Chapter 1
one
Camden Grayson took the turn into her dad’s driveway a little fast. She was never late to anything—except when it came to family events.
Like this one. She threw the car into park, grabbed the key, and instead of jumping out, she leaned back against the headrest, squeezed her eyes shut, and took in a deep breath.
Just one minute. Give me just one minute of peace.
Instead, her cell phone chirped a text. She groaned, then glanced at it.
Blaine
WHERE ARE YOU?
Her sister always texted in full caps, her version of acceptable shouting.
Cam blew out an angry breath as she pushed open the car door.
From the yard across the street came the happy shrieks of children playing and a dog barking, but she focused on her dad’s front door, the landscaping, the new trim on the windows, anything but that house across the street.
Three years later and she still couldn’t bring herself to look at it, with its floodgate of pain.
The front door was unlocked. She hurried inside to the living room, where her dad and sisters were waiting. “Sorry! I know I’m late, and I can’t stay long. I left Cooper with my neighbor.”
Dad disspelled her frenetic arrival with a friendly wave. “Not a problem,” he said in his scratchy voice. “I haven’t gotten started yet.”
Cam exchanged a puzzled look with Maddie, then they both turned to Blaine. Their youngest sister’s chin was tucked to her chest as she texted rapidly on her phone with both thumbs. Typical Blaine. Was I like that when I was nineteen? No, Cam decided. She had no time to be.
A week ago, Dad had asked all three girls to come to the house on Sunday afternoon.
He gave no explanation, only that he’d tell them everything then.
As Cam sat down on the edge of the sofa, she glanced at her dad, wondering what to expect.
He seemed more rested than he had on her last visit home—was it in January?
—his face wasn’t as lined or careworn. In fact, she realized, he wasn’t bad looking for a man of his age, fit and trim, with graying hair.
“Girls, I have an announcement.”
Cam leaned forward, bracing herself for serious news.
Her dad had seen one specialist after the other, trying to get his voice back in working order.
Over Christmas, he’d had a severe case of laryngitis and his vocal cords had never recovered.
His normal speaking voice wasn’t much more than a hoarse whisper.
Maddie had already given them a list of dreaded possibilities: nodules, tumors, cancer.
“Blaine, put away your phone. On silent, please.”
They all watched and waited as she finished her text, sent it, and put her phone in her purse.
Dad’s eyebrows lifted as he inhaled a deep breath and let it out. “I sold the house.”
Cam, Maddie, and Blaine looked at each other, then back at their father. That was the last thing Cam had expected. This house? Their childhood home, filled with sentiment. And stuff. And memories of Mom.
He wasn’t finished. “And . . . I bought an island.”
Cam exchanged panicked looks with Maddie and Blaine.
No. He didn’t. Dad sat there beaming.
He did.
“Dad,” Maddie said, “do you think you had a seizure? Or maybe a stroke?”
“Not to my knowledge.”
“Hold it,” Blaine said, now fully attentive. “You did what?”
“I bought an island. A little one. Part of one, actually. Not the whole thing. It’s off the coast of Maine.”
“You bought an island,” Cam said in a flat tone.
“I did.”
Blaine grinned. “He’s pulling our leg.” She laughed. “Just one? Why not a bunch of islands? I think there’s over three thousand off the coast of Maine.”
“Just one. It’s the place where your mother and I met as camp counselors, back in the day. Camp Kicking Moose.”
He wasn’t kidding. Cam glanced at Blaine and watched her smile fade. “Why, Dad? Why?”
“Because it’s time for a change.”
Maddie’s mouth dropped open in an O. “I knew it.” She looked at her sisters and covered her face with her hands. “Dad is dying.”
“Whoa! Not dying! Not even close.”
Cam squeezed her hands together, trying to stay calm. “Dad, what did the specialist say? What’s wrong with your voice?”
“He had nothing new to say. Just like all the others. There’s nothing he could figure out and nothing he could do to help.
I promise. That’s all.” He slapped his hands on his knees.
“But it was a fortuitous meeting. That specialist was the very one who told me about this island. The village—and that’s a pretty nice word for it, more like a hodgepodge of buildings, plus the campground—well, the village is nearly bankrupt. ”
Blaine peered at him. “Were you under anesthesia when this doctor sold you the island? That might be grounds for malpractice.”
“I was fully cognizant when I bought the island. And just to be clear, I bought the island from the camp owners, not from the doctor, who had no personal interest in the island. It only came up in conversation because I recognized a picture in his office. He went to camp there as a kid. When he told me it was up for sale, I couldn’t resist calling the owners to find out more.
When I heard the price they were asking, I snatched it up.
” He snapped his fingers. “Bargain-basement price.”
Maddie gave a woeful shake of her head. “This is all about turning sixty, isn’t it? You missed your midlife crisis in your forties, so you’re having it now.”
Cam wanted to scream. Her sister Maddie had just completed graduate work for a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, and although she had never been married nor had children, she considered herself adept at diagnosing others.
Oblivious, Maddie carried on. “It’s a textbook case. Human beings can’t miss stages of development. They’ll circle back until it’s dealt with.” She paused, as if watching the effect of her words on everyone.
Dad’s hands were clasped together on his lap. Cam saw them tighten involuntarily with Maddie’s assessment. “I’m only fifty-nine. And no, this is not a delayed midlife crisis. This is something your mother and I had always wanted to do. Planned to do. Until . . .”
Mom died.
Blaine lifted her palms in disbelief. “You and Mom wanted to own an island? That’s news to me.”
“The camp part, that we had talked about. You know how much we loved that camp. Everybody loves summer camp.”
“Not me,” Blaine said. “I hated it.”
No surprise there. Blaine hated everything.
Maddie looked at each one of them. “I think we should talk about Mom. We never do. You all pretend like it was a blip on the radar. Like it was no big deal. And now look what’s happened.”
Cam actually flinched. Maddie was wrong. It was a big deal, but talking wasn’t going to help.
Maddie steepled her fingers together. “So then, Dad, this is some kind of unfulfilled obligation for Mom. A fulfillment issue.”
Dad wagged a finger in the air. “Not an issue, Maddie. No issues here.”
Acting all counselor-y, Maddie leaned forward and looked gravely at each one of them. “Talking about it, just saying a few words, is often enough to help.”
Oh boy. Here we go. Cam checked her watch. Cooper had warned her not to be late. Ever since he’d received a wristwatch for his seventh birthday, he’d become a taskmaster of time. “For now, let’s stay focused on Dad’s crisis.”
“Not a crisis,” Dad said.
Cam carried on. “So let’s review the facts. You bought an island to run a summer camp.”
He clapped his hands. “Yes! I want to breathe new life into this island.”
“Delusional,” Maddie said, resting her cheek in her hand. “Or perhaps premature dementia.”
“Facts. Let’s stay with the facts. Dad, you’re a smart fellow. You’ve always drilled due diligence into us. So, what is the reason this island is bankrupt?”
“Thank you, Cam, for your vote of confidence.”
“Confidence?” He sat there looking pleased as punch with himself. Did he not understand how serious this was? “I’m not giving you a vote of confidence, Dad. I’m right there with Maddie. I’m worried you’re losing it.”
Dad frowned. “Not losing anything.” He tapped his forehead. “It’s all still here. As for why this island needs our help. It has a declining population. All the young people have left for greener pastures.”
“There might be a good reason for that.” Cam tried to keep her voice calm and reasonable.
“Yes, but that’s going to change.”
“How?”
“I have big plans for this island. Big plans. And girls, you’re part of this project.”
All three girls jumped out of their seats, interrupting each other with objections. “No way!” “Not a chance.” “I’m not moving to a deserted island!”
“Girls, calm down! Calm down and sit down.”
Slowly, they eased back into their chairs, eyeing him suspiciously.
“I told you that I have big plans. Good plans. This will be a great thing for each one of you, I promise. All good.”
Cam folded her arms across her chest. “You can’t expect us to uproot our lives to help you run a summer camp.”
“Hold on. I understand that. You’ve each got your own interests. Cam, you’ve got your career on track.”
“More than just on track, Dad. Did you not read that Wall Street Journal article I forwarded you? Everyone wants our technology. You can’t believe the buyout offers the CEO is getting.
” She lifted a finger in the air. “Not to worry! Evan’s promised everyone the company won’t be sold. He says he can’t be bought.”
Dad shifted in his seat. “And Maddie is trying to find an internship.”
Maddie nodded vigorously. “Lots of options brewing.”
“Anything nailed down yet?” Cam said.
“Not quite yet.” Maddie stiffened her back at Cam’s question. “Close, though. And of course there’s Tre to consider.”
As if on cue, everyone groaned. “You’re still with Tre?” Blaine said.
Maddie frowned. “Of course we’re still together. What’s wrong with Tre?”
“Oh, where to start?” Blaine said. “Maybe . . . his name.”
“There’s nothing wrong with his name. Thompson Robinson Smith the Third. I think it’s dignified.”