They erupt in giggles. Ayers feels like she’s the parent right now. “Have you been across the street this whole time?”

“Oh, Freddy,” Sunny says. “It’s going to be so great!”

“What is?”

“Irene took a while to warm up,” Phil says. “But by the fourth bottle of wine…”

“Fourth?”

“Plus the champagne,” Sunny says. “So, technically, five.”

“Irene likes her chardonnay,” Phil says.

“What is going to be so great?” Ayers asks.

“Our family!” Sunny says. “The family we’re creating with the Steeles. And that Cash—what a cutie!”

“Your mother has a crush on him,” Phil says. “She made that much obvious.”

“He’s single,” Sunny says. “I’m surprised you didn’t end up with him, Freddy. He’s much more your type. Outdoorsy.”

“Cash and I are friends, Mom. We work together.” Ayers sits up in bed and pats the comforter. Winnie leaps up. “So you all had a great time and you drank the night away…”

“Baker made fish tacos,” Phil says. “That guy can really cook.”

“Floyd let me read to him before bed,” Sunny says. “I feel like a real grandma already.”

“We discussed our grandparent names,” Phil says. “Irene is Grammy, so Mom will be Mimi. I’m torn between Pop-Pop and Granddaddy.” He clears his throat. “It’s a big responsibility, being this child’s only grandfather.”

“We heard the whole story about Russ,” Sunny says. “Very interesting.”

“If by interesting, you mean ‘tragic,’ then yeah,” Ayers says.

“I think what’s interesting is the way Irene has come to terms with the situation. She blames Russ, but she also blames herself for taking Russ for granted, for not paying attention to the marriage, for all kinds of things.”

“Wow, you guys really got into it,” Ayers says. “Did you talk about me?”

“When we first got there, we told them you were tired,” Sunny says. “And we talked about the baby.”

“But other than that, your name didn’t come up,” Phil says.

Ayers is both relieved and bothered by this. Her parents and the Steeles are out forging a new family together but somehow the most important person—the person carrying the baby that will unite them—doesn’t matter.

Her parents gather their things to return to their room at Caneel—in two short days they’re off on their Caribbean adventure, thank goodness—and as soon as the front door closes, Ayers sends Baker a text. Thank you for entertaining my parents; I’m sure they overstayed their welcome. Baker doesn’t respond. Well, maybe he’s asleep. But when Ayers gets up to check, she sees a light on in what she knows is Baker’s bedroom.

She has a strong impulse to tiptoe over and knock on his window. Maybe even encourage him to come over. Maybe even…

She climbs back into bed. Space, she thinks.

Two nights later, Ayers is working at La Tapa. Her parents left that morning on the ten o’clock ferry; they’ll be gone for six to eight weeks. Ayers is relieved; happy, even. They’ll be back, but she doesn’t have to deal with them right now.

Tilda approaches Ayers at the back service station. “I assume you’ve heard?”

God alone knows what Tilda is going to drop on her. Heard you left Cash for some wealthy guy who doesn’t eat? Yes, Ayers has heard about that, in gory detail, from Cash. Ayers won’t lie—it has colored her opinion of Tilda. Tilda is entitled to see whomever she pleases but going away with a rich boy and leaving Cash in the dust seems crueler than your average breakup.

“Heard what?” Ayers asks.

“Mick quit the Beach Bar,” Tilda says. “He’s leaving island.”

“That must be a mistake,” Ayers says. “He told me at dinner last week that he signed a one-year lease at his new place, Pure Joy.”

“He’s trying to find someone to take over his lease.”

“Really,” Ayers says. “Where’s he going?”

“You should probably ask him that,” Tilda says.

Tilda is back to being very annoying, even more annoying than when she had a crush on Skip.

On her way home, Ayers calls Mick. “Word on the street is that you quit the Beach Bar? You’re leaving island?”

“Yes,” Mick says. “And yes.”

“Wow,” Ayers says, though she still doesn’t believe him. He’s been at the Beach Bar a Caribbean eternity—eleven years.

“I can’t live on this island and not be with you,” he says.

Ayers knew it. This is all a ploy to get her back. He planned this with Tilda; they’re in cahoots! “Well, I’m never coming back to you. I’m not in love with you anymore. So I guess you’d better go.”

“Yeah.” He clears his throat. “Any chance you want to take over the lease on Pure Joy?”

“Damn straight I do,” she says. He may be bluffing but she’s dead serious. Pure Joy is a one-bedroom with incredible views across Great Cruz Bay over to St. Thomas, views that are best enjoyed sitting at the cute bar counter on the front porch. Ayers is sure her parents will help her with the rent.

“I thought you might move in with Banker and his kid. Play house, happy family, and all that.”

“No plans to,” Ayers says. “I definitely want your place.”

“Cool,” Mick says. “I want to leave as soon as I can. I’ve been offered a position as food and beverage director at Tucker’s Point in Bermuda.”

Ayers hoots. “Will you wear knee socks?”

“I think I might have to,” Mick says. “The resort is five-star, so the job has more responsibility. The only downside is the shorts-and-knee-socks look. My legs are so stubby.”

“So you’re doing this?”

“Yes,” he says.

Things move fast, so fast! The next day, Ayers meets Mick at the real estate office to sign paperwork for the lease. Mick is leaving this weekend; Ayers can move in as soon as he’s out.

“What are you doing with your place?” Mick asks.

“Cash is taking it,” Ayers says. This whole thing is almost too easy; Cash can move off his brother’s couch right into Ayers’s studio apartment across the street. He and Winnie will be reunited. Ayers isn’t sure how Baker feels about her leaving Fish Bay, but it’s not like she’s leaving for St. Thomas or even Coral Bay. She’ll be on Great Cruz Bay Road, halfway between the Happy Hibiscus and the Westin time-share office. And it’s only for a year.

It will be a big, scary year, but Ayers isn’t going to let that stop her. She loved the cottage when Mick showed it to her. Now it’s hers!

On Saturday when Mick is scheduled to leave, Ayers drives down to the car barge to say goodbye. She can’t quite figure out why she wants to do this. She supposes that part of it is to witness the milestone—the moment her boyfriend of nine years moves on. Part of it is to make sure he actually goes. And part of it is to kiss Gordon one last time.