He recalled Diana as a dark-haired, vivacious beauty with a zest for life and a yearning for adventure. She’d talked about the traveling she wanted to do and the places she hoped to see. None of her plans had fit with his goal of building his ramshackle marina on Gansett Island into a flourishing business. In fact, she’d teased him that he would lose his mind on the isolated island. But he’d been determined to pursue his dreams, as had she, so they’d gone their separate ways when it became obvious that their divergent dreams would never jell.

He’d liked her a lot, but he hadn’t loved her. Probably because he’d always suspected theirs was a temporary relationship at best. When he met Linda, he’d immediately seen the potential for much more than he’d ever had with Diana or anyone else for that matter. Following his instincts where Linda was concerned had resulted in the kind of love most people could only dream about. And here they were, going strong thirty-nine years later, and he’d never had a single regret where she was concerned.

Despite their fleeting relationship, it saddened him to hear that Diana had died. In her letter, she’d told Mallory that she’d been tied to her home and her family, which was why she’d been unable to pursue a relationship with him. There’d been no mention of travel or adventure. He wondered if she’d gotten to do any of those things she’d wanted so badly or if taking care of their child had derailed all her hopes and plans. The thought of that possibility pained him greatly.

The screen door slapping against the doorframe, a sound as familiar to him as anything in his life, indicated Linda’s arrival.

“Honestly, Mac. I was right in the middle of coffee with Doro when I got your text. I’m enjoying our summer of love as much as you are, but I do have commitments, you know.” She stopped short in front of him and looked up, expectantly. “Well? I’m here.” She ran her finger down the center of his chest and then hooked it into the waistband of his shorts. “You said it was urgent.”

She was so damned beautiful, and when she looked at him that way, he would give her anything. He had to force himself to say the words. “I need to talk to you.”

Before his eyes, she took a closer look and registered something amiss. “What’s wrong?”

“Something happened today.”

“The kids?”

“Are all fine. It was something else, something completely unexpected and out of the blue.”

“Okay…”

“The winter before I met you, I dated a woman named Diana Vaughn for a couple of months.”

He watched her guard go up against whatever she was about to hear. “That name doesn’t ring a bell with me.”