That, too, was odd. The Grant he knew and loved talked about everything—he talked everything to death, in fact.

“How long are you here?” Grant asked, leaning against the counter.

“Couple of days.”

“Does Mom know you’re home?”

“Not yet.”

“You’ll make her day. I suppose the rest of us will be required to attend your welcome-home dinner.”

“You don’t have to if you have other stuff to do.”

Grant shrugged again, filling Adam with uneasiness. Under normal circumstances, Grant would’ve had an insulting zinger waiting on the tip of his tongue. Adam debated whether he should mention that he’d seen Abby and decided not to say anything for now. If something was troubling his brother, he didn’t want to pile on by telling him his ex-girlfriend was back on the island—and single again.

“I guess I’d better get to Mom before someone else tells her I’m home.”

“Probably a good idea.”

“You’re sure you’re okay?”

“Never better.”

Grant said what he thought Adam wanted to hear, but there was something about his eyes, Adam decided. He was not fine, and one way or the other, Adam was determined to figure out what was troubling his older brother.

Abby stretched out on the bed in the third-floor room she’d managed to secure at the Beachcomber, only because someone had canceled their Race Week reservation at the last minute. She’d been so determined to get home that she hadn’t even thought of Race Week, which was the unofficial start of the summer season on Gansett Island.

In her old life running Abby’s Attic, this would’ve been one of the busiest weeks of the year. Thinking about her adorable store and all the hard work she’d put into it had new tears running down her face. Right when she thought she’d run out of tears, she discovered there could be more.

She hated that she’d cried all over Adam McCarthy on the ferry. Mortifying! What he must think of her. What would everyone think of her now that she’d chased after two men only to end up alone?

Why had she come back here of all places? Everyone knew she’d failed to bring Grant McCarthy up to scratch—after ten years together, five of them in Los Angeles so he could pursue his screenwriting dream. Now she’d also failed to get Cal Maitland to the altar, despite following him home to Texas after his mother had a stroke. They’d postponed the wedding they’d planned to have on the island last fall and had never again talked about setting a new date. That was one of many reasons why she was back on the island.