“I’ve never asked you this before because I figured it was none of my business,” Marina said. “It still isn’t, and if you don’t want to tell me I’m fine with that, but I really want to understand what you’re doing with these men. The drummer sounds like a nice guy. The commercial fisherman before him was a nice guy. I’m sure the engineer is nice as well. So why the revolving door?”

Halcyon squinted at Marina before closing her eyes again. “It’s easier to remain unattached that way. Can’t get used to having someone around if they’re not around for long.”

“And that’s what you want? A never-ending parade of men that you have no feelings for?”

Halcyon looked at Marina and smiled. “Oh, I’ve got plenty of feelings.”

“Not those kind. You know what I’m talking about.”

“You mean the big L. Let me ask you something—where has love gotten you?”

“I love you.”

“And I love you too, sweetie. But I didn’t make vows with you. I can love you and still do who or what I want without repercussions, at least where our relationship is involved. Our relationship isn’t about compromise and it will never be about betrayal.”

“Most people would argue that family is all about compromise and betrayal.”

“Not me and you. We’ve shared a heart since we were born and that’s never going to change. We trust each other completely. That has never and will never come into question. Tell me who else you have that with.”

Marina considered the question. Clearly, she’d never had that kind of bond with Harold and if she was being honest with herself, she’d always known that. And while she loved Avery with every ounce of her being, the relationship between a mother and daughter—especially when the daughter wasn’t really an adult—was an entirely different kettle of fish.

“I guess if you never develop feelings you don’t have to worry about being hurt,” Marina said.

Halcyon nodded. “And if you have no expectations of people, you can’t be disappointed.”

“But is that enough? These men are like a commercial slot in between your regular show. Does that really make you happy?”

“I was in love once…twice if you count my first marriage. Looking back, I see that it was the infatuation of a starry-eyed teen but I thought it was real at the time.”

“Then it still counts. The feelings are the same whether you have the maturity to understand them well or not. And the second time? Danny?”

Of all of Halcyon’s husbands, Danny was the only one that she’d kept photos of.

“Danny didn’t choose to leave me,” Halcyon said. “I know there was that baby-mama drama after he passed but she was a fling that he had months before he ever met me. And the woman even admitted that Danny never knew she was pregnant. Didn’t want her husband to find out. Then he found out anyway and dumped her, so she came looking for a payout.”