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As the women wandered away, Maisie pulled up her phone, hoping to receive an explanatory text from Finn, but as she scrolled through her messages, her eyes landed on the text thread with her aunt instead.

She frowned. Daphne hadn’t messaged her back since Friday when Maisie had admitted she’d liked Finn. She could understand Daphne’s fears of being left alone, but more than anything, her aunt’s lack of support hurt. Especially now when Maisie needed it most.

Fortunately, Maisie had been able to chat with her parents the day before, sharing all about her newfound relationship with Finn and how she might’ve ruined it before it began.

Dad had been cautiously quiet while Mom consoled Maisie, then they’d both offered her words of encouragement while asking her to keep them updated.

Maisie would forever be grateful for them always being there for her, but she couldn’t deny that Daphne’s absence hurt.

“There he is,” a voice from behind said, drawing Maisie back to the present.

Relief filled her as Bob rounded the busy streets of Belfast, driving toward them in all its burnt orange glory. He was coming. Did that mean Mrs. Waterstone hadn’t tattled after all? Or had the company taken Finn’s side? Either way, Maisie wanted to smile triumphantly at the woman.

Instead, she behaved like the responsible adult she was and stayed away, standing in the middle of the group as they neared the edge of the pavement where Bob slowly pulled to a stop. Maisie tried to see Finn through the glass, but the reflecting windows made it impossible until he opened the doors and peered down at them.

Only, it wasn’t Finn at all.

Her smile froze on her lips, and her heart dropped.

The man smiled mutely from inside, his blond mane thinning with two large scoops of hair taken out of the front of his balding head.

“Mornin’, guys,” he greeted, stifling a yawn. “Welcome aboard.”

Pearl, Joyce, and Renee, who were first in line, hesitated.

“I don’t bite,” the man said. His eyes dropped to the dog in Renee’s arms. “I trust he doesn’t either?”

Renee looked absolutely horrified at the very notion. “She does not.”

The driver hardly looked convinced.

“Where’s Finn?” Joyce asked at once.

“He’s had some things come up, unfortunately,” he stated briefly. “I’m Thomas. I’ll be takin’ over the rest of the tour.”

Maisie stared, swallowing hard. Finn wasn’t coming back?

“If you’ll board now,” he continued, “there are others awaitin’.”

Renee turned to Maisie, her voice soft. “Did you know about this?”

Pearl was next. “What happened to Finn?”

Maisie shook her head, her gut churning. “I’ll tell you about it later,” she whispered, not wanting to spread what had occurred, fearing it might make matters worse.

Their eyes widened with intrigue and worry, though they boarded the bus all the same. Maisie, however, looked behind her at Mrs. Waterstone, whose small eyes stared up at Thomas before dropping to Maisie’s.

Maisie knew she should just board the bus, as well, but the injustice of the situation was just too much. Wading through the rest of the group as they filed onto the bus, she came face-to-face with Mrs. Waterstone.

“This was you, wasn’t it?” she asked, tossing her head toward Thomas.

Mr. Waterstone, for once, looked up from his phone, but Maisie stared solely at his wife.

Mrs. Waterstone raised a bony shoulder. “I think it’s safe to say you two did this to yourselves.”

“What’s going on?” Mr. Waterstone asked.

“Nothing,” Mrs. Waterstone stated.