One of the valuable lessons that Ethan had taught her was that one’s appearance was the first tool that could be utilized to achieve success. When they met, it was easy to always look her best with minimal effort. But later, when she’d noticed the telltale signs of the end of her twenties—a few crow’s-feet and a not-so-enviable difference in the elasticity of her skin, she contacted a makeup artist and took lessons until she learned to make herself completely presentable, even on barely a half hour’s notice.

Now people told her all the time she didn’t look like she was in her thirties, but she knew they were just being kind.

Quinn followed her usual regimen, the familiar routine soothing her nerves. She tried to ignore the way her eyes strayed to her neck and the looseness that was beginning there. Another ten years and she’d be looking into a neck lift, and that was a depressing thought.

Once her makeup was done, she dressed in her freshly ironed slacks and a billowy white shirt, slipped into some low heels, and strode out to her car.

She hit the road, excited yet anxious.

Driving out of Lahaina, she clutched the steering wheel and followed the curvy, scenic highway. The rented Jetta felt small and insignificant beneath her in contrast to the unending and breathtaking views she passed: majestic mountains on her left and the bluest blues of the rolling ocean to her right.

Hawaii truly was a paradise, and she felt a rush of guilt for leaving Ethan behind, for not allowing him to experience this with her.

The beauty around her couldn’t be described in words, though she’d texted him when she stopped for a coffee at a local shop, letting him know she missed him and was thinking of him.

He didn’t respond.

Her friend Gina had tried to call and then texted her during the night: Why did you skip spin class? You aren’t answering your phone. I’m worried . . .

Oh, God forbid she miss spin class. Quinn rolled her eyes, but she did consider calling her or at least texting. In all honesty, though, they weren’t that close. Gina was her friend only because her husband, Kevin, and Ethan had gone to school together. Sure, they did a lot of “couples things” together, and Ethan was always on her about going to spin class so she didn’t disappoint Gina, but Quinn had never felt a genuine connection to her. She hadn’t really had a close friendship since Maggie, her best friend.

With Maggie, Quinn could be herself and never have to worry about how she came across. And Maggie had the big family that Quinn had sometimes dreamed of having. When she spent time at Maggie’s house, she felt like she was one of them.