He missed her.
When Chambers came into an unexpected sum of money, she knew she had a choice. She could pocket the cash and retire, or she could continue to share her love of this island with people who otherwise would have no chance of experiencing it.
Plans are already under way for three deserving single moms to visit the island next month, with local businesses happily donating goods and services to make their vacation one to remember.
“I just love Nantucket so much,” Chambers said. “It’s been a part of me for as long as I can remember. And sharing it with everyone—brightening someone’s day with a whale-watching tour or a fishing expedition or even a simple stroll through the historic district—that’s when I’m happiest. When I see the way the island makes other people feel, when I get to play a small role in that—there’s nothing better.”
All at once Cody realized this separation between them was ludicrous. It wasn’t what either of them wanted. He couldn’t put his life on hold waiting to see if his mom would ever come around, and he couldn’t let her anger—or his own—dictate his life.
Louisa was good and kind and real. There wasn’t a mean bone in her body. He could spend the whole day thinking of things he loved about her, and it wouldn’t be enough time. Nothing her father had done ages ago changed that.
Why had he ever agreed to this break she’d put them on in the first place? He needed to make her see they were meant to be together. No matter what they had to sacrifice in the process.
He pulled out his phone to check the time. They’d be on the island in just a few minutes. Brant Point appeared up ahead, and Cody went out onto the deck of the ship, eyes straining, searching the space around the lighthouse for any sign of Louisa, for any sign of anyone—but he was still too far out to tell if she was there.
If he got straight off the ferry and ran over to Brant Point, he could hopefully get there before their 5:27 deadline. What if she’d already gone? What if he missed her? Or worse, what if she’d never shown up at all?
He shoved the thoughts aside and tapped his thumb against the railing of the ferry while it sailed into the harbor. He could win an award for his impatience at this point—what was taking so long?
Finally they were at the dock, but he got stuck behind three old ladies on the exit. After what felt like six years, he got around them but was quickly caught up in a crowd with suitcases and strollers and even one couple with a dog, pouring out onto the street.
He found his way out of the fray and down Straight Wharf. He turned on Beach Street and picked up his pace, anxious to get to Brant Point, anxious to get to her. He had to tell her he hadn’t forgotten their pact. It meant as much to him as it did to her—he’d just gotten lost for a little while. Could he convince her?
Had she made a wish—written it out on paper the way they did all those years ago? Was it foolish that he had? Even when he believed they had no future, he’d still kept up their tradition. He needed to show her. He needed to at least try.
He hurried past the bike rental place and Children’s Beach, and once Brant Point was in view, he broke into an all-out run, scanning every passing pedestrian, carefully watching for her fiery hair.
He ran toward the lighthouse, toward their spot, memories of her kisses still fresh in his mind. How had he been stupid enough to let her go? He’d lost her once, he knew the emptiness of life without Louisa—what made him think he could survive that again?
He raced ahead until the ground turned to sand underneath his feet. He pressed on, winded, until he reached the lighthouse, guided by the oversize American flag affixed to its side.
He looked around, trying to catch his breath. But Louisa wasn’t there. He took out his phone. 5:25 p.m. Their golden birthday.
And she wasn’t there.
He walked toward the lighthouse, toward the deck that led straight to its door, but veered around to the right, taking in the quiet of the evening and wishing things were different.
He’d been so careless about letting her go. Why hadn’t he fought for her? Why had he simply accepted her reasoning for breaking them apart? He’d ruined everything, and now he feared it was too late.
The pact was important to her. If she’d given up on it, then she’d given up on him.
And he had no idea how to fix it.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
IT HAD BEEN AGES SINCE LOUISA HAD HOSTED A PARTY, but it was her birthday, and Ally had insisted on it.
“It’ll take your mind off that silly pact,” she’d said.
Louisa didn’t bother correcting her because the pact did seem silly. Everything about her relationship with Cody made her feel silly. She’d behaved badly. She’d foolishly believed love could overcome all the odds stacked against them. It was embarrassing to think about now.
Whoever said all you need is love was an idiot.
And for the record, the party was doing a terrible job of keeping her mind off the pact. She was thirty years old, and in her pocket was a slip of paper with her birthday wish on it. A wish that made her seem a lot like a teenager. Talk about embarrassing.
People filtered in and out of her house, but the majority of them were gathered on the back deck. Louisa put on her best hostess smile, trying not to look at the time but hopelessly aware that the pact had ended and soon the sun would set on her—their—golden birthday. And Cody Boggs was horribly absent.
A cake emerged from the kitchen after dinner, and Louisa blew out the candles as her friends cheered and sang for her. She scanned the crowd as she balanced a glass of iced tea and a small plate with a slice of cake—everyone seemed to be having fun. Even McKenzie Palmer seemed to be enjoying herself—and Charlie seemed to be enjoying her. It should warm her heart to see it, but instead, it made her feel empty.
She missed Maggie. She missed Cody. She missed having the sliver of hope she’d worn like a charm around her neck. It was gone now, and the emptiness of that realization tormented her.
The sun had begun to set, and she’d started to wonder when people might leave, dreadfully aware that some people were just arriving. Everyone seemed content to hang out. They were there for the duration.
“Louisa,” Ally called out from the kitchen. “Can you come in here a minute?”
Only if I can crawl into bed and you make all these people go home.
It was ugly of her to think such a thing when everyone was there to celebrate her, but her heart hurt.
She made her way across the deck and inside the house, where Ally stood, wide-eyed.
“What’s up?” Louisa asked.
“You have a visitor,” Ally said.
Louisa laughed. “I have a lot of visitors.” But she followed Ally’s gaze into the living room, where she found Marissa Boggs, clutching a large handbag and wearing a worried expression.
“Mrs. Boggs?” Louisa heard the gasp in her own voice.
“Happy birthday, Louisa,” the woman said.
“What are you doing here?”
“Can we go somewhere to talk?” Marissa slowly looked around the space. “It’s hard for me to be here.”
“Of course. Let’s go out front.” Louisa rushed past her, head spinning, Marissa following close behind. In the yard, she turned back to Marissa. “Would you like to walk?”