Like the fool she was, she’d gone along with him, settling for a job as a technician at the island vet’s office when she’d had the undergraduate grades to get into a top veterinary school. Six years of cleaning up dog poop and grooming poodles, killing time until the day she’d be the wife of the island’s only doctor and could stay home to raise their children: David Jr., Anna, Henry and Ella. They’d named them when they were just seventeen.

A sob erupted from her throat. All her dreams crushed to dust in one unbelievable moment.

Tuning into her misery, Joe unbuckled her seat belt and drew her over to rest her head on his shoulder.

For reasons they’d never discussed or acknowledged, he was probably the very last person she should’ve called. However, with her brother, parents and closest friends all on the island and her other three brothers out of state, there hadn’t been much choice. Resting her head on his strong, dependable shoulder, Janey knew she could count on his discretion, even if she was putting him in the difficult position of serving as her knight in shining armor.

“I’m sure it doesn’t seem possible right now, but you’ll get through this, Janey. I know you will.”

“I wish I was so sure.”

“You deserve so much better than someone who leaves you alone for years and then cheats on you.”

His gently spoken words reduced her once again to tears. Just when she thought there couldn’t possibly be more, there were.

“I’m sorry,” he said, sounding mad with himself. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“S’okay,” she said between sobs. “It’s nothing I haven’t already told myself.”

He ran a comforting hand up and down her arm, and Janey sank into the warmth of his embrace.

“Hang in there. We’re almost home.”

Where was home now that David was no longer a part of her life? What would she do? Where would she live? Who would she lean on and make love with and laugh with? They’d had so many plans. . . Her head ached and her eyes burned, but still the tears continued to cascade down her cheeks.

The best part was that he didn’t even know she’d seen him. He had no idea their life together was over. Would he even care when he found out? Did he still love her? If so, how could he sleep with someone else? How could he do that to her? To them?

Janey had never before wished so strongly for a switch she could flip to shut off her tired brain. Her eyes burned closed, and she didn’t try to fight the darkness. In fact, she welcomed it.