.

Lily set them up with strings and sinkers, and Annie and Eliza led all the younger kids down on the rocks. The sound of rocks clicking as they broke open mussels for bait chimed through the air. The minute the coast was clear, all the adults started talking.

“I can't believe you're all here now,” Bay said to Lily and Liam.

“I can't believe it took you so long!” Tara said.

“It's so great to meet you after hearing so much about you,” Dan said.

“Liam, it's official, you're now a Hubbard's Pointer,” Tara said.

“Thanks for the great welcome,” Liam said. And then, directing the question at Tara's husband Joe—Lily had told him Joe was in the FBI—“Are we making a mistake? Coming back here with Rose right out in the open for Edward to see?”