ARKER WAS GONE when James woke up at the late hour of 6:38 a.m. the next morning. There was a note next to the coffeepot:

Early delivery @ flower shop, library thing at 10. If you go out, make sure you shut Beauty in my room, okay?

Nothing about last night, of course. Parker Harrington Welles was not the type to leave a note saying, Thanks for the kiss, it changed my entire perception of you, let’s get it on, shall we? or Never kiss me again, Thing One. Don’t even look at me. Nope. He’d bet his left nut she’d never bring it up again.

And look. He was stroking the words as if he was that idiot Romeo, the prince of poor planning, and little Miss Capulet had sent him a lock of hair. Totally whipped. With a hearty sigh, he started making breakfast.

Parker’s dog was watching him from the doorway of the bedroom. He had yet to convince the scared little thing he wasn’t about to kick her. “Want some bacon?” he said. She didn’t move. He dropped half a piece on the floor and glanced over at her. Beauty wagged her tail and licked her chops but didn’t move from her spot. Another female who wanted nothing to do with him.

Yep. Whipped.

Well. Nothing a little hard labor and some headbanger noise wouldn’t cure. He went outside, flipped the radio on to the metal station. “Dream On” by Aerosmith.

“Point taken,” James said.

The tin roof was on, the chimney repaired. Time for some deeply satisfying physical labor. Forget the nail gun for now. James picked up his hammer in one hand, a cedar shingle in the other and got to work.

Too bad his father couldn’t see the tidy job James had done. Of all four boys, James had always been the one most interested in their father’s work. The best at it, too. Tom was a general contractor, like their dad; Matt worked at a factory that made Adirondack chairs, and Pete did finish carpentry. If he’d thought there’d been a chance in hell they’d have come up here, James would’ve asked for the help. Sure. At the end of the day, they’d get a six-pack and take turns flirting with Parker, and his brothers would bust his stones over his crush until their father told them to knock it off, at which point Parker would give him a sweet smile as she passed, and Dad would agree that yes, James was pathetic, and the ribbing would start again.

Dream on was right. What had his father called him the last time they’d spoken? A slick little bastard. Which had not stopped dear old dad from cashing any of the checks James had ever sent.

Helping Parker was a way to do Harry a final favor, after all the man had done for him. Not just the healthy salary, either. He’d given James a place in the world when James had had none, given him a father figure, and when your own father hasn’t looked you in the eye since you were twelve years old, that meant something. Harry was the only person James had ever told about Mary Elizabeth, and one of the few who saw him as a loyal, decent person.

The irony was so thick, James would need an ax to cut it.

So yeah. He owed Harry. And he owed his own family. He sure as hell owed Mary Elizabeth. And Parker. And her son.

But it got tiring, owing everybody everything all the time. Living in a debt of guilt. Trying to look at yourself in the mirror.

He felt a tickle at the back of his leg and looked down. It was Parker’s dog, standing next to him, looking up at him with those big brown eyes. Her tail gave a tiny, noncommittal wag.

“Hey, Beauty,” he said. She wagged again. “Are you a sweet girl?” She bent her head, seeming to acknowledge that yes, in fact, she was. Very slowly, he knelt down. She didn’t run. “Are you a pretty girl, Beauty?” The wagging grew more constant, though still tentative. “You got any pointers for me, dog?”

When James was a kid, they’d had a dog. Brandy, a big old Irish setter. After what happened, it seemed as if she was the only one left who still liked him. She died two years later, and the Cahills had never gotten another.

Slowly, James reached out to pet Beauty’s head, but just as he almost touched her, a car came roaring up to the house, and the dog bolted, disappearing around the front and down the stairs toward the dock.

Collier Rhodes. Why not Jay Gatsby, right? Same overall message. The Porsche purred to a stop, and James threw his hammer down with more gusto than was perhaps necessary and walked over to the driveway.

“Hi, Jim! How’s it going here?”

“Collier.”

“So, is Parker around?”

Why don’t you go step on a rusty nail, huh, pal? “She’s either at the flower shop or the library.”

“Awesome.” Collier glanced around the cluttered little yard. “Think she’d be interested in having dinner on my boat tonight?”

Yep. Lockjaw would definitely improve you. “Better ask her.”

“I will.” The guy looked at him for a second. “So this buddy of mine and I were talking the other day.”

“Sebastian Junger?”

“No. Though he and I did shoot the breeze at a fundraiser a few years ago. Why? You know him?”

“No.”

Collier frowned. “Anyway, this buddy of mine happens to work at the SEC.”

Oh.

James gave him a long look, noting the smug gleam in the alien blue eyes. “I have to get back to work,” he said. He turned and walked back to the side of the house.

“Does she know?” Collier called.

James didn’t answer, and a minute later, he heard the snug thunk of the sports-car door closing, then the expensive thrum of the motor as Collier left.

* * *

“POOR LITTLE KITTEN went through the pearly gates into heaven, where there were rainbows and butterflies and flowers and fields, and so many friends! Poor Little Kitten was not poor anymore, nor was she squished from the tractor. ‘It’s beautiful here!’ she mewed happily.

‘I know,’ said Spike. ‘Now, don’t forget, you have to choose a heaven-name.’

‘I choose Princess,’ said the sweet little cat, and all the other cats cheered. With that, Spike kissed the little kitten on her soft, fluffy head, then sped back to earth on his magical roller skates.

‘Her heaven-name is Princess,’ he told the children as their tears dried in the sunshine, ‘and she’s very, very happy. Now, who wants some angel food cake?’ And with that, Golly, Polly and Molly, Ike, Mike and Spike brought the mortal children to their special tree house, ate cake, and everyone felt much, much happier. The end.”

Un-fricking-believable that these books had made a fortune.

Parker swallowed the familiar bile that had crept up her throat during the reading and looked at the assembled children. Collier and her mother stood together in the back, and Lord have mercy, Collier was wiping away tears. Grow a pair, pal, she thought, even as she nodded with a smile.

James wasn’t here.

Just thinking his name made her heart speed up. But James was absent, despite her note telling him exactly where she’d be. So what was that about? A guy kisses the stuffing out of you, you’d think he’d accept a blatant invitation to come see you. But he hadn’t. And it was a bit surprising how disappointing that was.

“Any questions?” she asked.

“Did you write Harry Potter?” asked a cute little blonde girl. Judge Freeman’s granddaughter, if she wasn’t mistaken.

“No, honey, I didn’t, but I sure love those books, don’t you?”

“Are you gonna go to Hollywood and see the movie of your books?” asked another little girl.

“No, not to Hollywood. But my son and I will see the movie, sure. He’s five. Anybody else here five?”

Several hands shot in the air, and for the next hour, Parker took questions. Which Holy Roller was her favorite? Why did Mike have blue eyes and Ike have brown? Did she draw the pictures? Why not? Was she rich? Why not? Had she ever met Harry Potter? Why not?

Was she writing more books?

The little bloodsuckers always asked the hard questions.

“I’m taking a little break this summer,” Parker said. “But I’m reading a lot. What are some of your favorite books?”

There. Truth deferred.

The truth was, Parker still had nothing. Every day, she’d tried, and yet every idea had been so ridiculous that she couldn’t bear to go on. Fairies, leprechauns, gnomes, dwarves, giants. Farm animals, wild animals, domestic animals. City kids, country kids, kids from the future, kids from the past, kids on drugs—that was going to be a young adult novel, which had petered out after sentence number four. Horses with wings, horses with horns, horses with psychic powers. Wild cats, domestic cats, long-haired cats, big cats, blind cats who formed a penal colony and ruled using their heightened sense of smell.

Yeah. The only decent things she’d written this summer were the postcards to Nicky, so he’d have something from her every day.

“Well, kids, hasn’t this been wonderful?” the children’s librarian said. “Can everyone thank Miss Welles for coming in today?”

“Thank you, Miss Welles!” they chorused, and Parker gave out hugs and autographs. Being with the kids made the Nicky-ache swell, but the hugs were so sweet, given with unhesitating affection. Maybe she could get her master’s and teach.

At the moment, though, she couldn’t afford to go back to school.

When the kids had left, Althea approached, her arm through Collier’s.

“Parker, I’m really, really moved,” Collier said, his eyes still wet. “I’m so moved. Wow. That was beautiful! Such a statement of faith and simplicity. Truly touching, Parker. Where on earth did you get the inspiration?”

A pair. Grow one. “Oh, heck. You know how it is, right? I mean, you’re a writer, too.”

Collier gave a pleased shrug. “I guess I do. Yes. Yes. Hard to put a finger on exactly where ideas are born. The muse strikes when she chooses. Well said. You’re right.”

“Darling.” Althea put a bejeweled hand on Parker’s bare arm. “Let’s have lunch, shall we? Collier knows a wonderful little place in Bar Harbor. He’s friends with the owner.”

Of course he was. “Actually, Collier, do you mind if I steal my mom so we can have a little time alone?” she asked, smiling up at the guy. “I’m going on Skype with my son, and he’d love to see his mimi’s face.”

“Mimi. That’s adorable. Of course. I understand completely. Your son comes first.” He winked, as if showing her he’d Truly Been Listening last night, then kissed Althea on the cheek. “See you later, beautiful ladies.”

“I really think you have a shot with him,” Althea said as they watched him leave.

“I really don’t want one,” Parker said. “Come on, Mom. I was serious about Nicky. Over here.” She waved to the librarian, who was used to Parker coming in every day, and sat in front of the computer. A few minutes later, she was looking at her son’s beautiful face, his twinkling brown eyes, that adorable nose.

“Hi, baby!” she said, the sight of him filling her with a bubble of joy.

“I have a loose tooth!” he announced. “Look!” He grabbed his top front tooth and leaned closer to the computer screen and wiggled. Nothing seemed to move, but Parker cooed anyway.

“Oh, Nick! That’s so exciting! Hey, buddy, look who’s here. It’s Mimi!” She slid over and gestured for her mother to get closer to the screen.

“Hello there, Nicky,” Althea said.

“Hi, Mimi! My tooth is loose! See?” Again he demonstrated the alleged looseness of the tooth. “Guess what? Daddy got me a knife. I whittle now. I’ll make you a bird, Mimi. Or a worm. A worm’s easier because I’m not too good yet. Also, my knife isn’t sharp. Daddy says he’ll sharp it up when I get better.”

As her son babbled on, Parker felt almost dizzy with love. Sweet, sweet Nicky. He didn’t think it was strange that Althea rarely visited; it was simply the way it was. Faraway Mimi, Close-Up Nonny, he’d once said.

“My goodness, you’re such a handsome boy,” Althea said, and her frozen smile seemed to grow a bit. “Are you having fun in…”

“Yosemite,” Parker supplied in a low voice.

“Yosemite?” Althea added.

“It’s great. I’m gonna live here when I’m a grown-up.”

“Is that Althea I hear?” came Ethan’s voice. A second later, his face appeared next to Nick’s on the screen. “Hello, you gorgeous creature.”

“Oh, Ethan, you devil. How are you? I hear you got married. Such a shame.”

Parker rolled her eyes. Ethan had a way with the hot-flash crowd, it was undeniable. Part of his appeal. As her mother chatted with Nicky and Ethan, Parker checked her phone. No messages.

Not that James would call her. Not when they lived in the same house.

Not when he was steaming mad.

That kiss last night…she’d never been kissed like that, just grabbed and…and…owned.

She swallowed. Hot. It was hot in here.

“Mommy! I found a rock this morning. Wanna see?”

“Yes! Hold it up,” she said. Rocks were Nicky’s thing. Ethan had already shipped a box back home, he’d told her, since clearly Rhode Island didn’t have enough.

When she signed off from Skype after blowing twelve kisses to Nicky, she turned to her mom. “Want to have lunch at the diner? It’s really cute.”

“That diner was here when I was a girl,” Althea said.

“Yeah, it’s a classic, isn’t it? Let’s go. I’m starving.”

“And you wonder why you’re getting beefy.”

“Mmm, beef. You’re right. I’ll get a cheeseburger.”

A half hour later, Parker was eating her beef with gusto as Althea picked at her salad, low-fat dressing on the side. “How is everything?” Maggie called as she came out of the kitchen.

“Fantastic,” Parker called back. “Um…aren’t you getting married tomorrow?”

“I most certainly am.” Maggie smiled.

“Shouldn’t you be doing something other than working?”

“Nah,” Maggie said. “It’s a low-key thing. How are the flowers coming? Have you started?”

“They’ll be beautiful,” Parker said. She hoped that was true. Lavinia hadn’t seemed too concerned over what they were making.

Maggie checked her watch. “Oops. Gotta fly. I have to pick up my dress in an hour. I ate so much last night, I’m not sure it’ll fit.” She waved and bopped into the kitchen. The woman seemed perpetually happy. Then again, with tall, dark and smokin’ as her fiancé, why wouldn’t she? Plus, she was a twin, which Parker had always thought would be so cool. A brother, too, Chantal’s husband. Nice, to have siblings. Or so Parker imagined.

“She’s back there cleaning,” Althea said incredulously, craning her head. “She’s getting married tomorrow, and she’s cleaning!”

“She seems pretty laid-back.”

“Hey, Parker, guess what?” Georgie said, stopping by their booth. “I got a tux. I’m the best man. For Malone.”

“I heard that, Georgie. That’s really great. Are you nervous?”

“A little bit. I’ve been practicing.” He solemnly pantomimed reaching into his pocket and handing over the ring.

“Looks like you’ve got it nailed,” Parker said.

“Thanks! It’s a nice day, isn’t it? Well, I have to mop the kitchen floor. Bye!”

“Bye, pal.”

Althea was frowning. Sort of. Must be time for another shot of botulism if Parker could read her expression. “Parker, how do you know all these people?” she asked.

“Small town, Mom.”

“Well, you fit right in, don’t you?”

Parker paused. “I guess. Lavinia helps. I’m related to her, can’t be too bad, that sort of thing.”

Althea shrugged.

“So what’s going on, Mom?” Parker asked gently, taking a sip of her milk shake.

Her mother didn’t answer right away, choosing to examine her water glass for smudges. Finally, she spoke. “I thought you inherited the Pines.”

“So you said.”

“And I thought you might be able to loan me some money.”

Parker’s head jerked back.

Her mom sighed and nudged a cherry tomato with her fork. “Parker, I know it seems like I’m well-off, but the truth is, I’m not. Maury is, and the shriveled old bastard keeps me on a budget. A small budget. He wants me to look good, so things like clothes and jewelry, that’s fine. Anything else, anything that’s just for me, forget it.”

“I thought you were really happy,” Parker said. “Bliss incarnate and all that.”

Her mother rolled her eyes. “No. I was embarrassed. Fourth husband, you’d think I could get it right. But it turns out that he has control issues, in addition to that bowel thing. Honestly, I should be getting hardship pay.”

Parker set down her burger, appetite gone. “Why don’t you leave him, Mom?”

Althea blushed. “I’m sixty-two years old, honey. I need to stay married. How would I support myself? Really?”

Parker swallowed, her eyes stinging. “I wish you’d told me earlier. I would’ve given you money, Mom.” She reached across the table and held her mother’s hand. Crap. Two months ago, she could’ve given her mother as much as she needed. Not anymore.

“I was holding out hope that Maury and I would be happy again. I was in denial, whatever.” She paused. “Aunt Julia told me years ago you were going to inherit her place, and for whatever reason, I thought she meant the Pines. You know I never kept in touch with them once you were out of high school. Then Lavinia called me and said you’d been in jail, and I really did want to help. But I also thought…well. I thought I could leave Maury and start over.”

“You’d really leave him, Mom?”

“I think he’s going to divorce me for a younger model, and with that prenup he made me sign, I don’t have much.”

“Oh, Mom. I’m sorry. I can’t help there. But you have three ex-husbands, Mom. Didn’t you save anything? And what about the Harrington money?”

Another huge sigh. “The Harrington money was gone before I was born. All that was left was the memory of what it was like to be rich and a little set aside for my education. At least there was that. And when this all happened with your father, and I heard about your trust fund, I wanted to kill him, because I know how you gave all your book money to the World Wildlife Fund—”

“Save the Children.”

“Same thing. So now we’re both stuck, it seems.” Althea sighed and rubbed her forehead. “At least you’re young. Ish. You could probably get Collier to marry you by the end of the year. He’s clearly not the sharpest tool in the shed. Me, I’ll have to look for someone even older than Maury.”

“You could always…” Parker’s voice trailed off.

“I could always what, dear? Become a party planner?”

She had a point. Althea had never worked, outside of the tremendous efforts she put into husband hunting and wrestling Father Time. “I don’t know, Mom. We could figure something out.”

Her mother snorted. “Well. Being dependent on a man seems to be the way of the world. My world, anyway. Father or husband, you and I have always had some man paying the bills.”

Ouch. “Guess those days are done.”

“I guess so. I hope you’ll be all right. I’d feel so much better if you did marry Collier.”

Poor Althea. She seemed completely unaware of her contradictions. Being dependent on men had gotten her where she was, but she wanted the same thing for Parker.

“I’ll be fine, Mom. I’m doing okay. I can get a job, I have a great education, and I’ll even have a little nest egg when I sell Julia’s house.”

“That shack?”

“That shack.”

Althea nodded. “I do have a little squirreled away, honey. If you need it. If Nicky needs it.”

Parker’s heart softened in a rush. “Thank you, Mom. But we’ll be okay. I promise.”

Althea opened her eyes. “Yes. You always were a tough little customer.” She smiled more broadly. “And Collier is definitely interested, if you need a backup plan.”

“He’s not my type.”

“Do you have a type, dear?”

An image of James grinning at her, all dark hair and tanned skin and sweat and smile. “I don’t know.”

“Well, if you want more children, you’d better get on it. Those eggs don’t last forever.”

“Thanks for the reminder.” Parker couldn’t help a laugh, and after a second, her mother smiled.

“I only want what’s best for you, Parker. Whatever that might be.”

“Right back at you, Mom.”

Underneath the table, her mother’s foot nudged hers. It was the most genuine gesture of affection Parker could remember. “Do you want to stay here?” she asked. “Nicky’s coming up a week from Sunday. He’d love to spend time with you.”

“I can’t, honey. I need to get back and see what I can squeeze out of that cadaver before he serves me with divorce papers.”

“Jeesh, Mom.” Parker laughed.

“Anyway, I have a flight out of Bangor at six. Tomorrow’s our charity fashion show. I’m walking the runway. Can you believe it? Part of the tryouts for Real Housewives.”

“I thought you were afraid Maury’s divorcing you.”

“What does that have to do with the show, sweetheart? Half those marriages are shams. More than half, I’m sure.”

“Right. Well, good luck,” Parker said, grimacing. “What are you wearing?”

“A gown. Feathers. It’s a Christian Siriano.”

“Cool.”

“You don’t even know who that is, do you?”

“Nope.”

“Yet I claim you as mine.” Althea stood up. “Lunch is on me, darling. Back to the coal mines. Don’t marry an older man, Parker. I can’t remember the last time I was properly laid.”

“You should talk to Lavinia. The woman is a walking sex education.”

Althea smiled. “She always was. Maybe I’ll stop by her shop. Well, take care, darling.” She air-kissed Parker on each side, but Parker pulled her bony little mother against her and hugged her properly, getting a little contact high on Chanel No. Five.

“Love you, Mommy.”

Althea squeezed her back. “I love you, too, honey. By the way, Pilates will do wonders for that little tummy of yours. And trust me, in five years, this—” she pinched Parker’s ass “—will be three inches lower than it is now. Tempus fugit. Bye! I’ll call soon.”

Bemused, Parker watched her mother leave, seemingly resigned to her fate with Maury. For the moment, anyway. Odd, that she’d come to Parker for help. Odd, but nice.