“What about the friend? She might not be thrilled to see her best friend’s husband with another woman. She might stab you between the shoulder blades the moment you arrive. Before you know it, your body will be decaying in that forest.”

Why was it that Julia always managed to articulate the fears Flora had been trying to ignore?

“I promise not to turn my back on her.”

“What are the sleeping arrangements? Have you even had sex yet?”

Mortified, Flora glanced across the store. “Could you keep your voice down? I don’t think they heard you in Florida.”

“You haven’t answered my question.”

“Not actual sex, although we have had some very erotic moments.”

“Where?”

Flora wished her friend wasn’t quite so insistent on details. “Everywhere. I think about sex a lot when I’m with him. He’s very—”

“Yes, I noticed—” Julia waggled her eyebrows “—but, Flora, at some point you have to do more than think about sex.”

“We’ve done more than think. We’ve kissed.”

“You kissed.” Julia stared at her. “And?”

“There is no ‘and.’ We’ve kissed. And it is always amazing, and stop looking at me like that because frankly kissing him was better than any sex I ever had.”

“You must have had terrible sex.”

“I wouldn’t say I’ve been particularly lucky in my past relationships, but that’s mostly my fault. I’m usually so intent on pleasing other people, I find it hard to please myself. But that’s ending. I’m working on it.”

“Well you need to work on it faster. Call this an intervention if you like. Right now you’re in a celibate relationship where your main focus seems to be quietly filling the gap left by his late wife. And for this you don’t even get great sex?”

“If the photos are to be believed, I’m significantly heavier than she was so I’d probably get stuck in the gap.” Her attempt at a joke didn’t even raise a smile. “This vacation is me pleasing myself. I want to spend time with them.”

“Has he said he loves you?”

“No, and that’s fine. I’m not sure I’m ready to hear those words.” She gave a grunt of pain as she bent to cut some string. “I haven’t said them, either.”

“Are you in love with him?”

“Don’t know. Trying not to think about it.”

“You don’t want to be in love?”