Page 127 of Renewal After Dark

Speaking of Dan, she’d gotten a text from him and Kara the night before that she’d failed to respond to.

She withdrew her phone and read it again.

Hey, Tiff, Kara and I were sorry to hear the news about Jim. Like you, I’m sure, we’re shocked and saddened. We’re thinking of you, Ashleigh and your family at this difficult time. Sending much love from Maine!

Thank you so much for your kind note. You’re right that we’re shocked and saddened, which is the ultimate paradox, right? I wanted him gone, but not like this. I’m sure you understand better than most. Everyone is rallying around Ash, and she’s holding up as well as can be expected. It’s a lot for a six-year-old to understand. We heard about why you went to Maine, and we’re sorry to hear Kara’s family is going through that. With you on their side, we have no doubt her brothers will be exonerated, and you’ll be back here where you belong in no time. In the meantime, we’ll miss you very much. Please stay in touch and let us know how you’re doing. Much love back to you!

Two of Kara’s brothers had been charged with murder. Tiffany didn’t know the details, but she hoped that what she’d said was true and their friends would be back on the island soon.

Ned pulled into Maddie’s driveway on Sweet Meadow Farm Road, where Linda’s yellow Bug was parked next to Maddie’s SUV.

Tiffany recalled being intensely jealous of her older sister after she’d fallen for Mac McCarthy and ended up in this palace of a home with him.

Those days seemed long ago now that she’d found her own prince and built a whole new life with him, but the loss of Jim had resurrected a lot of old and unwelcome emotions. She’d hated being jealous of Maddie and the rift her jealousy had caused between her and her sister for a time. They were long past that now, thank goodness.

Ashleigh was out of the car and up the stairs the second after the car came to a stop in the driveway.

Tiffany freed Addie from her car seat and gathered the big bag she took everywhere that had them covered for any potential disaster while away from home. As she shouldered the bag and followed her mom and Ned up the stairs to Maddie’s deck, she realized how long it had been since anything that could be called a disaster had happened. There’d been a time when it seemed like a new disaster occurred almost daily.

Thanks to Blaine and their blissful relationship, she’d known a kind of peace and tranquility that had eluded her all her life before him. Unlike Maddie, she had no memories of their father living with them on the island. He’d been long gone by the time Tiffany was aware of his absence.

A shrink would probably have a field day with her latching on to her high school boyfriend, the first “man” to ever come close to filling the void her father had left. With hindsight that came from being in a loving relationship with Blaine, she could see that Jim had never been capable of giving her what she needed most.

So how was it possible that his death had left her feeling completely flattened by grief?

It made no sense.

They stepped into the usual chaos in Maddie’s open-concept home, which was littered with toys and baby equipment and shrieks of excitement at the arrival of cousins.

Addie squirmed in her arms, wanting to be put down to join the fray.

“Welcome to Bedlam,” Maddie said as she got up to hug Tiffany.

The sisters held on to each other for a long time while Linda, Ned and Francine tended to the kids.

“I’m sorry we didn’t make it to the marina last night,” Maddie said.

“Don’t be. I can’t get two kids out of the house. Not sure how you manage five of them.”

“It’s a s-h-i-t show.”

“I know what that spells,” Thomas shouted.

They laughed as they pulled apart.

Maddie put her hands on Tiffany’s face. “How are you? Really?”

“I’m heartbroken, and I can’t, for the life of me, understand why.”

“Aw, honey.” Maddie hugged her again. “Of course you are. You were with him for ten years, had a child with him. Despite how it ended, he was a big part of your life.”

Tiffany hated that she was once again crying over the man who’d broken her heart plenty of times when he was still alive.

A tug on her leg had Tiffany pulling back from her sister’s embrace.

Addie looked up at her. “Mommy sad.”

Tiffany bent to pick up her little lady. “Mommy’s okay. Don’t worry.”

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