Ethan and I invited Diane because she hadn’t taken a real vacation since Robert’s death.
For the first two days, she seemed happy just sitting under an umbrella with a mystery novel.
Then, on the third evening, I found her at the hotel lounge talking to a man I’d never seen before.
He looked to be in his mid-sixties.
Tall.
Silver hair.
Linen shirt.
The type of man who somehow looked comfortable ordering bourbon beside people wearing flip-flops.
When Diane saw me, she smiled.
A real smile.
Not the polite little expression she’d been wearing for years.
“Ava, this is Malcolm.”
Malcolm stood.
“Malcolm Reed.”
He shook my hand.
“Your mother-in-law has been explaining why every restaurant recommendation I’ve received this week is wrong.”
Diane rolled her eyes.
“I said one place was overrated.”
“You said the crab cakes tasted like somebody had punished the crab.”
