I’m putting the final coat of primer on the sailboat when a noise rouses me from my task. I turn and meet the worried face of Grandma Jane.

“Sorry to startle you, Koa,” she says quietly.

“Are you okay? Or is it Gerry? Did he fall again—”

She holds up a hand. “He’s fine, I’m fine.”

I frown, noting the one name she’s not adding to that list. “Summer?”

She nods. “I’m worried about her.”

I drop my brush in the can and rush over to her. “What’s happened?”

“Nothing, Koa, calm down,” she says quickly. She motions to the workbench to her right with her hand. “Why don’t we sit.”

I grow still. “I’d rather you tell me what’s happened.”

She settles herself onto the bench and looks at me, waiting for me to do the same. I cross my hands over my chest. She sighs. “Summer’s home.”

“What?”

“We picked her up from the station this afternoon.”

I ease down onto the bench opposite her. “But she wasn’t supposed to be back until tomorrow.”

Jane nods, confirming something to herself. “I thought as much. It was strange when Summer asked us to pick her up instead of you.”

“I was supposed to pick her up tomorrow. She must have changed her mind.” I frown. “But is she alright? What’s happened?”

She sighs. “She’s been crying since the moment we picked her up.”

“What?” I jump up and start for the door. “I have—”

“Koa!” Jane stands quickly and grabs my arm as I pass her. “Don’t rush off just yet.”

“But Summer’s in pain. I should be there.”

Jane pulls me back. “I don’t doubt that, but first we need to have a little talk.”

I stare down into her face, lined with worry and concern. I feel the blood drain from my face as I realize something must be terribly wrong to have her in such a state. “Are you alright?”

She shakes her head and slowly lowers herself onto the bench. I join her a moment later. “I’m not, Koa. I’ve been pacing the kitchen for hours wondering what to do. If I should intervene and stop my granddaughter from making a terrible mistake.”

“What do you mean?”

She fights with the hem of her shirt, twisting and turning it over in her fingers. “She’s not thinking straight when it comes to…to…”

I lean forward, waiting for her to finish. “Please, go on.”

Jane licks her lips before meeting my gaze. “To you, Koa.”

“Me?”

“Yes, dear. You. I had a very interesting conversation with my granddaughter today. Although she didn’t give details, I know enough about these sorts of things to infer what’s ailing her.” She reaches forward and pats my knee. “She loves you, Koa.”

The world seems to stop with those four little words. Summer had wanted to tell her grandparents, but I’d held her back. I didn’t know how they’d react. I know they weren’t Summer’s parents, but the memory of that night was still raw and tender to the touch. I couldn’t bear the thought of that happening again, especially not with the Boothes.

But now the truth is out, and Summer is in pain. With no walls to protect me, I sit up straight and say what’s in my heart.

“I love her, too,” I say calmly, steadily meeting Jane’s eyes.

She smiles back at me. “Good. About time.”

“Excuse me?”

“We’ve been waiting for you two to get over yourselves for a while now.”

“We?” I sputter, clutching the bench with my fists.

Jane scowls at me. “Gerry and I, child! Who else?”

“Oh.” I blink the fog out of my eyes. “I see.”

“What? You really think we’d shove our city-loving granddaughter onto a lobster boat all summer without some reason?”

“I, um, didn’t think about it.”

Jane frowns at me. “Clearly not. My goodness, that’s a recipe for never having her visit again!”

“Right,” I mumble, my thoughts reeling from what she’s telling me. The Boothes played matchmaker this whole summer? Christ, I don’t know who’s worse: them or Bryce.

Jane readjusts herself on the bench before folding her hands primly in her lap. “I was pleased you two were bickering. At least that was a good step in the right direction.”

“Sorry, but doesn’t that usually mean the opposite?”

She laughs. “Dear boy, I knew you two were perfect for each other the second you met in my living room.”

“You did?”

“Of course! But then you started to ignore each other, and that wasn’t going to work. I had to get inventive after that…”

“Hold on. What does that mean?”

Jane closes her eyes and sighs. “The run-ins, the fair, the hospital.” Her eyes fly open. “This is a small town, Koa, but not that small.”

“I—” I stop and pinch the bridge of my nose with my fingers.

“Koa? Are you alright?”

“No,” I cry.

“What’s the matter, dear?”

“I don’t understand. Why all the planning?”

“To get you two together! And Gerry and I are so happy that you are. You’re meant for each other, just perfect. I’ve never seen you or Summer so happy…” She takes a big breath and lets it out quickly. “But now it’s close to falling apart.”

“Why?”

“She’s worried about pulling you away from your dream. So she’s considering something unmentionable. Something she’d regret for the rest of her life.”

“What?”

“She’s considering sacrificing her love for you.”

“She’s going to do…what?” I say hoarsely. I seem to be finding it difficult to breathe.

“It’s clear she doesn’t want to hold you back, so she’s going to remove herself from the equation. But I think it’s more than that. I think she’s had a bully of a time with her parents, pulling her this way and that.” Jane clenches her jaw. “I think it’s time I had a little chat with my Charlene.”

I stare at the dirt floor as my mind processes all this. The knowledge that Summer and I came together through the persistent scheming of the Boothes fades away as I consider what Jane’s just told me. Does Summer really want to break up?

No, it’s clear she doesn’t.

Frustration and helplessness grips my heart as I think of her crying for hours over this life-altering decision. So then she must honestly believe that throwing away our love is the only course of action. The only path that will make me happy in the end.

I grip the bench hard with my fists and push up onto my feet as I come to a decision. “Don’t worry anymore. I won’t let Summer do this.”

Jane’s eyes study my face. “What are you going to do?”

I look down at her, so small and delicate in my cavernous workshop. But that’s not who she is. She’s a fighter, like her granddaughter. “I’m going to fight for her. For our future.”

Jane nods slowly. “Good. Don’t let this one get away, Koa.”

“I won’t.” I grit my teeth and head back to my boat. There’s one last thing I need to do before I hold my girlfriend in my arms. Something that I need to show Summer.

I turn as Jane maneuvers her way throughout the tables and tools toward the door. “Grandma Jane?”

She stops and turns. “Dear?”

“Thank you. I owe a lot to you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. You’ve got one hell of a catch in front of you.” She gives me a grim smile. “And something tells me she won’t be reeled in easily.”