Joanna shifted position in her chair. “Do we have to talk about this?”

“Not if you don’t want to, but the more I know, the less likely I am to say the wrong thing.”

Joanna gave a faint smile. “Or you could say nothing?”

“I’m not really a ‘say nothing’ type of person.”

“As I’m starting to discover.” Joanna sighed. “I haven’t seen Nate since the day he ended our relationship. The last time I saw him he was on the beach, kissing Whitney.”

“Whitney?”

“She had blonde hair and was very beautiful.”

Joanna was beautiful, Ashley thought. “I think you handled today brilliantly. And you looked great by the way, with your hair loose. Eat your heart out, Whitney, I say. You should wear it like that always. It suits you. Nate thought so, too. And he definitely wasn’t thinking of Whitney when you walked into the room.”

“You cannot possibly know what he was thinking.”

“I saw the way he looked at you. It was the same way you looked at him.”

“No!” Joanna gasped. “Did I? Oh, that’s awful. I certainly didn’t mean to. Do you think he noticed?”

“Not sure. Probably. Does it matter?”

“Yes, it matters. I don’t want him to think—”

“That you’re interested. Are you?”

“Definitely not.”

“Why not? After two decades with Cliff, you deserve a little fun and romance. Why not Nate? He’s not married. I heard Mel making a joke about him being single forever, so whatever happened with Whitney it didn’t last. Oh, look—now you’ve spilled your coffee.” She leaned across and mopped up pools of coffee with her napkin. “Keep your hands still. You have great taste in men, by the way.”

“I married Cliff.”

Ashley scrunched the napkin into a ball and shrugged. “We all mess up occasionally. We’re going to get past that.”

“We?”

“Yes. You said you were grateful to me for making you rethink the way you were living. Here we are, eating pancakes at a table overlooking the ocean. Next I’m going to help you with your love life.”

“Really, I don’t need you to—”

“You do, Joanna. You really do. You need my help. I’m good at fixing people up. I have an instinct about these things.”

“Ashley, it’s a kind thought but—”

“Have you ever tried online dating?”

Joanna looked at her as if she’d just suggested dancing naked down Main Street. “No. I’ve never tried any dating, online or in person. Why are you looking at me like that?”

Ashley leaned forward. “No dating at all?”

“No. Why so surprised? When would I? I was married to Cliff. I took my marriage vows seriously even if he didn’t.”

“But you divorced him a year ago—” She broke off, incredulity swamping tact. “You’re saying you haven’t dated anyone since your divorce?”

“That’s right.”