Kate faced him. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here. How did they respond?” Her forehead wrinkled, her eyes puppy-dog sad.

His mom had been angry at first, then seemed to realize she’d proven herself right. “Kate’s just like her mom, Lucas,” she’d said. “You’re better off without her.” Of course, it was no surprise to Jamie, but Brody was hurt. His dad tried to be understanding, but Lucas could tell by the way he avoided Lucas’s eyes that he was disappointed.

“My family will be fine,” he said. “Don’t worry about them.”

A few quiet moments later, she exited the truck. Lucas followed her inside and set the bag in the bedroom. Bo, excited to see Kate, rubbed against her leg and shepherded her into the kitchen, where she started a pot of coffee.

“I feel like I’ve been run over by a city bus,” Kate said.

Lucas pulled two mugs from the cabinet and the creamer from the fridge. “No wonder. What did the people at Rosewood say?”

Kate scooped grinds into the filter. “Right now they just want me to sit tight. I think a lot depends on how widespread this becomes.”

Could they go on as if nothing happened? Would the readers who saw the interview conclude that it was an unfounded rumor? Apparently there was nothing they could do but wait and see. It had been so easy to step in and save Kate when her wedding plans had fallen apart. Now all he could do was wait with her, and that was a notion that didn’t set well.

Kate pulled her knees close, letting her toes dig through the hot surface of the sand to the cooler layer beneath. In the distance, the ferry horn sounded, announcing its arrival to the island. After stalling as long as she could, she’d called her dad and told him about the interview. She could hear his shock in the silence that drew out over the lines. It pulled her spirits even lower.

“Oh boy, Kate,” he’d said when he’d found words.

She’d never done anything so careless and never planned to again. How could someone who planned every facet of her life have taken this reckless road? But even Bryan had been a mistake, despite her careful planning. Maybe she was a fraud.

Once her dad had a moment to think, he begged her to come for a visit. “Come to Maryland, just to get away for a while. You’ll have time to think here. Time to plan your future. Maybe you can open an office in the city.” It was a tempting offer and one she’d give some thought to once she heard from Chloe.