“Do you have any of the papers?” Kate asked. “I need to see what I’m up against.” She pushed the On button and tapped her fingers, waiting for it to boot.

“I left them in the truck.” He shifted his weight. “What’s the plan?”

Kate plugged her laptop into the outlet under the table. “My plan is to come up with a plan. I need some ideas for my publisher, some way of spinning this so they, at least, don’t come off smelling like a pig.”

Kate opened the word processor, and a blank document appeared on the screen.

“I’ll be right back.” Lucas left the room.

There wasn’t much Kate could do until she knew what the media was saying. Maybe it was only hearsay, her word against Stephanie’s. Though Kate hadn’t exactly defended herself on TV. She’d only tried to change the subject. People would see right through that.

When Lucas returned, he carried a thick stack of damp newspapers. He set them beside the laptop and sat across from her. “Sure you want to do this?” His was the look of someone who’d already read the articles.

“Everyone else is going to know what they say; I may as well.”

The kitchen light was off and the storm outside darkened the room, but there was enough light to read by. She’d start with the Nantucket paper. The Inquirer and Mirror had tried to call the day before, but she hadn’t answered. The paper was already opened to the article. Kate unfolded it and read.

“Famous Local Advice Columnist Jilted at Altar”

In a TV interview on Live with Lisa, local resident and famous author Dr. Kate was accused by a call-in listener of marrying a stand-in groom. The caller, who identified herself as Stephanie from Boston, claimed Dr. Kate’s original fiancé, Bryan Montgomery, broke the engagement on the morning of their wedding. A marriage license bearing the names of Montgomery and Dr. Kate was found on record, substantiating the woman’s claim. Neither Montgomery nor Dr. Kate could be reached for a comment.

Dr. Kate and local furniture maker Lucas Wright were wed on June 21, the same day as the release of Dr Kate’s first book Finding Mr. Right-for-You. It is unclear how Wright came to be the stand-in groom.

“I should have tried to eradicate the evidence,” Kate said. “I didn’t think about the marriage license.” Kate set the paper down and sighed. “I’m sorry they mentioned your name. I was hoping at least the local papers . . .” Who am I kidding? It’s not like everyone on the island doesn’t already know Lucas is married to me. Now they just know it’s a sham.

“Which one has the Associated Press article?” She riffled through the papers.