Gardner carried on with her life, getting involved in new relationships but never remarrying, claiming that “Francis and I became lovers forever, eternally. Big words, I know, but I truly felt that no matter what happened we would always be in love.”
Sinatra married Mia Farrow, divorcing her after two years, and then wed fourth wife Barbara in 1976.
But for Gardner’s birthday each year, Sinatra sent her an extravagant bouquet of flowers. Gardner would put them in a vase in her bedroom and keep it there, long after the blooms had faded.