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Maisie had noticed her texting a lot that morning, which Mom hardly ever did, but Maisie brushed it aside. She supposed Mom could have a social life, too.

Soon, Daphne came out from the back kitchens, smiling as she took them around the construction zone, asking their opinions on what shade of green the walls should be and what type of stain the chairs should boast.

As Maisie answered, Mom and Dad were mostly quiet, speaking in hushed whispers behind her, though they smiled innocently whenever Maisie tried to catch what they were speaking about.

Eventually, however, Dad broke off to chat with a nearby worker about the power tool he was using, and Mom lingered next to him before Daphne pulled Maisie to the side.

“Do you have a minute?” she asked in a soft voice.

Maisie’s chest tightened. Were they going to speak about the elephant in the room that had been ignored for weeks now?

“Sure,” she said, following her to the other side of the space where large open windows pulled in the bright Boston sunshine.

Daphne faced her, a slightly strained smile on her lips. “How are you doing?” she asked.

Maisie lowered her defenses, seeing the vulnerability in Daphne’s eyes. Obviously, her aunt was just trying her best with what she’d been given, so Maisie could find the grace Daphne needed.

“I’m alright,” she responded. “And we don’t have to do this.”

“Do what?”

“Talk,” Maisie said simply. “I know you’re busy. You don’t need one more thing to set you off balance.”

To her surprise, Daphne’s features twisted into sorrow. “I am busy. But I’ve been too busy for you, and that’s one thing I promised myself I would never do. So right now, I just want to talk to you. Honestly. About things.”

Maisie glanced at her parents, Dad still engaged in conversation, Mom staring at the doorway before drawing her attention back to Dad. Was she in a hurry to get somewhere? Or was she wanting to give Maisie a minute alone with Daphne?

“Okay,” Maisie said.

She was happy to hear what Daphne had to say, but Maisie didn’t have the heart to speak about Finn. Not yet, anyway.

Daphne drew a deep breath. “I know I can be difficult sometimes to work with. Overbearing and too opinionated. And I know I’m not always supportive of your other dreams. Dreams that threaten my own. But for that, I want to apologize. Your mom has talked to me about what happened between you and the tour guide, and I just…” She broke off, taking Maisie’s hands in her own. “I just want to say sorry for not being there for you when I should have been. I had no idea, and that is because of my own fears and…Anyway. I want you to know that I’m going to try harder to be there for you, even when your dreams don’t align with mine. Because I love you.” Tears filled her eyes. “You’ve been like the daughter I never had, and I want you to know that I want you to be happy, whether that’s doing things with me or finding your own life to live.”

She ended, settling with a nod and looking away as she cleared her throat. Daphne had never been comfortable sharing emotion in such a way, and that made it all the sweeter for Maisie to witness.

She reached forward, embracing her aunt with a tight hug, which Daphne returned until Maisie pulled back. “I love you too,” she said.

Daphne tipped her head to the side. “Now, about you and Finn…”

Maisie frowned. “What about us?” As if she could even use the word “us” when referencing them both.

“What are you going to do to be with him?”

Maisie hesitated. “Well, there’s nothing I can do, really. Finn is supporting his family. And I’m following this dream.”

“And that makes you feel…” Daphne prompted.

Maisie shrugged. “Fine.”

Daphne gave her a look of disbelief, so Maisie continued, trying to convince herself of her words as much as she was trying to convince Daphne.

“Really, I am fine,” she said hollowly. “I knew the guy for barely two weeks before I left. Anything between us probably would have fizzled out by now anyway.”

“I hope that’s not the truth,” spoke a deep tone from behind.

Maisie gasped, whirling around to face the voice, fearing her ears were playing tricks on her. But as she came face-to-face with Finn standing in her aunt’s soon-to-be restaurant, those happy smile lines stretching out from his twinkling eyes, his signature sleeves pushed halfway up his forearms, her mouth dropped open, and her heart stopped.

“You’re…” she breathed. “You’re here.”