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Harlow smoothed her hair back. Adjusting her sunglasses, she tilted her head to let the sun’s rays warm her skin. “You want to know what I miss? I miss the simple things.”

“They’ve been here all along, waiting for you,” her father said.

“It took an accident for me to see life has been passing me by.” Harlow thought about it. “And it opened my eyes.”

“I’ve always heard movie stars, athletes, famous people live in a bubble world. I guess it’s true.”

“The sad part is I didn’t realize the bubble was closing in, getting smaller and suffocating me.” The analogy summed up Harlow’s life. She had been living in a bubble…a big beautiful bubble surrounded by a handpicked entourage. Sheltered from the real world.

“It’s never too late, as long as you’re still alive.”

“I’m never going back to the bubble.”

“I hope not.” David intentionally kept the conversation light, sharing tidbits about some of the cliff-side homes and their owners, pointing out the bikers who were making their way around the island.

“As soon as I’m back on my feet, I’m going to bike all the way around,” Harlow vowed.

They rounded the bend. Up ahead was Mackinac Island’s downtown and the harbor district.

“Let’s stop for lunch,” David said.

“In town?”

“Sure. We’ll ask for a table with a view.” He expertly steered the sailboat alongside the dock and eased into an empty slip. A dockhand noticed them and ran over to help secure Winnie.

Harlow knew the exact moment the guy recognized her. It was a look she knew well. Slack jaw. Wide eyes. Staring. She pretended not to notice, instead watching her father maneuver her scooter onto the dock. “Let’s go, Mort.”

The pup scrambled along the gangway. He did a doggy shake, from the top of his head to the tip of his tail.

“Do you…uh…need help?” The dockhand stammered. “I can…uh…grab whatever you need off the boat.”

“We’re having lunch at the Dockside Grill,” David explained. “We shouldn’t be more than an hour or so if you don’t mind keeping an eye on Winnie for us.”

“No, sir. Not at all. I’ll make sure no one messes with her.”

“Thank you.” Wynn strolled alongside his daughter, making their way toward shore. He waited until they were out of earshot. “That young fella was starstruck.”

Harlow chuckled. “Poor guy. I thought he was going to trip on the ropes and tumble headfirst into the water.”

“I bet it happens pretty often, the stares and gawking part.”

“You get used to it, although I’ve learned to watch out for the ones who can be a little.” She twirled her finger next to her forehead. “Obsessed.”

“I read about some guy who climbed over your privacy wall and made it to the front door.”

Harlow shivered involuntarily. “He had a stun gun, rope, mace, a knife, and duct tape with him. Thank God Vic saw him and took him down. We had a similar incident at our condo in Palm Beach.”

“You’ve mentioned Vic before. You two must have been close.”

“Like this.” Harlow twined her index and middle fingers. “He’s the best, right up there with Eryn as far as friends go.”

“Have you heard from him?”

“No. Janice, my publicist promised to track him down. Maybe he’s moved on.”

“He doesn’t sound like the kind of friend who would just move on without telling you goodbye.”

“I don’t think so either, but who knows? It seems like every time I turn around, I learn something new about the people I thought were my friends.” Harlow’s shoulders sagged. “It’s depressing. Let’s talk about something else. I haven’t been to the Dockside Grill in years.”