Liza was engulfed by a swell of sadness and nostalgia. Angie wasn’t wrong. The only thing she really remembered about that day was Sean. He’d been her focus, and he’d stayed her focus for all the years that had followed. In the beginning she’d been dizzy with happiness, unable to believe her luck. Even after that initial feeling of euphoria had faded, she’d still felt utterly content with her life.

They’d celebrated the highs and weathered the lows. They’d laughed, hugged, talked, listened, had plenty of sex and planned for their future. They had so much shared history, but somewhere along the way life had chipped away at the bonds that kept them close. They’d forgotten how to be a couple. How had that happened?

“It’s a shame for you that Sean couldn’t get away this time, but it’s a treat for me.” Angie sat up and brushed sand from her legs.

Liza felt guilty for thinking only of herself. “I didn’t even know you’d moved back here.”

“I’ve only been here six months and I didn’t get out much to begin with. I was feeling too sorry for myself. You know what village life is like. I didn’t want people asking questions.”

“How did Poppy take it?”

“She was mortified that her father was having an affair—no teenager wants to be forced to think about a parent having sex, particularly with someone closer to her age than mine. She didn’t speak to him for months. And that was hard because I was trying to do the good mother thing and not say anything bad about him. I clenched my teeth so hard I almost needed dental work.” Angie pulled sun cream out of her bag and rubbed more onto her skin. “We muddled through. Poppy already had a college place on the East Coast, but she came home for Christmas. Then in February John broke the news about the baby.”

“Oh Angie—” Liza reached across and hugged her.

“It hurt, which made no sense because I wouldn’t have taken him back if he’d begged. Anyway, bring me up-to-date with your news. Sean is a big shot architect now? You live in an amazing mansion in London with glass everywhere?”

Liza curled her toes into the sand. “Not a mansion, but it’s true that Sean has made the most of the space. He extended our kitchen a few years ago and yes, a great deal of glass was involved. It’s a lovely big family room that opens onto the garden.”

“And you two are still married and happy. You see? I knew it.”

Eight signs that your marriage might be in trouble.

How could she talk about it with Angie, when she hadn’t even raised it with Sean?

He should be the one she was talking to. And she would. She would.