Lily found Zinnia in her room, lying on her bed with a pillow tucked between her knees. She seemed so small—younger than the girl Lily remembered crying, sobbing when she was eleven and Lily left the hospital and her brother’s bed in the ICU to fetch Zee from the sleepover the night of the fire.

Melissa Owens had turned twelve and Zinnia, as the girl’s best friend, was expected. She hadn’t wanted to go. Lily remembered that so clearly: Zee fighting with Ellen as she tried braiding the girls’ hair and that eleven-year-old complaint that Missy Owens wasn’t really her best friend anymore. Not since she started hanging around all those “lolo hula dancers.”

“I was a hula dancer when I was your age,” Lily had offered, earning a look of horror from her niece.

“Do I really have to go?” she’d asked her mother. “I can’t dance,” she explained. “Besides, Aunt Lil is home. I want to play dominoes with her…”

“You’re going,” Ellen interrupted.

Zee left for the sleepover not speaking to her mother. Later, when she and Lily had left the island, the girl had nightmares, vicious ones where Ellen burned and Zinnia laughed. It had mortified her for years, and every night when the nightmare came, Lily crawled next to her niece and held her until her tears had dried and she didn’t cling so tightly to the pillow she hugged against her chest.

“You always lay like that when you’re scared,” Lily said, stepping into the room slowly, as though Zinnia was a bomb ticking down until detonation. But Lily knew the triggers, small warnings when her niece could not contain her frustration or fear; she knew how to defuse the situation. “I guess you’re more mad than worried?”

“A little of both,” she answered, her back to Lily as she came to the bed. She didn’t sit until Zinnia reached out a hand, expecting Lily to grab it and snuggle against her. They had done that for years, often when their struggles and worries became too overwhelming. They’d really just been two kids raising each other; most times doing a pathetic job of it.

“You want to tell me what happened?” Lily rested on her elbow, looking down at Zee as she stared out of the window, eyes unblinking, tears drying on her face. “He step out on you?” The girl’s only response was a quick glance at her aunt that instantly became an eye roll. Lily nodded, a small apology that took the sneer from Zinnia’s expression. “Okay, so fess up. What did he do?”

Zee took a minute to swallow and clear the remaining tears collected beneath her lids before she turned onto her back, looking up at Lily. “He won’t listen and he won’t fight.”

“Him not fighting is bad?” Lily frowned, confused.

“Him not fighting for me is bad.” Zee sat up to face Lily, inhaling deeply before her words came out in a rush. “It’s all so screwed up. His family, how they are. He understands about my career and wanting to be my best. I’ve explained. Dr. K has explained, and Ano supports me completely.” Zinnia breathed, her voice wobbling, but becoming steadier the more she spoke, as her words came with a small realization, the things she’d bottled up finally freeing from her.

“But when his grandmother asks about how we’ll live, how many children we’ll have, where we’ll be and our answers aren’t to her liking…it all goes stupid. She frowns and shakes her head, starts mumbling under her breath about me not taking care of her grandson, about how selfish I am, and he just…sits there.” Zee waved her hand, landing a quiet punch against her pillow as she continued. “He doesn’t do a thing. He doesn’t want there to be an argument, and now she’s insisting that we have the wedding at her restaurant, and it’s not big enough. This morning, she called and we were on our way to Mokuleia Beach and Ano turns around just to appease her so we can ‘look at the restaurant’ for the millionth time.”

She released a quick laugh, not remotely amused, and gestured as though her words were unbelievable. “My God, we were just there and she kept showing me the private rooms and the beach patio like…God, Lil, I just…”

Some of Zinnia’s irritation dimmed when Lily took her hand, let her lean against her chest. It was something she’d done a thousand times when her niece was younger, when she needed someone to listen without interrupting her. As Zee’s breathing calmed, and her body stopped shaking from what Lily thought was likely suppressed anger, she realized this small breakdown had been a long time coming.

“His family demands so much, and he just lets them talk and go on and on and doesn’t want there to be any fighting, so I get told to let her say her peace or give Leanni her way ‘just this time,’ but there are a whole lot of ‘just this times’ milling together and I just, I lost it this morning…”

“You’re allowed, sweetie.” Lily took a moment, organizing her thoughts. She had opinions, God knew, but now wasn’t the time to voice them. Figuring out what Zee needed had always been the biggest challenge about raising her, but Lily had managed. She listened, she waited, and when her niece was ready, she’d ask for Lily’s opinion. But just then, Zinnia went on shaking, letting her breath and racing heartbeat settle to something resembling normal.

“I just…I love him so much, Lil, but, my God can he be so damn stupid.” Lily made a noise, the smallest agreement and went on listening, went on waiting until Zinnia’s upset settled and she sat up, wiping her face once more before she looked directly at Lily. “So, what do you think? Ano says I’m being dramatic. Am I being dramatic?”

“I think you can be.” When Zinnia frowned and opened her mouth as though she had an argument that couldn’t be explained away, Lily held up a hand, keeping her niece quiet. “That you can’t help. It’s written in our DNA, I’m afraid.”

“Being dramatic?”

“Well, I like to call it a ‘flare for the dramatic.’” Lily brushed away the loosened hair from Zee’s messy bun, and gave her the biggest smile she could muster. She hoped it was a comforting, that it didn’t seem forced. “It keeps things interesting, at least.”

“He thinks I’m crazy. I know he does.” The bed bounced, pillows rustling when Zinnia fell back, with a classic Campbell exaggeration, arms flailing next to her as she adjusted her position on the mattress. “I’m sure his granny can find him the perfect island girl. She keeps mentioning all the single women that work for her and the ones that come in with their families to the restaurant. I’ve seen them. They’re all beautiful. Hell, I’d date them.”

“Wait a minute…” Lily said, pulling on Zinnia’s arm until she sat up. “Excuse me, but I didn’t realize I raised a weak ass bitch.”

Zee blinked, lifting her brows as she tilted her head, stare astounded, dumbfounded. “What did you say?”

“I mean it. I thought for sure I raised a woman who didn’t do well with bullshit or threats meddling old biddies make.” The insult stung, had Zinnia straightened her shoulders and scooted back against the headboard. Lily nodded, a little relieved that her niece at least looked embarrassed. “Was I wrong?”

“I…hell, Lil, I don’t know. This entire…” She stopped speaking, kept her face down as she rubbed her forehead. “It’s so fast,” Zee jerked her attention to her aunt, a silent warning in the sharp focus of her glare, “and I’m glad it has been, in case you thought of trying to convince me to go back to New Orleans with you.”

“The thought hasn’t entered my mind.”

“Why do I not believe you?” she asked, dropping her hand to her lap. “You never explained why you came here. You didn’t even call. Kinda funny that you show up the day after I leave a message telling you I’m getting married.” She watched Lily closely then, gaze moving over her features like she expected one twitch or the smallest flutter of a pulse on Lily’s face to give away her intentions. “So, you’re saying there’s no correlation between my announcement and your visit?”

“What I’m saying, is that I needed a break and was given time from work. Your message just gave me an excuse to avoid accepting a favor from a co-worker.” Lily sat up, sliding next to Zinnia on the bed. “Besides, I wanted to see your face.” She took Zinnia’s hand, linking their pinkies together as she’d done since Zee was a little girl. “That was all the excuse I needed.”

Her niece didn’t say much after that. She only watched her finger next to Lily’s as though she tried to spot the similarities. But with Zee, the silence didn’t last long and her curiosity got the better of her.

“Where were you this morning when we came home? I didn’t see you in the kitchen or living room when Ano and I were screaming our heads off and we had to pass the guest room to finish the shouting match in our bedroom.”

Lily wasn’t sure how much to reveal. It was obvious Zinnia was on Keilen’s side. She talked about him so frequently in the past Lily thought her niece might have a crush. But now Ano was in the picture, or at least he still had a lead. She didn’t think telling Zee what had almost happened with Keilen would invite calm and indifference from her niece. Zee wasn’t the calm and indifferent sort.

“I was looking around Keilen’s place. I wanted to check out what he’s done.”

“Oh?”

Lily laughed, waving off the half grin on Zinnia’s face. “Stop that.”

“What am I doing?” The smile was wider now and a little ridiculous but it kept Zee from thinking of the argument she’d had with Ano and the worries that had caused it.

“You’re plotting things where there are no plots to be had.”

Lily could take the long look Zee gave her. She’d learned to guard her emotions, particularly when her niece wanted to dissect each half-truth answer or impassive look. The girl simply was too observant, too nosey for her own good. It didn’t matter anyway. What was here other than Zinnia? What would keep Lily from the mainland where she could repair the fractured career one cruel stalker had begun to splinter apart?

“He likes you. He always has, I think.” The girl slipped to her side, the humor from her expression replaced by a look that was too hopeful, too certain that Lily was open to whatever Keilen wanted from her. “He’s asked about you so often. At first, I thought it was nothing. I thought maybe he’d had crush on you or something when you were kids. But then he kept asking. Kept worrying over you, and I realized what he felt was more than some crush.”

“It was never like that with me and Keilen.” It was a partial admission and Lily hoped her niece would not pry.

“What was it like then?”

Zinnia was far too nosey for this early in the day. “I thought we were talking about you and Ano and that window-shattering fight.” It was a little cruel to mention, but Zee needed the reminder.

The questions made impact as Zinnia’s smile left her and she curled her legs up, wrapping her long arms around her knees. “I don’t know what there is to do really. It might be one of those arguments that goes on forever. One of those things I’ll have to learn to live with.”

“So, you’d be willing to let him go on giving Leanni her way? Every time? That seems hardly fair to you, sugar.”

“What else can I do?” There wasn’t a cruel cell in Zinnia’s body. She was overtly kind; a trait that kept her social as a teenager and willing to lend a hand when it was needed. Even as they’d left the hospital, it was Zee who garnered the most attention—orderlies and interns telling her to drive safe or have a nice visit. Doctors and nurses nodding to Keilen and smiling at Zinnia when she passed by them in the parking garage. She was a sweet soul, but she was not weak. She was not one to be handled. Zee had a bite and it was sharp. It made Lily worry that she wasn’t willing to stand up for herself.

“You tell her to mind her own business, and if Ano doesn’t like it, you tell him that he’s a coward.”

“He’s not.”

“No? Then why won’t he stand up for you? Why is he bending and expecting you to break?”

“I…” Lily shook her head, took Zinnia’s hand again and the girl went quiet, watching Lily, searching her face as if she’d only just realized the misstep she’d taken. “Is that what I’m doing? Breaking?”

“Only you can answer that, sugar.”

Another shake of her head and Zinnia went quiet, hand curling to tighten around Lily’s fingers as though she hoped to draw in her strength and keep it there. “I need you. Did you know that? I can manage fine for the most part, but God, Lil, sometimes I need you to remind me who I am.”

“You don’t need me to remind you.”

Her smile was weak, but still present and Zee took a breath, then went completely still as the roar of Ano’s car sounded from the driveway. “You could stay. You could…you could come home. There are attorneys on the island or you could start your own practice. You could be here with me, with us, and not all alone in that fancy New Orleans condo.”

“I don’t practice that kind of law, sugar.” Lily stood from the bed, pulling Zee up and toward the door. “Besides, New Orleans isn’t boring and I’m not alone. Not really.”

“It’s not home, and I’m not there, Lil.” She glanced toward the hallway when she heard someone coming up the stairs, but looked back at Lily, as though whoever approached could wait to have her attention. “This is home. This is where you belong.”

Ano cleared his throat, offering Zinnia a sheepish glance and then squared his shoulders after Keilen shoved him into the room. “Nani,” he started, coming inside to stand at Zee’s side. “Can we…do you mind if we talk?”

“I’ll go,” Lily told her niece, squeezing her hand before she left the room.

“Lil,” Zinnia called, stopping Lily before she joined Keilen in the hallway.

“Yeah?”

“Think about it, okay?” She exchanged a glance with Keilen, and her small grin widened. “There’s a lot waiting for you here.”

Lily held her tongue, figuring Zinnia had enough arguing to do that morning, but shot her a look that promised a lecture when she found the time. She tried to ignore the feel of Keilen’s gaze as he watched her from the hallway, as though he wanted her reply as much as Zee did.

“I’ll think about,” Lily said, deciding right then she could do without promises. She was tired of having to break them.