“Fine,” said Cassie. She sighed. “I’ll have a seltzer.”

“Can I go look at the boats?” asked Max.

“Yes, but stay on the deck,” said Cassie. When Max had gone, she tented her fingers and said, “So.”

“So,” said Anthony.

“After what your mother did, honestly, I’ve been very worried. I wonder about the stability of your family. I wonder about your genes, Anthony.”

“My jeans are very fashionable, thank you very much. No need to worry about them.”

“I’m serious, Anthony. This isn’t a joking matter. Your mother kidnapped our son.”

“She didn’t kidnap him. She took him on a vacation! She left a note. It will be a memory that lasts him for the rest of his life. No harm done.”

Cassie squinched her eyes shut. “I disagree,” she said. “Ice cream for breakfast: That’s a terrible idea. Breakfast should be protein and fresh fruits or vegetables, plus, for a child, a serving of whole grains.” She rubbed her eyes and added, “Full-grown adults can generally get by without the grains.”

“It’s okay to do crazy things on vacation!”

Cassie snapped her eyes open. “It was child theft. It was not vacation.”

A woman in a blue bikini jumped into the water from one of the boats docked nearby. She let out a little whooping sound before she hit the water and three other people on the deck of the boat cheered.

“Anyway,” Cassie said. She tapped the saltshaker against the table. “I didn’t come here to talk about your mother. I came here to collect Max. And I wanted you to know . . .” She paused, then straightened her already straight back. “That it’s over with Glen. Like I said on the phone. It’s over.”

Suddenly all Anthony could think of was Joy on her deck, fiddling with her little grill, turning to talk to him with the tongs in her hand. And then this guy wants four iced lattes, he imagined her saying. So I told him . . .

“Anthony?” said Cassie. “Did you hear me, did you hear what I said?”

“I heard you.”

Cassie moved her hand over so it was covering his on the table. Her nails were freshly done in a steel-gray polish. Her hands were unblemished. Joy had small scars and burns all over her hands.

“And?” When Anthony stayed silent she put a little pressure on the top of his hand. “And I was thinking that since you and I have both made mistakes, well, I thought you might be able to come back home now. Max needs his father.”

Anthony opened his arms expansively. “He has his father. I’m right here.”

“He needs you home. We need you.” Cassie sighed and unrolled her silverware from the napkin. She said, finally, possibly reluctantly, “I need you.”

He knew what it must have cost her to say that. And yet. “What about all of those things you said to me before I left? You said some terrible things, Cassie.”