This, Abby realized, was why she’d come home to Gansett. For every vicious gossip, there were five true friends who would prop her up and get her through this latest setback. She took the tissues Janey produced from her purse, wiped her face and blew her nose.

“What happened?” Janey asked gently.

“He… He was different there. We were different there. It didn’t work.”

“I’m so sorry, Abby. I know how happy you were with him.”

“We were happy—here. The minute we moved off this island, the whole thing fell apart. His ex-girlfriend was hanging around all the time. She’s probably thrilled that I left. That’s what she was hoping for.”

“What did he have to say about it?”

“She’s an old family friend. She’s worried about his mom. Yada yada. He’s so obtuse and refuses to see she was angling for exactly what she got—to get rid of me.”

“Why would you give her the satisfaction of leaving him to her?”

“Because it’s what he wants, too. I could tell he was having second thoughts about us shortly after I got there. I’ve been down that road before with your brother, and I had no desire to wait it out again and watch something that was once beautiful end ugly.”

“What did Cal say when you told him you were leaving?”

Abby looked down at her hands and realized she’d been shredding the tissue. “I didn’t tell him.”

“So wait… You just left? Without a word to him?”

“I couldn’t bear the idea of a big, ugly confrontation. And besides, what did it matter? He’s made his choice, so I made mine.”

“Abby…”

“I’ve been gone since early this morning, and he hasn’t even called. What does that tell you?”

“I’m sure there’s a perfectly good reason—”

“I don’t want to talk about him anymore. It’s finished, and I’m left to start all over—again.”

“Will you reopen the store?”

“I don’t know.” The very idea of the work that would be involved in getting her store open before the season began was so overwhelming she couldn’t even think about it. “Tiffany’s store is in my old spot.”

“I heard Laura is looking for someone to take on the gift shop in the Sand & Surf. Maybe you could do that this summer and then see what’s what next year.”

The idea sparked a beat of interest in Abby. She’d have to do something to stay busy. “I’ll talk to her about it.”

“Good!” Always the eternal optimist, Janey beamed with pleasure at having come up with a plan.

“How’re you feeling?” Abby rested her palm on Janey’s extended belly and felt a flutter of movement within that had her eyes filling again.

“I’m feeling huge and unwieldy.”

“You look beautiful.”