Tonight the little bay at Spiaggia Grande was filled with boats, mostly small local fishing craft, interspersed with a few bigger yachts.

She soon found herself on the jetty that extended into the bay. The area was even more crowded with evening diners, but the sea breeze was stronger, too, keeping everyone cool.

Colette strolled at a leisurely pace. The last time she’d been here she hadn’t been alone. There Luca was again, finding his way into her thoughts as he had so many times over the years, and even more so since Kim had sent the invite.

It wasn’t right, she kept telling herself. She was married. And chances were he was, too, so why was he in her head like this?

Why was she actively seeking out the paths they had walked together and thinking of those times: the way he held her hand, the smell of his aftershave as he pulled her close to shield her from the chill of the wind. The way his strong arms encircled her and the feeling of his skin against her cheek as they stared at the stars and talked about their dreams.

Colette wrapped her arms around herself as she leaned against the rail and looked out over the water.

She couldn’t help the smile that crept across her face as she remembered the night Luca had taken her out on his boat. She could still see it like it was yesterday, the town lit up as if it were on fire, soft light illuminating every building etched into the mountainside, the archways and doorways clearly visible, the colors creating an artistic impression.

It had been such a magical night. Being with him then had done something for Colette that nothing else before ever had—given her confidence.

He’d listened to her—really listened, not to correct her or tell her that her views were naive, but because he actually cared about what she thought and how she felt. It had been such a novelty. Up until then she’d spent her life blending in. Which of course was why it was at first so difficult to understand why someone like him would notice her. Why she, out of everyone, had gotten his attention.

Because you were a tourist, you idiot. Another easy fly-by-night target. You were nothing special.

But that wasn’t strictly true either, Colette assured herself now. Ed, too, had considered her special back then—and still did. Yes, at first he’d merely been her knight in shining armor, offering her a shoulder to cry on after Luca had let her down, but he had turned out to be so much more than that, and he’d especially been a tremendous comfort to her after her mother died.

Things happened for a reason.