When they’d berthed back at the marina, Alice had greeted them with her news. Libby hadn’t seen her twin so happy in a long time and she was both relieved and thrilled. But it didn’t stop her heart aching that Alice couldn’t have a child of her own.
“Will you and Harry consider overseas adoption?”
“By the time we jump through all those hoops, Harry will be too old and Holly will be sixteen. Anyway, we don’t need to adopt a baby.”
“But you love babies.”
“I know. And I used to think not having my own child was the end of the world, but life teaches you things you never thought possible. Watching Jess die helped me put things in perspective. I’m healthy and happy and now I’ve got Harry, Holly and Hunter.” She laughed. “Even if Holly is just hitting her stride as a teen.”
“You’re diving in at the deep end, that’s for sure.”
“I dunno. I look at you and Nick and Harry, and I think parenting is the deep end period. At least we’ve got Mom and Dad as role models. There’s parenting gold to mine.”
Libby thought of Jess. “The older I get, the more I appreciate how much of who I am is because of Mom and Dad.”
“We got lucky. And my 3H’s are gifts I didn’t expect. Besides, I’ve got your gang whenever I need a little kid fix. Jess made me promise to shower Leo in glitter and glue and paint and clay.”
“He painted his first elephant the other day.”
“Wow, really?”
Libby laughed. “It’s a blob of color, but every time he walks past the fridge he tells us it’s Elmer.”
“That’s one of the books Jess read, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Alice hugged her. “How are you?”
“Yeah. Sad. But it’s nothing like when I lost Dom.” Libby fiddled with her wedding ring. “And don’t roll your eyes, but somehow having Leo makes it all a little bit easier to bear.”
“I don’t think that’s strange. I know he looks a lot like Nick, but there’s quite a bit of Jess in there. I guess in a way, it keeps her close. Are you and Nick going to try for another baby?”
“I think we need a year to blend our new family before we add another one. And there’s always the challenge of getting pregnant.”
“Oh, God, are you perimenopausal?”
“No.”
“That’s good news then.”
The words chastened Libby. In a year when betrayal had derailed her life, revenge had skewed her beliefs to an unrecognizable point and forgiveness was a dark lesson in humility, Alice had been there for her, even when she disagreed with her actions. And now, despite Alice’s own disappointments and heartache, she was still wanting the best for her.
“Thanks for being my sister.”
“Thanks for being mine.”
Nick dropped down next to them. “Honey, I’m home and I’m starving. Any food left for a volunteer coast guard?”
“Nope, we ate the lot.”
Nick grinned. “Guess it’s a Dagwood Dog for me then, with a jam donut chaser.”
Libby shuddered and lifted a container out of the cooler. “Mom made your favorite chicken salad.”
“Where is everyone?”
“The carnival and the beach. They’ll be back in time for the fireworks.”
Alice shot to her feet. “I’ll take one for the team and go and get hammered at Finska so you two can have an unexpected canoodle on the picnic blanket.”
“We don’t deserve you, Alice,” Nick said.
“Pay me more,” she teased before making her way toward the top of the beach path.
A family of four was walking up the stairs, two boys preceding their parents. Their mother was obscuring their father and it wasn’t until the woman drew level that Alice saw the man. She recognized him immediately.
“Tim.” His name shot out of her mouth before her brain could censure it.
The woman looked at Alice then turned to Tim, whose expression was a combination of stunned surprise and intense wariness.
The boys had run on ahead but Alice checked they were out of earshot. She held out her hand to Tim’s wife. “Hi, I’m Alice. You must be Tim’s sister, Sasha. He told me all about you.” She turned and indicated the retreating boys. “Joel and Rufus, right? You must be so glad your brother’s not the cheating bastard your husband is.”
Sasha stared at her as if she was talking gobbledygook.
“I think you’ve confused me with someone else,” Tim said quickly, moving forward as if it would encourage Sasha to resume walking.
“No, I haven’t. I’m Alice Hunter,” she said, stressing her surname in case Sasha wanted to contact her. “I live here in the bay. Anyway, I better not hold you up. The fireworks are starting soon.”
Alice ran down to the beach and immediately met the Waxmans, who’d packed up their game and were heading back.
“You’re all pink. Must be close to nine o’clock,” Harry teased.
“That means fireworks! Come on, Holly, race you back.” Hunter took off like a rabbit chased by a greyhound. Holly followed.
Alice slid her arm around Harry’s waist as they walked. “Remember the two-timing texting bastard I told you about? I just ran into him and his wife. After I got over the shock, I didn’t second-guess a thing and I introduced myself to her. She might choose to believe whatever tale he spins her, but for the first time since I found out he was cheating on her with me, I feel clean.”
“Good for you. I reckon you should write a book about the perils of online dating.”
“I’d rather spend my time painting.”
He gave her a quick squeeze. “About your art. How would you feel about a studio in the
