The sound of car doors closing outside had them pulling away from each other. But Alex took hold of her hand as they went outside into the still-sweltering heat to greet the new arrivals. A row of dark clouds hung ominously over the island, giving Jenny hope that relief from the heat might be in sight.

Dr. David Lawrence’s girlfriend, Daisy Babson, came up to the porch to hug and kiss Marion, who seemed delighted to see the pretty blonde woman. Another man was with them, and Jenny knew him from somewhere but couldn’t immediately come up with his name. She felt like it was on the tip of her tongue.

David came up the stairs and shook hands with Alex.

“You know Jenny, right?” Alex said, his arm now around her shoulders. Apparently, they were going fully public with their relationship, which pleased her greatly.

“Sure, nice to see you again, Jenny.”

“You, too.”

David turned to the other man who’d come with them. “Get up here, will you?”

When he joined them on the porch, Jenny tried desperately to remember how she knew him.

“This is my landlord and friend, Jared James,” David said.

Alex and Jared shook hands.

“Yes!” Jenny said. “That’s how I know you. You’re Jared James.” He was tanned, with dark blond hair, piercing blue eyes and a few age lines around his eyes that hadn’t been there the last time Jenny saw him.

“I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage…”

“I’m Jenny Wilks. I was a year behind you at Wharton.”

“Oh, of course. You were Toby’s girlfriend.”

“Yes.”

“I was so very sorry to hear he’d died.”

“Thank you.”

“I knew him quite well. He was a great guy.”

“Yes, he was. So, you’ve been all kinds of successful since we left school. What do they call you, the new king of Wall Street?”

He shrugged off the praise. “I had a few good years despite the crap economy. Anyone who did well during that time got a lot of attention.”

“Well, from what I’ve read, it was well deserved.”

While Alex talked to David, Jenny visited with Jared, comparing notes on people they’d known at school and who they kept in touch with.

“So what are you doing out here?” he asked.

“I’m the lighthouse keeper at the Southeast Light.”

“Wow, that’s cool. How’d you get that gig?”

“Saw an ad and applied. I was in need of a change of pace, and the move has been good for me. What about you?”

“I have a house out here. David rents my garage apartment.”

“So you’re here for the summer?”

“I’m taking a little time off after a particularly rough breakup.”

“Ouch, I’m sorry. That sucks.”

“Sure does.”

“You should come out to the lighthouse sometime. I’ll give you a tour.”