**KATHERINE’S POV**

The island arrived too fast.

One moment the plane was still humming, the next we were in a black car winding along a narrow coastal road. I kept my face turned toward the window. Every time the vehicle took a curve I felt the phantom weight of Ben’s arm under my hand from the flight. The memory sat too close to the surface. I could still hear myself laughing—really laughing—like the bruise on my face and the marriage waiting at the end of this trip did not exist.

Sam spoke only to the driver. When the car stopped he stepped out first, smoothed his shirt, and became the...