“Ugh. We should have stayed on shore.”

        She glared at the kid puffing away on his tin whistle and waving a little flag on the next boat over.

        The curly haired Labrador beside her didn’t care for the raucous either, sounding his annoyance.

        “That’s right, Hawthorne. You tell him.” This was their spot to watch the Fourth fireworks and she wasn’t about to let some obnoxious kid drive them away.

        “Drop the anchor.”

        No answer.

        She peeked around the sail. “Hey, droopy. Drop the anchor.”

        The woman seated at the bow stared at the shore.

        “Abby!”

        “What?” Abby started. “Oh. Sorry.” She pressed the button and released the anchor.

        Shelly cast her eyes up the mast at the witch-on-a-broomstick weathervane then cranked in the sail. “You’re a million miles away.” 

        Abby pulled her bare legs under her. “I know. Sorry. I’m just thinking.”

        “Obviously.” Shelly grabbed a bottle from the cooler and dropped onto the padded bench next to her sister. “Wanna talk about it?”

        “No. I’m just questioning some decisions.”

        “Which ones? Going to UMass, leaving me alone with mom, or abandoning the love of your life?”

        “Thanks for putting it so gently.”

        “Hey, what are big sisters for?” Shelly took a hit from her bottle.

        Abby stared at the crowded beach. Hawthorne laid his head in her lap.

        “Listen,” Shelly said. “If you want to study, nerd your brains out! If you want to escape this witch town, go for it! No one expects you to be a tour guide at Green Gables forever, no matter how good you are at it.”

        “That’s House of Seven Gables, you illiterate hick.”

        “Whatever. Point is, no one blames you for wanting to move on with your life. But, and I say this hoping you don’t listen to me, but if I were you, I would not be so quick to walk away from such a gorgeous hunk of man as John.” Another swig. “But it’s your call. Just know that you get six months of mourning before I make a move on him.”

        Abby shook her head. “Why do I even talk to you?”

        “Because I’m the wisest person you know.” Shelly put down her bottle. The ship swayed as she leaned forward. “Abby, seriously, does it have to end? He’s good for you. You’ve never been happier. Keep him.”

        “You think I don’t want to?” Abby burst, spinning around. “His life is here! His family, friends, a good job at the power plant. How can I ask him to give it all up and move to Amherst so I can study English? It wouldn’t be fair. No. It won’t work.”

        The dog whimpered and jumped onto the seat with her.

        “Maybe not,” Shelly said, “but don’t you think he should have a say in that?”

        The first firework shot into the sky. The chocolate-colored dog barked as it exploded. Abby rubbed his head then buried her face in his fur.

        “Oh, Shell. It hurt so much to tell him it was over. I didn’t want to, but I can’t move on with my life and have him too. I won’t end up like mom. Stuck at home raising brats, giving up what I want while I’m young enough to have it.”

        A barrage of rockets erupted over the bay. The bordering towns of Salem, Marblehead, and Beverly joined in celebrating Independence at once.

        The dog barked again, but not at the explosions. He was on his feet and on point looking out at the harbor. He sounded repeatedly until finally, he jumped overboard.

        “Hawthorne!” Both sisters sprang after him, but he was in the water and paddling fast.

        “Where is that stupid dog going?” Shelly asked, flicking the switch to retract the anchor before jumping to start the engine.

        “We’re too far from shore. He’ll never make it!”

        Shelly sped after the bobbing head. Fortunately, the lightshow above made it easy to see him in the black water.

        “Look out!”

        Another boat was coming hard at them. And Hawthorne for it. Its horn blared. Shelly cut the engine and veered to port. The other ship did the same, coming parallel and leaving twenty yards, and Hawthorne, between them.

        The pilot of the other ship stood on his deck, ready to tear into them for their recklessness when the yipping of the dog pawing at his hull caught his attention. Without hesitation, he dove in. The light of the fireworks shone on his head and back as he launched into the sea. Abby threw off her jacket and sandals and followed him in.

        “Everybody overboard,” Shelly mumbled. She watched the three figures thrash in the water. The man reached Hawthorne first and tried to calm the beast, though the dog’s tongue lashed at his face. Abby shot toward them, her swim team skills on display, then stopped.

        “John!”

        John’s wet hair was as dark as the water. “Abby,” he said, treading while fighting off Hawthorne’s affection. “I know you broke it off, but I can’t let you go.” He pushed Hawthorne’s face from his. “I quit my job today.”

        “What?”

        “I’ll find something else, if not in Amherst, then in whatever other town’s near campus. It won’t matter, as long as we’re together. I want you to live your life, to chase your dreams. Just make me a part of them.”

        Abby leapt, dunking him under the water as they kissed. Hawthorne dodged her and paddled away.

        “Oh sure,” Shelly said as she struggled to heave him into her boat. “She gets the hunk and I get the wet dog.”

        The couple climbed onto John’s boat and there, dripping wet, with fireworks roaring overhead, he dropped to one knee and produced a ring that sparkled like a star under the fiery sky. Abby pulled him up and pressed her lips to his.

        The occupants of the boats nearby sounded their approval, including one young boy blowing hard on his whistle.

        Shelly nodded. “Let’em hear it, kid.”