Chapter 1
LYNN
Jealousy was the fickle friend Lynn Patterson forced herself to sit with during her weekly Saturday morning FaceTime craft hour with her best friend, Max Martin. She had no right to be jealous, but here she was—uncomfortably so.
She listened to the excitement woven into Max’s words as Max, twirling a paintbrush between her fingers, told Lynn about her week.
It had been five months since Annie and Max had packed up both their cars to make the move to Graham Harbor, Michigan. Five months since she had hugged her best friend goodbye at the end of the icy driveway. Five months since Lynn had felt truly alone again.
At first she tried to fill her time, attempting not to notice the absence Max had left behind in her wake.
But it was everywhere—how could it not be when Max had been a near-daily presence in her life for almost half a decade?
It was in the way the house sat silent in the evenings instead of the usual soft creaks of the floors in the apartment above hers that reminded Lynn that someone else was around.
It was in the way she’d gone back to wearing headphones at the gym, quietly keeping to herself and her corner, and it was the way she hadn’t stepped foot in Spoon Me, the local frozen yogurt shop, since Max had left.
But the jealousy was new. She had first noticed it a month ago and immediately tried to contain it.
Her worst nightmare would be for even an ounce of it to spill over into her interactions with Max, because, again, she had no right to be jealous that her friend was out there living her life.
Her feelings were hers and hers alone, not something to project onto others.
And definitely not onto Max of all people—Max, for whom Lynn only wanted good things.
“Yeah, so you know how I was all bummed because Annie had to go to DC for that work thing this past week? And it was, like, my first time being truly alone since we moved out here?”
Lynn hummed, using the tweezers in her hand to pick up the tiny stem of a miniature lavender plant she had been painting while they talked. “I remember, glad to see you survived. I told you you can do hard things. Annie got back Thursday night, right?”
Lynn knew she had, knew the exact details of Annie’s travel plans because she had talked to Annie on Wednesday when she had called, asking if Lynn happened to have Max’s dad’s address.
“Yup. We spent yesterday at the vineyard, working on the house, then took a walk through the cherry orchards. You’d love it. Everything is blooming right now, and it’s so fucking pretty.”
Max’s hand stilled, paintbrush between her fingers, but Lynn was barely paying attention, the flash of a diamond catching the light the only thing she could process.
Engaged. Max was engaged. She knew it was coming, but to see it live and in front of her? She hadn’t expected Annie to ask so soon after their conversation.
“Annie proposed!” Max’s excitement was louder than any emotion Lynn had ever observed from her typically reserved best friend.
“I didn’t see it coming at all. Like totally out of left field.
She went and talked to my dad and everything, which I told her she one thousand percent did not have to do, but it was perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
Max beamed, a warm glow emanating all around her. Lynn was happy for her friend—so happy. But if that were truly the case, why couldn’t she ignore the slow twist of jealousy curling in her chest?
Lynn inhaled, preparing the upbeat, excited words she knew she should say right now, but Max kept talking, her rapid words bowling her over. “Here, look at the ring. It’s vintage.” Max flipped the camera view so the lens was pointed at her hand, where Lynn could clearly see the diamond in question.
It was huge. She glanced down at her phone screen before eyeing the single ring stack on her own hand, the one always worn on her right ring finger.
A delicate gold band with a tiny diamond—maybe a quarter carat if she had to guess—fixed in a solitaire setting.
It was all her late husband Dan had been able to afford when they were teenagers getting engaged.
“It’s stunning,” she said sincerely, trying her best to be happy for her friend.
“Annie did a great job picking it out.” She craned her neck in the direction of the clattering noise of the old front door and someone coming down the front hall.
That would be Dani. They had plans to go for a walk that day.
“I think Dani just got here,” she said, and sure enough, Danielle Wellington appeared in her kitchen moments later in a swirl of red hair.
“I’m early, I know. My last patient canceled, so I came right over. Sorry I’m infringing on Max’s time,” she said, sliding into the chair next to Lynn, peeking at her phone screen and catching sight of the sparkling ring on Max’s hand. “Holy fuck, that’s a big ass diamond.”
Max laughed, flipping the camera orientation again so her face was fully in the frame.
“Right? Annie absolutely crushed it with the choice. I didn’t even see the proposal coming.
One minute we’re fighting dust bunnies in the farmhouse, the next she’s down on one knee in the middle of the cherry orchard asking me to be her wife. Like what even is my life.”
Max blushed, more radiant than Lynn had ever seen her, but that glow ended on her side of the call. Lucky for Lynn, Dani was quick to fill the silence.
“Eeee! I’m so excited for you two! Congratulations.”
Annie popped into frame just behind Max, hands sliding over her shoulders, squeezing. She leaned over to place a kiss on Max’s cheek.
“Ma’am, we were just complimenting Max on her ring!” Dani exclaimed dramatically. “So excited for you two.”
Say something, Lynn urged herself. You have to speak. “We’re really happy for you both,” she managed, plastering a smile in place.
Annie beamed, but the microsecond-long delay from Max told Lynn she knew something was up.
“So freaking happy! Can’t wait for the wedding,” Dani added excitedly.
“Thank you. Still a little ways off from picking a date or any kind of wedding planning, but as soon as we have something set, you all will be the first to know,” Annie said with a laugh before slipping out of frame again.
Max spoke again, her eyes still trained on her fiancée out of frame.
“Wedding. Wow. Still can’t believe that.
” She looked back into the camera. “We can talk more about it when you come to visit next week. I’m so excited to show you around town.
You’re going to love Graham Harbor. Oh, and I asked my friend Summer about the bed and breakfast you’re staying at—she said it’s great.
Her sister actually owns the place. I think you two are really going to hit it off. She’s like my you here.”
Lynn’s stomach dropped at those words. Jealousy. Why did Max need a Michigan version of her when she was right here?
She answered quickly, “Can’t wait. I’ll send you my flight details.”
They said their goodbyes, which included one last minute of fawning over Max’s engagement ring from Dani and reassurances that they were happy for Max before the call ended and it was just the two of them sitting at Lynn’s dining room table.
“Well, that’s a little fast, don’t you think?” Dani said, getting to her feet, Lynn doing the same.
“The ending of the call or the two of them getting engaged?” Lynn asked for clarification.
“The engagement. I mean, they’ve only been together, what, a year?”
“A little over, but I don’t think Annie and Max really know when they officially started dating.”
The pair moved into the parlor, Dani heading to the bookshelf, looking at the assortment of photos on display as Lynn crouched in front of the long wooden credenza that housed her record collection and a few trinkets.
But it was one in particular she was focused on, a little brass contraption that looked like a carousel, the one Max had gifted her for her birthday earlier in the month.
“You know,” Dani’s voice carried across the room to her, “it’s really unfair that you’ve been hot at every phase of your life.” She lifted a photo off the shelf, examining it closer. “All these pictures and not one awkward phase in sight.”
Lynn’s lips pressed together in amusement at Dani’s observation.
She didn’t really agree with her, but at the same time, wasn’t in the mood to argue.
Her fingers gripped the little ball on top of the brass carousel, twisting it, watching in delight as six metal doors flipped, swiveling to reveal joints tucked in pockets meant for lipstick. She loved it.
“Oh neat,” Dani said over her shoulder. “When did you get that?”
Lynn smiled fondly. “Birthday gift from Max.”
“God, she and Annie are so good at gift giving. They got me this really beautiful watercolor set with all-natural paints for my birthday. Haven’t used them yet because the packaging is too damn pretty but so stinking thoughtful.”
Lynn plucked a joint from the carousel, twisting the knob once more, flipping the doors inward. “Smoke then walk?”
“Absolutely.”
They each settled into the wooden rocking chairs adorning the front porch, Lynn claiming her favorite—the white one with bright orange milkweed flowers adorning the armrests—while Dani settled into the black chair painted with puffy multi-colored lantana blooms. Creaking noises followed their movements as the chairs rocked back and forth.
“Chairs turned out great. You’re flying through your summer project list, and it’s not even June yet,” Dani commented, flicking the lighter, balancing the joint between her lips and lighting it with a practiced ease.
“I’ve had a lot of free time on my hands.” Lynn shrugged, taking the joint from Dani, inhaling deeply. Enjoying the calm that followed, the feeling of life around her slowing down with her exhale. “Trying to keep busy, you know?” She handed the joint back to Dani.