Free Summer on Lovers' Island by Donna Alward Page B

always made sure to look out for his friends.
    â€œUncle Josh, Mom says to stop hogging the chip bowl.” Matt popped up beside them and let out the string of words all at once, without a pause. “Oh, and to ask you if I can get you a refill, Dr. Howard.”
    The interruption broke the strange spell between her and Josh, and he took a step back. Lizzie let out a breath and smiled. “Oh, that would be lovely, Matthew.” She handed over her glass and Matt dashed away. “He’s a cute one,” she murmured.
    â€œA good kid, but all boy, too,” Josh said affectionately, somewhat relieved they’d left the heavy conversation behind them. “It’s too bad he doesn’t have any brothers or cousins. When we were little, the four of us—me, Rick, Tom, and Bryce—did everything together.” He grinned. “Good and bad. Do you have any siblings?”
    â€œNope. Only child. Charlie’s the closest thing to a sister I’ve ever had.”
    â€œShe says that about you, too. She’s really mellowed out since she and Dave got together. It’s kind of cute.”
    They both looked over at Charlie and Dave, who were holding hands as they chatted to Todd Ricker and a young woman Josh didn’t recognize. “They’re adorable,” Lizzie said. “It’s almost sickening, except I’m so glad to see her happy that, well, you know.”
    â€œWedded bliss isn’t for you, Dr. Howard?”
    She tilted her head and gave him a sideways look. “I wouldn’t know. I haven’t been close enough to it to give it a serious thought.”
    He laughed. He couldn’t help it. She was so dry, so delightfully cynical, that he felt an instant bond. “God, and here I thought I was the only one not enthralled with the idea of marital bliss.”
    Matt came back with Lizzie’s drink and she thanked him briefly before he went running off again. “But … you were married before. You don’t intend to do it again?”
    He’d walked right into that question, and he should have known better. This was what happened when you got comfortable with someone. You tended to forget the walls and boundaries you’d built to protect that soft underbelly. And for Josh, that weak spot was Erin.
    â€œI loved my wife,” he said, knowing that was the truth. “But it wasn’t enough. And now she’s gone.”
    With that cryptic response, he offered a quiet “excuse me” and went to help Rick at the grill.
    *   *   *
    As the guests kept coming, the noise in the backyard rose. Lizzie met a ton of new people, all of whom were friendly and welcoming. The lime coolers were deliciously crisp and tart and by seven she was grateful for food. She found herself sitting at a picnic table with Josh’s mom, Meggie, and Tom and Abby Arseneault, and an older woman who introduced herself as the town busybody and member of the historical society. Lizzie hadn’t talked to Tom since the day she’d moved into his cottage, and they got caught up chatting about the house and the nearby beach. Abby, she learned, was relatively new to Jewell Cove, having arrived just over a year earlier, and it was nice to talk to someone else who had a newcomer’s eyes.
    Rick’s ribs were fall-off-the-bone delicious, and Jess had cooked corn in a massive canner that Lizzie figured was also used for lobster and other backyard “boils.” Sarah’s potato salad disappeared quickly, and there were fluffy white rolls and coleslaw, too. Just when Lizzie was sure she couldn’t eat another bite, Jess came out carrying a cake to rival any July Fourth dessert she’d ever seen.
    It was a huge rectangular sheet cake with white icing. Blueberries were in the top left corner making the “stars” part of the flag, with rows of ripe raspberries forming the “stripes.” Right in the middle was a