A soft knock on the door between her room and Hannah’s got her up from the bed. Her sister was gorgeous in a floral dress that hugged her considerable curves. She looked lush and happy and well rested. “You look beautiful, Hannah.”

With her hand on her rounded belly, she said, “I had to call in the tentmaker for this trip.”

“The tentmaker does good work.”

“Are you coming to the rehearsal dinner?”

Ella leaned against the doorframe, exhausted despite her nap. “Would it be awful if I skipped it? I just don’t have it in me tonight.”

“It wouldn’t be awful, but it might be better to be with us than here alone.”

“I’d rather be alone tonight, Han.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive. I don’t have a game face today. Hopefully, it’ll be back in time for the wedding.”

“What about dinner?”

“I’ll order some room service.”

“But you will eat. Promise?”

“Yes, Mom, I’ll eat.”

“Sorry to hover, but I’m worried about you. We all are.”

“Please don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I just need a little time to myself to process it all.”

“I understand. Is it okay to check on you when we get back?”

“I wish you would.”

Hannah hugged her. “Hang in there.”

“I’m hanging.”

“I’m going to kill him when I get home.”

“Don’t do that. Amelia would never get over it—and neither would I.”

“Those Guthrie boys always were a handful. Some things never change. I wonder all the time if Caleb ever would’ve settled down into regular life after the army.”

“Life after the army? Like twenty years from now?”

Hannah bit her lip and shook her head. “He was going to get out after that last deployment. We made the decision before he left. He’d had enough of the deployments, and we were thinking about having kids.” She rested her hand on her belly. “He didn’t want them to grow up the way he did, moving all the time and always missing their dad.”

“God, Hannah . . .”

She smiled softly and shrugged. “Life’s a bitch.”

“It certainly can be. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. I miss him every day, but I’m really happy with Nolan. And I know you’re going to find your happily ever after, too. I know it.”

“I wish I were so sure. I don’t think it’s going to be with Gavin.”

“Maybe not, but there’s someone out there who’s going to appreciate the amazing, thoughtful, loving woman you are. You just can’t give up on love because of this, El. That would be the worst thing you could do.”

Nolan came up behind his wife and rested his hands on her shoulders. “Is she hovering, Ella?”

“Just a little, but it’s okay.”

“How’re you doing?” he asked.

“I’ve had better days, but I’ll be all right. I’ll see you guys later. Have fun at the dinner.”

Hannah hugged her. “Love you,” she whispered.

“Love you, too.”

Nolan surprised Ella when he kissed her forehead and hugged her. “Sorry you’re going through this. There’re a whole lot of guys who love you who want to put a hurt on him right now.”

Touched to realize Nolan was one of them, she blinked back tears as she drew back from him. “Thanks, but that’s not going to fix what’s wrong here.”

“Maybe not, but it sure would make us happy.”

Ella laughed and brushed away tears. “Go on and have fun. I’ll see you later.”

After they left, Ella picked up the room service menu and looked it over. Though she’d promised Hannah she would eat, the thought of food turned her stomach, so she put down the menu. Maybe later. She went out to the deck that overlooked the beach and the vast Caribbean. As she leaned against the rail, the warm, soft air made her hair flutter in the light breeze. The sun dipped toward the horizon in a blaze of color that promised a spectacular sunset.

In the courtyard below, a group of children chased a soccer ball around, all of them dressed for dinner with their hair combed into submission. Their laughter and excitement caused the ache inside her to intensify into a sharp pain of regret.

Twenty-four hours after he turned down the chance to come with her, she was still trying to figure out how it had all gone so very wrong. Maybe she would never understand.

The phone in her room rang, setting her heart to racing. Was it him? What if it was? Did she want to talk to him? Not really. Not yet. Only the thought of her parents trying to reach them had her dashing inside to grab the extension by the bed. “Hello?”

“Is it true?” Charley asked without preamble. “Did he refuse to go?”

Ella sat on the edge of the bed. “Yes,” she said, her shoulders sagging. “It’s true.”

“I’m going to find him and beat the living shit out of him.”

“No, you’re not.”

“I really might.”

“As much as I appreciate the sentiment, it won’t fix anything. In fact, it’ll make everything worse because then I’ll have to bail you out of jail.”

“It’s worth going to jail. Are you okay?”

“I’ve been better.”

“I’m glad you went without him.”

“I’m not. I should’ve stayed home. The last place I need to be is smack in the middle of someone else’s happily-ever-after. Not to mention our happily coupled siblings surrounding me. After the wedding tomorrow, I’m coming home. I’d rather be at work than here.”

“Said no sane person ever.”

“I’m not feeling so sane tonight.”

“What happened? What did he say?”

“It’s not even worth repeating. It’s over. That’s the bottom line.”

“I don’t get it.”

“That makes two of us. Tell me some good news. How’s the baby?”

“He’s so cute. I saw him again before we left Burlington last night. They were going home from the hospital this afternoon.”

“How’s Chloe?”

“Sore and cranky. She didn’t have much to say to us when we were there.”

“And how’s Max?”

“In love with his son and dealing with her the best he can. I don’t envy him this situation. And I don’t envy your situation.”

“I have no situation. Not anymore.”

“Ella, you can’t give up—”

“Yes, I really can, Charley. At some point, enough becomes enough. I’d be a masochist to let this continue after what’s already happened.”

Charley’s deep sigh said it all.

“How was the store today?”

“Crazy busy. Just how we like it.”

“Good. Anything you couldn’t handle?”

“Nope. I got it covered. Don’t rush home on my account.”

“Thanks for covering for me. I’ll be in on Monday.”

“Call me if you need me. You know where I am.”

“Yes, I do, and thanks for checking on me. Don’t beat up Gavin.”

“I’ll try to resist the urge.”

“Bye, Charley.” Ella put down the phone and stretched out on the bed, which seemed to be the only place she wanted to be. Her limbs felt weighted, and her head was aching almost as badly as her heart. She didn’t really want to be home, where every corner of her life would remind her of him. But she didn’t want to be here either. How sad was it that she didn’t want to be anywhere because no matter where she went, he came with her. He was so deeply embedded in her heart that it would be a long time, if ever, before she left him behind.

*   *   *

Ella surprised herself by sleeping amazingly well. She woke with a new determination to get through the day so she could head home in the morning. After the wedding, she was meeting with the concierge, who’d agreed to help change her flight.

She had breakfast with her siblings and Gavin’s parents, during which they talked about everything other than the elephant sitting in the middle of the table. Ella was thankful that they’d tuned into the fact that she didn’t want to talk about it anymore. What was there to talk about? They’d had a thing. It was over now. End of story.

Except . . .

No, Ella, end of story.

While the others headed off to take a tour in a glass-bottom boat, Ella took her e-reader to the pool, determined to salvage at least one day of this disaster to work on her tan. She stayed until four and even had an umbrella drink of rum punch that warmed her up on the inside.