Her mother sat down beside her and took her hand. Grateful for Mary’s constant support, Autumn squeezed, and somehow her mother managed a smile—but that only brought her back to tears.

  “It’s going to be okay,” Mary murmured, but Autumn couldn’t see how. How could she give up her marriage—break up her family—when they’d been so happy together?

  On the other hand, how could she walk away from Quinn? Just the thought of that made her feel as though someone was tearing her heart from her chest.

  “What’s happening?” Caden was watching them both closely as Taylor came out of her bedroom to join the gathering and perched, as tentative as a bird ready to take flight, on a side chair.

  Nick sighed but dug deep enough to produce a smile, albeit a tired one. The two of them had spent the past hour talking, but they hadn’t achieved much—just that whatever happened, they didn’t want their children to take the brunt of it. “Wow, have I missed you,” he said.

  “We missed you, too,” Caden said, but Taylor didn’t comment. She just looked worried. Autumn felt sorry for her. She knew her daughter had to be wondering how Nick was going to react to her sexuality and her pregnancy. He’d sunk onto the bed and dropped his face in his hands when she’d told him about both, but then he’d said he’d love her just as she is.

  He didn’t mention either of those things now, thank goodness. Autumn supposed he was planning to speak to Taylor alone later. This wasn’t the time or place for a heart-to-heart about those things, not when they were still reeling with shock to find that he was alive.

  Autumn sat in silence as he allowed the children to drill him with question after question, many of them the same ones she’d asked in the apartment over the garage. And Nick patiently explained what’d happened to him—how he’d gone over to Ukraine at the request of the FBI to discover if the SBU had a Russian spy, how someone became suspicious of him and a group of armed men dragged him from his bed one night and took him to a prison cell at a military base, where they treated him poorly for almost two years.

  “So...how’d you get home?” Caden asked.

  “Once they released me, I contacted the American embassy and told them what happened. They must’ve verified my story because, the next thing I knew, they were putting me on a plane headed for home.”

  “Why didn’t you call us?” Taylor asked.

  “I guess I thought it would be too hard to explain everything over the phone. I just wanted to get here, where I could see you and be with you and tell you in person, so I rushed home as soon as I was released. I never expected...” He started again. “I never expected that to be a problem.”

  Caden’s leg started to jiggle. “So you know.”

  “About Quinn? Yes.”

  “Then, are we staying here in Sable Beach or moving back to Tampa?” Caden asked.

  “It’s too soon to make any big decisions,” Nick said. “I’m going to get a motel for tonight and...and I hope to get to know you all again over the next few days.”

  “Get a motel!” Caden sounded understandably shocked.

  Autumn winced. It would seem strange that his father would need to stay somewhere else. That certainly wasn’t the warm welcome anyone would want to give a father who’d been through what Nick had been through. But there was only one bed in the apartment over the garage, and Autumn couldn’t bear to share it with him. Not yet. She needed time, and she needed space to figure out what she was going to do.

  “I don’t mind,” he assured them. “It’ll be far better than what I’ve become accustomed to. Besides, I’m not the only one who’s been through a lot. I know the past two years haven’t been easy on any of you.”

  Taylor jumped to her feet as soon as he came to his. “So you’ll be back in the morning?”

  “Yes.”

  “You promise?”

  That weary smile appeared again. “Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.”

  “Why don’t I go with you?” Caden asked.

  Nick’s face brightened. “Would you like to do that?”

  “It would beat sleeping on the couch,” he joked.

  Autumn felt her husband’s gaze on her face and looked up. “Is that okay with you?” he asked.

  “Of course.”

  “Then grab your stuff,” he told Caden, who sprang into action.

  Once Caden had his bag packed, Nick hesitated at the door. “I’ll come by to take everyone to breakfast in the morning, okay?”

  “Okay,” Taylor said.

  Autumn squeezed her mother’s hand again. “Sure. See you then.”

  34

  Autumn had to wear sunglasses to breakfast. Her eyes were so swollen from crying that she didn’t want anyone to see them. She pretended to be pleased that her husband was back, since her children were pleased and she thought she should be, too. She was relieved that he was safe, at least, but she was so torn by what his return would mean that the best she could do was act the part of a happy wife until more genuine feeling returned.

  Nick watched her closely, flashing a ready smile whenever she returned his gaze. His eyes said, “Remember me? Remember what we used to have? It could be that way again.” She knew he was determined to save his family, to try to make up for what’d happened by being so nice she couldn’t fault him. He claimed he still loved her, that getting back to her was all he could think about during those long months in captivity, and she felt so sorry for what he’d suffered that she couldn’t be the one to destroy the future he’d relied on to pull him through. She didn’t want her children to have to endure any more trauma, either.

  “Your mother tells me that you’re going to finish high school by homeschooling,” he said to Taylor.

  He’d taken them to Elvira’s Country Café, a relatively new place that was doing quite well, judging by the breakfast crowd. Taylor stirred a bite of the French toast she’d ordered in a puddle of syrup but didn’t look up. “I know you can’t be happy about the pregnancy, Dad. I’m sorry that you’re finally back and that’s what you have to come home to.”

  He reached out to touch her arm. “It’s okay, honey. I know you didn’t mean for this to happen. It couldn’t have been easy for you after I went missing. I’m not blaming you. As a matter of fact, I feel it’s partially my fault, which is why I’m more than happy to help your mother take care of the baby while you go to college.”

  Caden must’ve told him what she and Quinn had been planning, so Nick was letting everyone know that he was willing to step into the same role. Autumn supposed she should be glad. She guessed he might even be willing to move to Sable Beach—at last. She’d been begging him for years, but he loved Tampa and his career had always been too important to him, even after they inherited the money and they could’ve made the move.

  Taylor glanced over at her. Autumn’s heart was pounding deep and loud, like a bass drum. She could feel the reverberations all the way to her fingertips, but she was grateful no one else seemed able to tell. She curved her lips into what she hoped was a pleasant smile, but she feared it had come off rather feeble when she saw the look of compassion that entered her daughter’s eyes. “That’s nice of you, Dad. Thank you,” Taylor mumbled and stuffed that syrup-soaked bite of French toast into her mouth.

  Caden cleared his throat. “So you’re okay with moving here?”

  Nick still had a whole plateful of food. He didn’t seem to have much of an appetite, either. He kept cutting and moving his pancakes around but not eating them. “Sure. I mean, whatever’s best for the rest of you. I can see why Taylor wouldn’t be happy to return to Tampa. And with your grandmother opening a coffee shop in the bookstore and your mother hoping to help with that, maybe this is a better place for us to be, for the time being. You told me last night that you’re willing to change schools. If you can do that, I guess I could work remotely for a while.”

  The men in the family would sacrifice for the women, but it hadn’t been like that when Quinn was part of the picture. It’d been new and fresh and exciting. Autumn got the impression that even Caden hadn’t minded the changes. He’d become close to the twins, so he had people he cared about here, too.

  “Yeah, I think staying is probably good,” Caden said. “I’ve already registered for school and everything.”

  “So...will we live in the new house?” Taylor sounded as though she couldn’t imagine it, and Autumn felt the same.

  “We could,” Nick said. “It sounds like a nice one.”

  Autumn stared at her plate. She’d picked that house out with Quinn. It was his Realtor friend who’d told him it was about to go on the market, so they were able to get in the first day. It didn’t seem right that she would now move into it with another man.

  “It’s a great house,” Caden said. “Right on the beach.”

  Autumn couldn’t force down another bite. She set her fork by her plate and concentrated on sipping her coffee. The acid in the coffee was probably partially responsible for the way her stomach was twisting and burning, but the warmth of just holding it in her hands was soothing. The restaurant had the air-conditioning turned so low she was freezing despite the heat and humidity outside.

  “Maybe we could go see it today,” Nick said.

  Autumn didn’t know what to say. She thought they should just move back to Tampa. It would be too hard to run into Quinn around town. She didn’t think she could bear it. But before she could decide on what to say to get out of showing Nick the house, a shadow fell over their table, blocking the bright light from the many windows, and she looked up to see Mrs. Vizii glaring at her in a bright red hat. “You’re with another man already?” she said. “What, did Quinn cheat on you like I said he would?”

  Autumn felt her jaw harden, but she refused to embarrass her family by making a scene. “This happens to be my husband, Mrs. Vizii,” she said politely, suppressing her anger. “He’s back.”

  “I can see that.” She propped a hand on one of her broad hips. “Did you know what your wife was up to while you were gone?”

  “Whoever you are, we have enough problems,” Nick said. “Please, just mind your own business and move along.”

  “I’m going,” she said but looked at Autumn before she took a single step. “You should consider yourself lucky,” she added. “Quinn isn’t half the man you think he is.”

  That wasn’t true. To Autumn, Quinn was everything a man should be. The way he treated his parents and her and the kids... Even how he’d treated Sarah after she stabbed him—standing up for her in court the way he had, asking for mental help instead of incarceration. Sarah was the one who’d failed their marriage, not Quinn. But Autumn couldn’t defend him the way she wanted to without making what Nick was going through even worse. She told herself to just ignore the old lady, so it surprised her when Taylor spoke up instead.

  “Then you don’t know Quinn the way we do,” she said softly.

  * * *

  As soon as Sierra picked up the phone, Taylor plugged one ear so that she could hear above the large truck rumbling past. “It’s me.”

  “You’re done with breakfast?”

  She began pacing along the covered sidewalk in front of the bookstore, head bowed, phone pressed tightly to her ear. “Yeah.”

  “How’d it go?”

  “It was awkward,” she said as she stared down the street in the direction of Mimi’s house and the beach. “Why couldn’t my dad have come back two months ago? Then everything would be different.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I know.”

  “What does his return mean for—for whether you’ll be staying?”

  “Who can say? Everything is up in the air now. My dad acts as though he’d be willing to move here, even though he never wanted to do it before, but now I don’t think my mom wants to stay.”

  “I can understand why. What about Quinn? They were so happy together.”

  “My mom and dad were happy, too,” she said, feeling immediately defensive. But she’d been the one to defend Quinn in the restaurant when that old biddy marched up to their table and was so rude, so she couldn’t fault Sierra. She liked Quinn as much as anyone.

  “This sucks,” Sierra said. “I mean... I’m glad your dad’s back. I know how much you missed him, but this could change everything.”

  “You’ll like my dad once you get to know him,” she said hopefully.

  “It’s not about that. Have you mentioned me yet?”

  “I haven’t. But I’m guessing my mother has.”

  “You think she’s told him that we’re more than friends?”

  “She told him about the baby, so why not that?”

  “What did he say about the baby?”

  “Just that he’d help my mom babysit while I’m in college.”

  “In other words, he’ll take Quinn’s place.”

  “Quinn took his place first.” When that same defensiveness welled up again, Sierra fell silent.

  “I’m sorry, Sierra,” Taylor said as she pivoted to head back toward the bookstore. “I don’t mean to take this out on you. I’m just...confused.”

  “It was my bad. I turn into a smartass when I feel threatened. I don’t want to lose you.”

  “No matter what happens, you will always be my first love.”

  “That already sounds like goodbye.”

  Caden came out of the bookstore. With the way his shoulders were rounded and he had his hands shoved in his pockets, Taylor knew he wasn’t his normal, happy-go-lucky self. “Listen, I’ll have to call you back later,” she said to Sierra.

  “No problem. I understand.”

  Contrary to what she’d just said, Taylor knew Sierra was upset. But she had to deal with her family first. She pressed the end button and looked up at her brother. “What’s wrong?”

  “Everything. I thought we’d all be so happy if only Dad could come home.”

  She sighed as she put her phone in her pocket. “A lot has changed in two years.”

  “Yeah. Mom found another man,” he said glumly.

  “Mom and Dad just...need to spend more time together, get to know each other again.”

  Mimi stepped out of the store. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah. We’re fine,” Taylor said and waited for her to go back in before speaking again. “I hate to tell you this, but... I’ve made a decision.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Even if you guys go back to Tampa, I’m staying here.” She felt strangely empowered just saying it. Her decision would have consequences—not all of them pleasant—but she was going to take control of her own life.

  “I guessed you’d say that. But what happens after the baby is born? How will you go to college?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll have to take online classes.”

  “That isn’t the life Mom wants for you.”

  “I liked what we had set up better, too, Caden. I’m going to need her. But I’m not going back to Tampa.”

  * * *

  Ignoring all the activity on the beach, as well as the afternoon heat, Quinn sat in the spot where he and Autumn had made love and stared out to sea. He was supposed to be at the restaurant, but he couldn’t stay focused on what he was doing at work. First, he’d dropped a pan of scalding water and nearly burned the feet of one of their waitresses. Then he cut his finger so deeply while chopping vegetables that his father insisted he go have someone take a look at it.

  Mike thought he was driving to a med center right now to get stitches, but Quinn had just duct-taped the cut closed and headed to the beach, hoping that having a chance to be alone and gather his thoughts might help him get a better grip on his emotions.

  He’d fallen hard for Autumn, had assumed he’d finally have the wife and family he’d always wanted—and been totally blindsided. Who would’ve believed that after nearly two years without a single word to his family, Nick would show up out of the blue?

  He wondered how Autumn was feeling about the situation, how much she’d told Nick about them and if Nick was surprised that she’d gotten involved with the boy she’d given her virginity to in a tree house when she was in high school.

  She’d once said they’d laughed about that through the years. It probably wasn’t so funny anymore.

  He managed a smile as one of the patrons of The Daily Catch recognized him and said hello. He would’ve waved, but he had his hand cradled in his lap, a towel wrapped around it so that no one could see the blood seeping out from under his makeshift bandage.

  Autumn had to be even more blown away that Nick was back than he was, he thought after the customer was gone. But...was she happy about it? She had to be, didn’t she? How happy? Would they just drive off into the sunset and leave him to put the pieces of his life back together after it had collided so hard with hers?

  What else could they do?

  Quinn wished he still had a chance with her, but she wouldn’t break up her family, even if she would rather be with him. What they’d had was intense and wonderful—euphoric, at times—but it had been short-lived, probably too short to put him in any kind of position, except that of the guy who was going to lose her.

  “Fuck,” he muttered as the picture of what he wanted for his future blurred together in his mind and drained away.

  His phone kept going off—his father trying to see how his finger was, no doubt. He appreciated the concern, but he couldn’t talk to either of his parents right now. He needed some space.

  When his phone signaled yet another text, he decided to let his dad know that everything was fine.

  But the message wasn’t from his father; it was from Autumn.