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that flash of disappointment in his eyes when she failed, all of it had worn her out. It had sapped the life right out of her.
    So, here she was, back in Seaview Key, hoping to find the other Abby, the one who’d laughed freely, who’d dreamed, who’d known passion and embraced life.
    She just prayed that it wasn’t too late.
    * * *
    Seth had responded to two emergency calls in a row, something that rarely happened on Seaview Key.
    The first had been an amateur fisherman who’d gotten tangled up with a hook. It had taken only a few minutes to remove the hook and treat the man. It had taken longer to calm his hysterical wife who was sure they needed to be seen by a “real” doctor on the mainland.
    The second call had taken both time and patience. Eighty-two-year-old Ella Mae Monroe had called in complaining of chest pains. Since this happened at least once a week, Seth had known she was more in need of calming and companionship than medical treatment. Luke had filled him in on the pattern his first week on the job.
    This morning he’d spent over an hour with her, assuring her that her vital signs were strong, that her symptoms were related to anxiety, not a heart attack.
    What Ella Mae really needed were friends who’d stop by or activities she could enjoy. He reminded himself to speak to Grandma Jenny about dropping in to visit and maybe inviting her to join some of the other older women in their church groups.
    By the time he left Ella Mae’s, it was after noon. Since The Fish Tale was on his way to see Luke, he decided to grab a couple of their excellent grilled grouper sandwiches and take them to the clinic.
    He was halfway to the bar to order, when he spotted the woman from the beach sitting in a booth, holding a baby and looking a little shell-shocked. Drawn by some force he didn’t entirely understand after Grandma Jenny’s earlier revelations, he crossed the room.
    “Yours?” he asked, earning a startled look.
    When she recognized him, her expression brightened. “Hardly. This is Lesley Ann’s little boy, A.J.”
    “Ah,” he said, recognizing the baby then. “You were drafted into duty. Lesley Ann’s very clever. Be careful. If you’re good at keeping A.J. calm, you’ll have him for hours.”
    She laughed. “Voice of experience?”
    “I’ve put in my share of time as impromptu babysitter,” he admitted. “A.J. and I have a deal, though, a pact between guys, so to speak. Twenty minutes and he lets out a scream of disapproval that has his mama flying across the restaurant. He looks pretty content with you. You could be in for a long haul.”
    He studied her intently. “You don’t look as if you’d mind that.”
    “Not entirely,” she admitted.
    “You have kids of your own?”
    She shook her head and there was no mistaking the hint of sorrow in her eyes.
    “I’m sorry,” he said at once.
    “So am I,” she said quietly. “How about you? Do you have children?”
    “Never married,” he said, then realized that wasn’t necessarily an answer. “And no children out there, either.”
    A smile played on her lips. “I’m glad you clarified.”
    “Well, it’s not always the case,” he admitted. “I’ve known plenty of men who are a lot more reckless and casual than I am. By the way, I didn’t get your name this morning.”
    “Abby,” she told him.
    Despite his certainty that Grandma Jenny had gotten it right, he had to admit he was a little disappointed. Abby Dawson obviously brought a lot of baggage with her. “Dawson?” he asked to be sure.
    She regarded him with puzzlement. “Actually it’s Miller now, but yes. How did you know that?”
    “I’m staying at Seaview Inn. When I mentioned to the owner that I’d run into a woman on the beach, she thought it might have been you.”
    Her expression brightened. “Grandma Jenny’s still alive?”
    “And going strong,” he confirmed.
    “I thought I’d heard something about her great-granddaughter running the inn these