They talked about all the options. Nathan’s family owned a landscaping business and he made decent money planting gardens and mowing lawns and doing simple stone work. He’d gotten his degree in Environmental Science at Marist and was interviewing for jobs at some of the state parks in the area, hoping to eventually get into upper management. Edie was planning to apply to grad school and become a high school teacher, or maybe a guidance counselor. All through college she’d mentored girls in Poughkeepsie, helping them with their homework, taking them for ice cream, talking to them about contraception and consent. The irony. She could stay home with the baby for a year or two, then look for nearby or online programs that offered a master’s in Education. They had Edie’s trust fund money and they loved each other. What could go wrong? She was starting a new life! So, her patience for her sister’s Ben Herman drama—which had always been thin—plummeted. It wasn’t fair, she realized as she stood outside his brownstone. Claudia hadn’t deserved her scorn.

Edie knocked, but when the big wooden door opened it wasn’t Ben who appeared—it was Ridley Drake. Forty-whatever, dark suit, dark hair, brown eyes. Those eyes. She felt everything she’d felt that first night he’d put his hand on her leg at the club in Edgartown. His attention made her feel confident and beautiful. She’d been so stupid. She hadn’t expected Ridley would propose when she told him she was pregnant, but she also hadn’t expected that that would be the last conversation they’d have in person. Until now, five years later, when he was fucking her mom.

“Eden,” said Ridley, putting his hand on her arm. He rubbed it lightly then leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Congratulations. You look great.”

He looked good, too. Like he always did. But something was different. He seemed edgy. That easy smile wasn’t so easy.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

He didn’t answer. Ben appeared at the door.

“Don’t let this change anything we just talked about,” said Ridley.

“What?” asked Edie.

Ridley was already walking to the SUV idling at the curb.

“I was talking to Ben, honey,” he said, not even turning back. His driver stepped down from the front seat and opened the door.

“Have you seen Claudia?” she called.

Ridley didn’t answer. He hopped up and into the car and was gone.

“Do you want to come in?” Ben asked.