Well, here she was in Maui, and things weren’t going exactly as planned, but she hadn’t shattered yet. More than that, she hadn’t allowed him to step in and fix everything.

Somehow, she’d figure out what to do with Maria, and she’d not only get the house emptied of the unexpected family but would turn it into a place that would make Ethan shocked by what she could do on her own.

A few hours later, Quinn approached the house warily, her car moving like a snail as she turned into the driveway. Once she’d left the peace of her beachside chair and traversed the pool area, now packed with families, then stepped into the elevator and rode up listening to another couple happily chatting about where they’d go for dinner, she felt those old insecurities slip back in.

She tried to call Ethan then, just to hear his voice, but was unsuccessful in reaching him. She wavered between wanting to be independent and worrying that he’d been right about the entire situation.

Her bravado faded quickly, and she’d waited until nearly noon, trying to work up the courage to arrive at the house to insist on a solution from Maria. A few cosmetic issues that a shipment of tiles and a coat of paint could fix was one thing, but never had she imagined she’d be dealing with people still living there. It didn’t feel like she owned a new home yet, that was for sure. She wanted to blame the jet lag on her sudden reticence to get things done, but something told her it was her fear of failure.

Still, she’d already bought the house and couldn’t just walk away from it or let someone else straighten matters out. So she got into her car and headed there, intent on making some sort of progress in the mess that was now her life.

As soon as she climbed out of the car, she heard a burst of yelling and then a door slam around the back of the house.

Pali was obviously awake. So much for the myth of teenagers sleeping late into the afternoon. Or maybe someone had dared to poke the sleeping dragon.

She was considering just turning around and leaving, coming back later when things were calm, but then the door opened, and Maria appeared.

“I know I’m in a tight place, but I won’t take your charity,” she said, then waved an envelope.

“Oh, hi, Maria. Good morning. Not sure what you’re talking about, though.”

Maria put a hand on her hip and narrowed her eyes, staring at Quinn for a moment. “You didn’t leave me five hundred dollars last night?” she asked. “In this envelope behind the storm door?”