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forgive. I never figured he was some saint.” Stephanie appeared to have sobered up completely. “He never mattered to me all that much. You know that, Mom. But things are different now. I’m not entirely without legal resources, you know. There’s such a thing as DNA testing these days. It’s time he paid up.”
    â€œLet it go, honey. What good can it do now?”
    â€œRevenge,” Stephanie said, her voice as cold as the ocean waters flowing around Alaska. “Pure and simple. Revenge. What’s his name?”
    Pat hesitated.
    â€œMom. His name?”
    â€œI heard that he’d divorced the wife he had when he was with me, and his second wife died some years ago. He recently retired, and has come back to the Outer Banks.”
    â€œIs that so?” Stephanie asked. “Saved me a trip to Alaska. What’s the name?”
    â€œYou won’t do anything rash, will you, dear?”
    â€œHave you ever known me to do a rash act in all my life?” Stephanie said.
    A trace of a smile touched Pat’s lips. “There was that time in seventh grade when you punched that boy who tried to put his hand up your shirt.”
    â€œEven that wasn’t rash,” Stephanie said. “He had a reputation, and I was ready for him.”
    Pat let out a long sigh. Bertie and I sat immobile. Stephanie waited, saying nothing, just watching her mother. Finally, Pat said, “Will Williamson. I called him Willy. I said I was a stupid young girl.”
    The name came as no surprise to me, but Stephanie’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
    Alarmed, Bertie got to her feet. “Do you know him?”
    â€œA man by that name was at the library tonight,” I said, also standing up.
    â€œI can’t believe it,” Steph said. “He sat right there, next to me, making a fool of himself while some simpering girl who’s probably no older than me giggled and fussed over him.”
    â€œIt’s just a name,” Bertie said. “Might not be the same person.”
    â€œRight age, recently back from Alaska. Oil company exec. It’s him all right. Of all things.”
    â€œYou said you wouldn’t do anything rash,” Pat said.
    â€œAnd I won’t.” Stephanie turned to Bertie and me. “Thanks for being here. Secrets are better when shared. I trust you’ll keep this to yourselves.”
    â€œGoes without saying,” Bertie said. I nodded.
    â€œIt’s late, Pat,” Bertie said. “Can I help you get settled for the night?”
    â€œI’ll do it,” Stephanie said.
    â€œThank you for coming, Bertie,” Pat said. “It was fun to talk about the old days, wasn’t it?”
    â€œIt was.”
    â€œI’m going to open that bottle of wine in the back of the fridge,” Stephanie said, “and think long and hardabout good-old-dad. Nothing rash, right? Lucy, you want to stay for a drink?”
    â€œNot for me. I have work tomorrow.”
    We said our good nights. Bertie and Pat embraced for a long time. I wanted to give Stephanie a hug too, but a hard shell seemed to have settled over my friend. She had a heck of a lot to take in, I knew. The secret of her life had been uncovered, just like that.
    I was worried about what she mightdo.

Chapter 5
    After Butch had stormed out of Jake’s last night, I thought he might have forgotten our plans for a morning hike. But I got up early anyway, and pulled on jeans, a loose sweater, and thick, practical boots. If Butch didn’t come, I’d go by myself.
    I pulled back the draperies and was pleased to see another clear, cloudless sky. The forecast was calling for rain in the afternoon, but that wouldn’t interrupt our hike.
    I love the marsh in the mornings. The sun is rising in the east, the birds are waking up and searching for breakfast, the turtles are looking for a sunny spot to spend the day, and even the plants seem to be eager to