I stared at him. “No. Not in the least. I know you. You’re angry because of the situation, because of your memory. That’s all. This isn’t who you are.”

“Isn’t it?” he snapped. “Then why do I feel like it is?” He shook his head, his shoulders falling. “I need to get out for a bit before Lily arrives. Get my head straight so I can figure out what to say to her, and what she might say to me. I can’t believe I didn’t ask her to come with us to see Dr. Adler. I can’t believe I left her there in the middle of the street. What was I thinking?”

“You probably weren’t. We were all in shock.”

“Yeah, no kidding,” he said, and after putting on his shoes he came over and stood in front of me, looking uncertain about what to do next. I pulled him in for a hug, felt him hesitate before he tentatively put his arms around me, making me want to hug him harder, and when I rested my cheek on his chest, I could hear the beating of his heart.

“Stay away from the cliffs,” I murmured.

Ash took a step back and nodded. “I’ll be home in an hour.”

Once he’d gone, it took me all of ninety seconds to figure out Lily was staying at the Harbor Inn. The girl at the front desk, thankfully not Fiona, offered to connect me to her room, but I declined because I didn’t want to talk to Lily, I just wanted to know what she was up to. Seemed she had a similar idea, because as I hung up, the doorbell rang. It was her.

“Maya,” Lily said, and I noticed how her hands trembled by her sides, her smile tight, her gaze darting behind me and into the house. “Can I come in? Is...uh, is Ash here?”

“He stepped out,” I said. “I’m not quite sure when he’ll be back.”

Her face fell and she bit her lip for a second. “Oh. I know I’m early but I...I couldn’t wait, I...” She covered her mouth with a hand as tears leaked down her perfect cheeks.

I opened the door and stood aside, chose my next words carefully, my voice soft and coaxing, like the one the reporter had used. “Are you okay? God, what a stupid question. Why don’t you come in?”

Her face caved again. “Th-thank you so much.”

“Not at all.” I led her to the kitchen and gestured for her to sit as I busied myself with getting her a glass of water, which she downed in four gulps.

“Thank you.” Lily let out a sigh. “Maya, can I please ask you something?”

“Of course,” I said, smiling and nodding, making sure she felt comfortable.

“Was it Ash in the Facebook photo?”