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pizza.
    After they shopped, she slipped three plastic grocery bags into the bike basket and one around each of the handlebars. “You ready?” she asked Caden.
    Her daughter had already hopped onto her old bike and began peddling.
    “Stay on the side,” Sam called. She imagined Caden rolling her eyes. They pedaled past Cap’n Tully’s Tavern, and she wished she could pull over and lose herself in a few beers. Being back in her old house was stirring up things she’d rather forget. A few cars dotted the tavern’s parking lot, but later there would be a large Friday night crowd.
    After what she’d just spent at the grocery, she had no business throwing away money on beer. They’d have to watch their pennies if they were going to stay long enough to finish the house. She’d hoped Emmett’s bank account would provide her with some fast cash, but a few calls proved him to be broke as he’d always been.
    “Turn here!” Sam hollered loud enough to be heard over the wind rushing in their ears.
    “I know, Mom.” Caden tossed the words over her shoulder, and Sam ignored her snippy tone. They didn’t have much time before the Realtor arrived, and she needed to get the groceries put away.
    Her legs strained the last couple of miles, and she realized riding a bike involved a different set of muscles than cleaning. When they got back to the cottage, Caden helped put away the groceries, and as Sam shoved the last can of soup into the cabinet, a knock sounded on the door.
    Sam swung it open, and a familiar face smiled back. In high school, everyone had liked Melanie; it was impossible not to. “Melanie Walker?”
    She drew in a breath. “Samantha Owens! Oh my goodness, how wonderful to see you.” Her voice still held a Southern twang, a curiosity, as she’d been born on Nantucket, same as Sam. Melanie embraced her in the doorway.
    When she pulled back, Sam invited her in and introduced her to Caden.
    “I have a daughter about your age, Caden,” Melanie said. “Her name’s Amber. Maybe you can come over and visit sometime.”
    Caden looked at Sam for approval.
    “It would be nice for Caden to have a friend on the island.”
    After her daughter went outside, Sam and Melanie turned their attention to the house.
    “So you’re putting the old place up on the market, huh?” Melanie scanned the room. “The housing market is good right now, so you’re in luck.” She smiled, showing her dimples. “What have you been up to since graduation?”
    Sam shrugged and smiled. “Not much really. We live in Boston. I’ve only been in town a couple of days.”
    “You know, it seems like just yesterday we were all in high school, doesn’t it?” Melanie sighed, clearly favoring the good old days. Sam wouldn’t go back for anything. But Melanie always had it all together. Good grades, good girl. Not exceptionally popular, but definitely well liked. She’d dated Landon’s brother briefly during high school. She was a cheerleader then, and Bailey was the school mascot, a whaler. They only went out a couple of months, and Sam always thought they’d been too much alike to be a couple.
    Melanie told her she’d been married and divorced. After they caught up, she looked around the cottage, giving Sam suggestions on fixing the place up. She noted the weathered shingles, and Sam told her painting was already on tomorrow’s to-do list. They filled out paperwork, and Melanie said she’d wait to hear from Sam before listing the house.
    By the time she left, Sam had filled both sides of a sheet of paper with repair and maintenance projects. Her funds were going to be stretched, but she had some wiggle room on her credit card. If she could get the cottage into top-notch shape, it would fetch a good price, and she could pay off her card in a heartbeat. She just had to buckle down and get these projects done.
    Sam looked around the quiet cottage. The sooner, the better.

    Landon tossed his keys on the coffee table and poured fresh