“That’s so sweet,” Maddie said. “How he came all those times just to check on you.”

“It was far more than I deserved after the way I left him without a word.”

“I’m sure he understood.”

“I don’t think he did. I apologized, but that’s hardly adequate after all these years.”

“Will you see him again?”

“I don’t know. I hope so. We were always such good friends before anything else. I missed him for a long time after it ended between us.”

“As I recall, it never really ended.”

“Not the way it should have, that’s for sure.”

Maddie reached for Sydney’s hand. “How are you? Really? I’ve thought of you so often.”

“I’m doing okay. Today has been a good day. Yesterday was a good day. Two weeks ago, I had a really bad day. It happens. Not as often as it used to, but still…”

“I suppose it’s to be expected.”

“That’s what I’m told.”

“I hope we can spend lots of time together while you’re here. I want you to come to my house and see Mac and meet Thomas—” Maddie stopped herself, and her face flushed. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I shouldn’t have… You may not want to see Thomas.”

“Oh, Maddie, of course I want to meet your son. I’d love to.”

Maddie’s eyes filled. “I think about Max and Malena all the time. They were so beautiful and so well behaved.”

Sydney smiled even as her throat closed at the reminder of her children. “I was proud of them.”

“With good reason. So will you come over some time soon? Have dinner? Mac’s sister Janey is getting married at the end of the month, so it’ll be a fun time around here. I hope you’ll be part of it all.”

“I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

Maddie stood to go. “Don’t be ridiculous. There’re so many McCarthys, one extra person would hardly be a hardship.”

Sydney got up to hug Maddie. “Those McCarthys are lucky to have you.”

“We’re lucky to have each other. Call me?”

“Promise.”

After Maddie left, Sydney fed Buddy and prepared a pasta dinner with some grilled shrimp she’d picked up at the grocery store the day before. She made a salad, opened a bottle of white wine and sat at the kitchen table that overlooked the pond. At home, dinnertime was one of the more difficult parts of her day. It reminded her of just how alone she really was. Often she didn’t bother to cook, resorting instead to a sandwich or a can of soup. What was the point in cooking for one?