Ava has told Nathaniel and Scott that she is dating both of them, and she makes it clear they are free to date other people. Nathaniel says he has no interest in anyone but Ava. This is an effective strategy, especially since Ava has had trust issues with Nathaniel in the past and has, on occasion, questioned his devotion. On nights when Ava goes out with Scott, Nathaniel either stops in at the Bar with his crew or stays home and reads Harlan Coben novels; he always texts her when he’s hitting the hay. When Ava is out with Nathaniel, Scott goes out with Roxanne. This is also an effective strategy. Ava suspected that Roxanne was making a play for Scott, but she’d never believed Scott would fall for it. When Ava is at school, she will sometimes see Roxanne emerging from the main office wearing one of her low-cut blouses and a tight pencil skirt and absurd wedge heels. Roxanne teaches English at the high school—two buildings away—and there is no reason why she should be at the elementary school except to lean over Scott’s desk and let her long hair fall into her cleavage. Ava can’t believe the superintendent hasn’t spoken to Roxanne about the provocative way she dresses, and Ava can’t believe Roxanne still insists on wearing heels even after she’s broken her ankle on the cobblestones of Federal Street. Ava’s real problem, however, is jealousy. She is insanely jealous of Roxanne. Roxanne is beautiful and alluring; the wedge heels make her calves look amazing. Roxanne has also, apparently, revealed her vulnerable side to Scott, something he is unable to resist. Roxanne has been through three broken engagements—Fiancé One was gay, Fiancé Two was a cheater, and Fiancé Three died in a surfing accident while on vacation in San Diego. Roxanne’s loss of the third fiancé leaves Ava unable to hate her. Scott confided to her that Roxanne still sees a therapist to cope with Gunner’s death, and she bursts into tears over strange things—orange sunsets, the smell of lily of the valley, the song “Last Nite” by the Strokes.

Both Nathaniel and Scott have been available and supportive for Ava throughout Bart’s continued absence and Kelley’s illness. Nathaniel is better at doing things—he is the one who picks up Kelley and Mitzi from the boat or the airport after radiation; he is the one who wakes up early every day to check the DoD website to see if William Burke has made any medical progress or if any other troops from Bart’s platoon have escaped. Scott is better at talking—he asks Ava how she feels about Kelley’s illness (although outwardly optimistic, inwardly she’s terrified); how she feels about Bart’s disappearance (although outwardly optimistic, especially in front of Kelley and Mitzi, inwardly she’s terrified).

Together, Nathaniel and Scott are the perfect partner. Ava would like to live with them both forever or be married to each of them on alternating weeks. But since that practice isn’t acceptable in Western cultures, Ava will have to choose, and she can’t choose.

She needs time away with the wisest woman she knows.

Are there any woes that a five-star hotel in the Caribbean can’t fix? The Malliouhana resort is set amid lush, impeccably manicured gardens that are silent but for the sound of a gurgling waterfall and birdsong. The spa is down one winding brick path, the fitness center down another. The lobby is Moroccan inspired, with marble floors and rattan ceiling fans and gracious arches that frame the expansive view of the turquoise sea. Ava is further charmed by their connecting suites—pencil-post beds with crisp linens and piles of fluffy white pillows, enormous soaking tubs, French champagne in the minibar, and a bright orange hammock chair on the balcony.

Who needs Nathaniel? Who needs Scott? Here, Ava has to decide only between her Jane Green novel and her Anita Shreve; between the hotel’s infinity pool and one of three secluded beach coves; between rum punch and a glass of chilled rosé.

The first morning, Ava runs down the mile-long white crescent of sand that is Meads Bay, then, at the Viceroy hotel, she cuts in and runs another mile down the road. She passes a man, her age or a little older, who is wearing a Nantucket T-shirt and a hat from Cisco Brewers. Ava scowls—she can’t get away! Nantucket is everywhere, even here on Anguilla! She gives the man a lame wave, then picks up her pace.

Margaret has gone to the fitness center and they meet for breakfast at ten o’clock in the open-air restaurant, both of them still in their workout clothes. At the buffet, Ava piles her plate with pineapple, papaya, and mango, whereas Margaret dives into the French cheeses, the ham, salami, and pâté, and the warm croissants. The woman can eat whatever she wants and never gain an ounce.

Ava sees the man in the Nantucket T-shirt sitting in the restaurant with a much-older gentleman, probably his father or his uncle or his boss. Margaret notices the Nantucket T-shirt and says to him, “Oh, my daughter lives on Nantucket!”

“No, Mom,” Ava says, but it’s too late, of course. The man whips off his hat and stands up.

He says, “You’re Margaret Quinn.”

Ava closes her eyes. She loves how her mother rolls through life like she’s a normal person, seemingly unaware that every single soul in America—in the world, practically—recognizes her as the anchor of the CBS Evening News.

Margaret doesn’t respond. Instead, she nudges Ava forward. “This is Ava,” Margaret says. “She teaches music at the Nantucket Elementary School. Her father—my ex-husband—owns and operates the Winter Street Inn.”

“Mom, he doesn’t care,” Ava says.

“No, I do care,” the man says. “I’m Potter Lyons, and this is my grandfather, whose name is also Potter Lyons, but everyone calls him Gibby.” Potter smiles at Ava. “I love Nantucket better than any place on earth. I go every August for Race Week. Do you sail?”

“We put her in sailing camp when she was seven years old,” Margaret says. “There was a bully on her boat and she refused to go back. She hasn’t sailed since.” Margaret puts a thoughtful finger to her lips and turns to Ava. “Except that one summer when you sailed in the Opera House Cup.”

Mom, he doesn’t care! Ava thinks. He’s only appearing interested because it’s Margaret Quinn talking and she has a talent for making the mundane details of Ava’s growing-up sound like national news.

Ava smiles at Potter and Gibby. “Confirmed,” she says. “The bully’s name was Alex, and in 2009, I sailed in the Opera House Cup on the Shamrock.”

“They rent Sunfish here, down on the beach,” Potter said. “It’s not the Shamrock, but let me know if you want to go for a sail. I’d love to take you out.”

Ava stares down at her plate of fruit. Her face is most likely the color of the papaya.

“Nice to meet you,” she says. She leads her mother across the restaurant to the table farthest from Potter and Gibby.

“I think he likes you!” Margaret whispers.

No, Ava thinks. He likes you.

They bump into Potter and Gibby again at lunchtime at a place down the beach called Blanchards. Blanchards is a beach shack, and at first Ava is thrilled with the find. She and Margaret walk up to the counter in their bare feet and ask for one grilled mahimahi BLT with smoked-tomato tartar sauce, one order of shrimp tacos, and two sides of coleslaw. And while they’re at it—two passion-fruit daiquiris.

Ava is so in love with the beach shack that she takes a picture of the menu and texts it to Kevin, saying, You could do this at home! Quinns’ on the Beach! Kevin and Isabelle are running the inn, but Kevin has been looking for a second business opportunity. This is it! Ava thinks. Isabelle is a fantastic cook; she will be able to figure out the smoked-tomato tartar sauce, no problem.

Ava’s reverie is interrupted by Potter and Gibby. “You’ve discovered our secret,” Potter says. “We’ve eaten here six days straight.”

“Jonum, phtzplz,” Margaret says. Ava puts a hand on her mother’s arm. The last thing Margaret needs is to be photographed with her mouth full of shrimp taco. She’ll end up front and center in Us Weekly’s “Stars—They’re Just Like Us!” (They talk with their mouths full!) Besides, Ava fears Margaret was trying to say Join us, please.

“We’re almost done,” Ava says, though she’s taken only two bites of her heavenly sandwich.