Page 68 of Before the Storm

“It’s funny, isn’t it? I never told Winnie anything about Mom. But obviously, she was always curious about her,” Tara said. “And vice versa.”

Josie watched a flock of seagulls sweep overhead and breathed deeply. Tara was talking about later tonight when Johan planned to take her out for a barbecue, and she’d probably sleep over at his house.

“You look happy,” Josie said to Tara.

“It isn’t just Johan,” Tara admitted. “But it’s true that Johan is the greatest man I’ve ever met. I can’t believe it took me forty-four years to fall in love with him.”

Josie smiled and thought back to the week after Hazel was born when Donnie had driven up with his wife and son to see Winnie and meet the baby. Although they’d said hello and shaken hands, Josie and Tara had kept a healthy distance between themselves and Donnie. Everyone needed it to be that way.

There was only so much they could forgive Donnie of. But they were grateful for his love for Winnie.

Now, Tara touched Josie’s hand over the beach blanket. Josie turned to look at her.

“I don’t know how to thank you for going through the treatment,” Tara offered then, her voice breaking. “I know it wasn’t easy. I know it took so much out of you. But you’re here. And it wouldn’t be the same without you. I’d be less of a human. I’d have less of my heart.”

Josie blinked back tears and shifted over to put her head on Tara’s shoulder. Beside them, baby Hazel slept on without knowing the chaos in the Steiner women’s past.

All Hazel would know was love and friendship and the bright hope that came after forgiveness.

All she would know was Nantucket.

She was the beautiful result of their previous mistakes.

She was perfect despite their imperfections.

And Josie would spend the rest of her life showing her just how beautiful it was to live.