They had less than two months left, Kate thought as she slipped beneath the warm spray. On autopilot, she picked up Tilly’s body wash by mistake. She flipped the cap and brought it to her nose, inhaling the sweet scent of apricot as her eyes slipped closed. Carefully, she placed it back down and reached for her own. Eight weeks to figure out how to contend with a twelve-year love affair. Sixty days to figure out how to get the hell over it.

Chapter Eleven

It was Saturday morning—just days after Lockie’s funeral—when the strangeness set in.

“Mind if I come in?” Kate asked. “I just have to brush my teeth…”

At the basin where she was rubbing lotion into her palms, Tilly stepped aside. “I’m ready to go whenever you are.”

Reaching for the toothpaste, Kate paused. Tilly hadn’t been waiting on her, had she? “I’ve decided not to head over to Mornington today, remember? I told you last night before bed…”

Tilly blinked. “Right. It slipped my mind.”

“It’s just that I have a heap of work to finish before the girls get back. Might go tomorrow.”

“Right,” she said absently.

As Kate flipped the cap back on the tube, she looked up into the mirror. Tilly’s gaze seemed unfocused. How did she forget in the space of eight hours? Something was off.

“You okay, Til?”

“Fine.”

Tilly’s smile was forced. Anxious. “You’re not having breakfast before you leave?” Kate tried.

Reaching for the bottle of perfume on the second shelf, Tilly shook her head.

Breakfast plans with the vicar? How very domestic. She shut off the tap. “I’ll drive you down to the pier,” she murmured around the head of the toothbrush.

Tilly didn’t look up. “Okay.”

“You sure you’re all right?” She tapped her hand against Tilly’s hip, making way to rinse at the sink. Instantly, Tilly shifted aside at the touch.

“I’m fine. Can we leave soon? I already called ahead for the nine o’clock.”

They climbed into the van together. Kate tilted her head as she clipped her seat belt. “Aren’t you going to be hot in that cardigan?”

“No. It’s cool today.”

“It’s supposed to get to thirty-three by lunchtime.”

“I know how to dress myself, Kate.”

Kate raised an eyebrow.

Tilly was silent for the drive down to the pier. When they pulled up, the ferry was already docking.

“I’ll walk down for you tonight,” Kate offered. They’d started taking nightly walks around the island and she knew Tilly enjoyed it. Kate glanced down at Tilly’s shoes. “I’ll make sure I bring your sneakers. Might break an ankle in those…”

Tilly was quiet as she fiddled in her handbag.

“Or I could just bring the van…”

Tilly unclipped her seat belt. “You don’t have to do either.”

Stunned, she blinked. What the hell? “Well, I’d like to…”

“I…” Looking out at the ferry, Tilly drew a deep breath. “I have to go.”

“All right,” Kate said softly. “I’ll see you tonight? Call me and let me know if you’re on an earlier ferry and I’ll come down earlier.”