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keep you down for long."
    "Well, wanted to make sure they got you back safe and sound. I'm sure I'll run into you soon."
    "Can't imagine why, but hope you have a fast recovery. Goodbye, Don."
    Jena hung up before she could hear his response. She hadn't meant to end so sharply. He was just being polite. But she had to get off the phone. She had felt her mouth trying starting to ask about the other men. She would just rather know nothing about them. She had to start trying to forget everything that happened.
    She rolled over on to her side on the floor and finally let the tears explode out of her. She had to let them go. They were gone, they had never really existed for her, no matter how Matt and Jack found their way into her heart.
    ~ * ~ * ~
    Jena finally threw herself into the shower. Her sorrow left her barely functioning, but she was tired of moping around her little cottage. Not to mention her neighbors where starting to get nosy. The location was incredible, the fact that it was a little community of beach front cottages meant there just wasn't that much privacy.
    She wandered out front and walked to the group mailbox at the edge of the road. As she walked back, she ran into Vera, one of her neighbors. She was a little older, but had scored big during the dotcom boom, diversified and retired to the little community.
    "I was wondering when I'd see you again! You're behind on all the gossip."
    Jena couldn't help but be pleasantly distracted and let Vera draw her into conversation. The woman never failed to cheer her up. Vera continued, "Well, you know that grumpy bat Mr. Garret finally moved? He met a women, got a lot less grumpy and they found a mountain retreat. Turns out the salty air was making him very uncomfy, and it's why he was always such a pain."
    "Really? Is the cottage on for sale?" Jena knew it wouldn't be on the market long, it was the perfect spot, although the HOA required people lived there, not just vacation.
    "Got snatched up. Very handsome man."
    "Oh, my flavor?" Jena's heart wasn't in it, but she didn't want the other woman to suspect anything, but for once, Vera clammed up, finally saying, "Probably a little old for you."
    Jena smiled and said, "Got your eye on him?"
    Vera blushed and finally nodded. She said, "It's been a long time, but well, I've been a widow for longer than I care to recall. Time does heal all wounds, eventually."
    "Do you really think so?" The wistful tone slipped out before she could stop it. Jena knew Vera and her husband had been so in love, and losing him so soon after retiring had devastated Vera. It was the first time she'd ever seen Vera even contemplate another partner. If Vera could finally find it in her to move forward, Jena couldn't help but feel a little hope.
    "It's been building for a while. I still love Craig, I always will, but he's a memory in my heart. He never would have wanted me to go to bed alone for the rest of my life. It's been almost 10 years! I still think of him, but I can remember the good, and not the end. I've hidden myself a way for too long, it probably would have been healthier for me if I'd been forced to go out into the world, to meet people. This is just the first time I've met someone that made me think about anything other than wallowing."
    They chatted back and forth about other people for a few minutes while Jena realized how close a call she'd had. She had been ready to lock herself away from everything and everyone. Jena knew she was going to have to find another assignment to lose herself in.
    All of a sudden Vera blushed and straightened up. She waved to someone behind Jena, gesturing them over. Jena turned around. This must be the mystery man that made Vera so giddy. She was grateful that her back was to Vera, because it was Don coming down the path! She had no idea what to say, it never occurred to her that she would actually see him again. Was she supposed to pretend she didn't know him?
    Don solved her conundrum when he greeted