but even better for shopping.”

The living room was all high ceilings and lots of open space. Funky, Scandinavian-style furniture was scattered about the room. The overall look was eclectic but in a very put-together way. It suited Trina, just as Adam’s décor suited his personality.

Helena, standing in front of a curved-back chair with chocolate brown cushions, looked as glamorous as a runway model in a chic black dress, black tights, and black, thigh-high boots. She came over to give me a hug. “Maddy, I’m so happy you’re here. We are going to have so much fun today.”

“Aw, thanks for inviting me,” I said, stepping back.

I felt genuinely welcomed as we spent some time chatting in the living room. Before we knew it, it was time to go, so we headed over to a local bistro Trina and Helena had chosen for lunch. “You’re going to love it,” Trina said as the hostess seated us. “The salads here are the best in the city.”

After we perused our menus and placed our orders, Helena feigned a gravely serious expression and stated, “Maddy, I hope you’re ready for some seriously hardcore shopping this afternoon.”

Trina giggled and added, “Yeah, you haven’t shopped until you’ve shopped with us, honey.”

The waiter returned to our table, filling our glasses with fresh ice water. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing I brought my platinum card,” I said, laughing.

“Oh,” Trina said, “you should have borrowed Adam’s black Amex. No limit, you know.”

The salads arrived, and spearing a piece of endive with my fork, I muttered, “Um, I think my own card should be enough.”

Helena raised her eyebrows in mid-bite. Hurriedly she swallowed, forked poised in the air, and said, “Speaking of Adam, how are things going with you two? I’m guessing you worked everything out after the unexpected visit from your ex?”

I hadn’t mentioned Julian’s visit to Helena, so I assumed Adam had told Nate.

Trina glanced up, confused, so I quickly filled her in on the unexpected visit from my ex-boyfriend. I didn’t mention Adam’s late-night break-in at the cottage nor my subsequent breakdown. I only confirmed that Adam and I had worked it out.

“I still don’t get how this Julian-guy knew where to find you.” Trina said.

Helena took a sip of water. “Yeah, Maddy,” she said as she lowered her glass. “I could see him looking for you in Harbour Falls, but Fade Island is so remote. How’d he know you were there?”

I saw no harm in sharing how Julian had discovered my whereabouts. In fact, I hoped maybe the two of them could offer some insight into crazy Ami and her antics. But I had no intention of going into detail about the reason for his visit: thinking I was in some kind of danger on the island. Revealing that might clue them in to my true intentions.

“Uh, Ami Dubois, er, I mean, Hensley, told Julian where I was living. She and Sean are vacationing out in Los Angeles, and I guess she looked him up.” I paused, rolling my eyes, and adding for effect, “God only knows why.”

“How strange,” Helena said, her voice oddly flat. “That poor girl sure has problems. I guess she didn’t hear that you and Adam are dating.”

Trina nodded. “Yeah, I’ve only met her a few times, but Adam told me all about her, uh, problems. It’s just so sad.”

Remembering how Jennifer had mentioned my schoolgirl crush on Adam—something only Ami had known—I asked Helena, “Do you know if Ami is friends with Jennifer Weston?”

“I don’t think so,” Helena replied, eyeing me with curiosity. “Why do you ask?”

The waiter returned to clear away our plates, so I took a sip of water and then continued after he was out of earshot. “Jennifer mentioned something about a crush I had on Adam back in high school. Ami was the only one who ever knew about that crush.”

“Hmmm…” Helena seemed contemplative, but something about her demeanor still felt off. “That is bizarre. Who knows? Maybe they are friends, but I’ve never seen them hanging out together.”

With a shudder Trina asked, “Speaking of Jennifer, what’s the latest with that creepy J.T. O’Brien?” She shot me an apologetic look. “Is he still in rehab?”

Helena glanced uneasily to me and said quietly, “Actually, Nate said he got out yesterday.”

I nearly knocked my glass over. “What? I thought he was in for at least two weeks?”

Helena placed her hand over mine in a gesture of support. “He was supposed to be, Maddy. But that facility is overcrowded, so J.T. was released into the outpatient program early.”

“Great,” I mumbled sarcastically.

“That’s ridiculous,” Trina chimed in. “He’s another one with some serious issues. They really should just lock him up and throw away the key. In fact, all the things he’s done in the past, I’m surprised he’s not at Willow Point.”

OK, so it was clear Trina disliked J.T. O’Brien as much as her brother did. I had little doubt it was due to J.T.’s past involvement with Chelsea. But Willow Point? Even I wouldn’t wish for J.T. to end up there.

Trina, now on a roll, continued, “Maddy, it was terrible what he did to you at the café. Adam asked me not to bring it up, but really, just thank heavens he and Nate got there in time.”

“Yeah,” Helena added. “If Adam hadn’t arrived, you could have ended up like Chelsea.” She snapped her fingers. “Poof! Just disappeared into thin air.”

Trina gave Helena a pointed look, and Helena glanced to me apologetically. “Sorry, I got carried away.”

It was crystal clear who Helena believed was responsible for Chelsea’s disappearance. Not that I disagreed with her. J.T. O’Brien could’ve very easily been behind Chelsea’s unexplained departure. Crime of passion and all that.

And now he was out.

A silence fell over the table as we all absorbed the impact of Helena’s words. I glanced over to Trina, who was nervously playing with a dangly earring, eyes downcast. Flashes of the letters I’d discovered in Adam’s desk flipped through my mind. I couldn’t

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