Chapter 1
My husband had invited his ex-wife on the yacht I bought—and I was the only member of the family who wasn't going.
I found out on a Tuesday afternoon, halfway through a presentation rehearsal, when Marcus Reed sent me the final passenger manifest.
Marcus had maintained Second Wind for five years. When we took longer trips, he captained her too. His message was ordinary enough.
Could you confirm the dietary requirements before I place the provisions order?
I opened the attachment.
Owen Bennett. Brooke Hayes. Ava Bennett. Finn Bennett. Two people I didn't recognize, both listed as photography crew.
I scrolled down.
No Claire.
For a moment, I assumed there was another page.
There wasn't.
Four years into my marriage, and apparently the last person to hear about my husband's birthday plans.
I called Marcus from the empty corridor outside our conference room.
"Am I on a separate booking?"
He went quiet. "Owen said you weren't joining this time."
"When did he say that?"
"In June. Claire, I thought you knew."
Owen had asked me to keep the last week of August free. His thirty-fifth birthday fell that Sunday. I had moved a client meeting, delegated a presentation, and arranged seven days of leave.
"Send me the accommodation plan," I said.
An email arrived while we were still on the phone.
The master cabin had two names beside it.
Owen Bennett. Brooke Hayes.
His ex-wife.
Ava and Finn had the twin cabin. Brooke's photographer and assistant had the forward guest cabin. Marcus had the crew berth. The small desk where I sometimes worked would be used for charging equipment.
Everyone had a place.
Even her camera batteries had a place.
I drove home before the rehearsal ended.
Finn was sitting on the living-room floor, testing a new waterproof camera. At nine, he still narrated everything he did.
"Mom says we might see orcas," he told me. "She's bringing the big lens."
Ava looked up from the sofa.
"Finn."
He frowned. "What?"
"It's all right," I said. "Where's your dad?"
Owen came out of the kitchen with a beer in his hand. He saw the printed manifest I was holding and stopped.
"I was going to tell you."
"You're leaving on Friday."
He glanced at the children. "Let's talk in the kitchen."
I followed him. On the counter lay a packet of birthday decorations I had ordered, still unopened.
"Why is Brooke sleeping in my cabin?"
"Our cabin," he said automatically.
I looked at him until he set down the beer.
"The kids haven't had a proper vacation with both parents since the divorce. It's my thirty-fifth. I thought we could give them one good week."
"You could have asked me."
"You have the HarborHome launch. You said August would be impossible."
"You asked me to take the week off."
"I didn't know if you actually would."
"So you planned where everyone would sleep, hired a photographer, and decided I wouldn't need a bed."
"The photographer is Brooke's. It's for her work."
He picked up a provisioning list and held it toward me.
"She can't have dairy. Can you make sure Marcus changes the breakfast order?"
I didn't take it.
"You want me to prepare a trip I'm not invited to?"
"Don't make it sound like that."
His phone lit up beside the decorations.
ISLAND PASSAGE SERVICES
Final balance due: $8,460.
A message from Brooke appeared underneath.
Has Claire sent the balance? We need the transfer before noon tomorrow.
I looked at Owen.
"How were you going to pay that?"
He hesitated.
"Your commission comes through Thursday."
They hadn't only planned a family vacation without me.
They had planned it around my payday.