it?” Ally asked.
“Nothing,” Louisa said. “I just need to get through this night.”
“Get through?” Ally grimaced. “You always said we started The Good Life to stop ‘getting through.’ This party has been on your radar all summer—you don’t get through it; you enjoy it. It might be the last time you get to do something wonderful for Maggie.”
Louisa was embarrassed she needed this reminder.
But she did. She’d grown so selfish she needed to be reminded that one of her dearest friends was dying, and if she were honest, she’d watched Maggie’s condition worsen over the last few weeks. How much longer did the old woman have?
“You’re right,” Louisa said. “You’re so right.”
Ally nodded as if to say, Of course I am. “Why are we standing here? We have guests to greet.”
They’d set up tables and chairs out on Maggie’s favorite beach just behind her house. In the distance, Louisa could see her father heating the oil for the fish fry, and her mom walked around with a tray of hors d’oeuvres.
They’d decided to keep the entire affair low-key. Simple and unfussy, just like Maggie. The woman had made it clear she didn’t want “fancy.” She wanted comfortable. Louisa looked around at the family-style meal they were about to serve—all of Maggie’s favorite foods, even though they didn’t necessarily go together. Louisa had even ordered single-serve containers of Lucky Charms, which were lined up on a table next to the cutest little milk bottles she’d ever seen, neatly arranged in a tub of ice. They’d hired a DJ who’d been instructed to only play the oldies, and while Louisa wasn’t sure if that meant songs from the fifties or songs from the thirties, she decided to let him figure it out. Currently “I Can’t Help Myself” was playing in the background, and the guests who’d already arrived seemed to approve.
They’d put up two large tents, and Louisa had created a spot for their guest of honor, a seat that almost resembled a throne. It was fitting. Maggie wasn’t regal or elegant, but she was still a queen.
The beach began to fill with people—friends, neighbors, former coworkers. Everyone was happy to come out and celebrate this no-nonsense woman who’d spent her years speaking truth and life into all of them.
Maggie sat under the tent in a white Adirondack chair, surrounded by pillows and covered with her afghan from inside. She greeted everyone with her trademark down-home love as if they were the only person in the world who mattered—because of course, in that moment, they were.
“You ready for this?”
Louisa followed Ally’s gaze to the yard, where Cody, his mom, and his sister had just appeared.
Her eyes locked on to his, and for a moment, she was paralyzed with desire. She missed him more than she should. He looked away and her heart sank. He was back to avoiding her. And it was all her fault.
She turned and found Maggie staring at her. The old woman held her gaze for several long seconds, and then she winked.
Louisa should warn her about all that had transpired lately. As Maggie’s health had worsened, Louisa found there wasn’t time for their usual heart-to-hearts. Maggie didn’t know Louisa and Cody were on a break. Louisa couldn’t have told her that even if she’d wanted to—she would’ve choked on the words.
She watched as Cody led his mom and sister down to where Maggie sat. Marley had certainly grown up and now looked a lot like an older version of Barbie’s little sister, Skipper. Her hair was much lighter than Cody’s, but she was as beautiful as he was handsome.
Louisa’s eyes drifted over to her own father, who’d sat up straighter and focused on the three newcomers with great interest—and was that worry knit across his brow?
She turned just in time to see her mother walking toward the house.
“I’m going to go help my mother,” Louisa told Ally. She strode off toward the cottage, doing her best to avoid Cody, as if that were possible.
“Hey.” He was at her side.
She stopped. It was painful to look at him. How had they gotten here, with the past burrowing its way between them once again? She hated it.
“I don’t know how to do this,” he said. “I’m not sure where we stand.”
“I know.” She rubbed her forehead. “I’m sorry.” Her eyes wandered past him and saw that Marissa and Marley were both watching them with the same interest and worry as her father. The thought turned her stomach.
All she really wanted