As Joshua drove west on the Mass Pike out of Boston, he wondered what he had gotten himself into. If the date turned into a disaster, he couldn't blame Ann. He had insisted and wasn't certain why. Afterall, he had Ann, and Shaun wasn't looking for a date. A slow smile crossed his face when he thought of waking up with a warm body. He woke Ann to tell her she had to leave because he had a date, but she didn't balk.

"I have my brunch. Are you doing this to get back at me for talking to Anita? I already apologized, so you can't make me jealous. Why did she change her mind and insist on a date?"

Joshua didn't elaborate. "Back in the day, we were friends."

'Friends' might have been a stretch, he mused as he drove west on Route 16. Also, Joshua didn't hold grudges. He witnessed it with his parents as they took an inventory of each other's failings in every argument. They were the poster children for what not to do in a relationship.

His phone announced a turn ahead onto a country road. His destination was in two miles, and as he approached, he slowed down. Turning onto a long drive, he could see a large house. He feared she set him up for Sunday dinner, although the request to wear jeans didn't fit.

He muttered, "What have I gotten myself into."

When he called Alicia to decline her brunch invitation, he learned important details about the McManus family. Aside from losing Mr. McManus, he discovered Mrs. McManus had been in a wheelchair for decades. He also found it interesting that she was a Sinclair.

The sound of the doorbell vibrated through his chest. His heart thumped more than before a confrontation with Kendall.

Shaun answered with a smile. "You made it. Come in and meet my mother."

The house was one story, but sprawling. Various hallways ran off the large entryway. As he followed her, he appreciated the view of her well fit denim. She led him to a large comfortable room which extended into an equally large kitchen. The interior was warm and inviting.

He looked around. "Emma would love this."

Shaun turned. "Your girlfriend?"

He smiled, because he doubted Ann knew much about interior design. "No, Oliver, you remember Oliver?" She nodded. "His wife is an interior designer. She was, at least. She's home with their daughter."

He heard a whir and a small voice. He turned toward the wheelchair. Mrs. McManus looked healthy and very much like her daughter. Next to her stood a small girl. He stepped forward and offered his hand.

The older woman smiled. "A gentleman. Your mother must be proud. I'm not sure if I've ever met her. I don't socialize much."

He nodded and opted not to offer condolences. He turned his attention to Shaun.

"Tansy, say hello to Mr. Roche."

Her little hand reached out, and he took it. "You can call me Dex."

She smiled. "Dex."

Shaun laughed. "I can't believe you still use nicknames."

"Occasionally." He chuckled, thinking of Duff the cat.

Shaun reached out her hand. "Come on, Tansy."

The little girl took her hand, and he followed them through the kitchen into a large mudroom where they both scuffed into shoes.

As Shaun opened the door and stepped outside, she said, "I hope you don't mind my daughter joining us. I figure with you having a girlfriend and me still married, we need her as a chaperone."

Her phrase, still married, struck him oddly. "What is this? The nineteenth century?"

She laughed, and Tansy copied her. She led him to the barn and let the little girl go first. "I hope you aren't afraid of heights?" She looked back as she followed the little one up the ladder.

Josh followed them to a hay loft set up for a picnic. He looked out the window at two horses grazing.

Shaun said, "Did you still want to ride?"

He turned to her. "You remembered?"

She nodded. "I was painfully shy. Otherwise, I would have invited you over. Not that a popular kid like you would accept."

He shook his head as she averted her eyes to her daughter, who was covering herself in fresh hay. "I would have. I..." you intrigued me in high school.

She looked back at him with expressive eyes. "Have you ridden in the last decade and a half?"

He laughed. "Once. I convinced Duff to try it. We went to a barn near Newport. We felt like fools compared to a ton of preteens riding around with helmets and fancy boots." He paused. "You probably have all that."

She blushed. The hue complimented her hair, which was not as red as he remembered.

"I'll try not to embarrass you."

"Do you do fancy jumps?"

Shaun shook her head. "My mother did, but I enjoy riding for fun."

Tansy tugged on her mother's pants. "Eat now?"

"Yes, darling." She looked at Joshua. "It's not fancy. Since it's not a date."

"Because you're married."

Her face tensed. "You have a girlfriend and I'm not fond of men who... Never mind."

Joshua sat on the hay next to Tansy. He could finish her thought, but left it without comment.

"Here." The small hand held out a sandwich in a bag.

Shaun reacted. "No! That's peanut butter and jelly. I have grown-up food."

Josh smirked at her concern. "I love PB&J."

"Me too." The angelic face smiled at him.

"You do not?" Shaun frowned.

"I do." He looked around before he whispered. "Sometimes I eat two for dinner when I come home from work late."

Shaun laughed. He was glad she smiled. Within ten minutes of arriving, he had learned her marriage made her sad.

"I have turkey or roast beef."

He smirked. "PB&J."

"Yay!" Tansy clapped her hands.

He looked at Shaun. "Why'd you make two?"

"Honestly, I didn't."

Acting shocked, he put his hand on his chest. "You had the help make lunch."

Shaun laughed, and he felt his muscles relax. "I received a phone call, so Stella took over. She's been with us since long before I almost failed biology. I don't know why she made so many."

"For my new friend. Mommy said a new friend was coming for a picnic."

Josh laughed. Other than Daphne, he had no experience with kids, but a child who talked was fun. He bit into the peanut butter and jelly and hadn't lied; he liked them.

"So what have you done since biology, aside from having a baby?" A joke was on the tip of his tongue regarding the reproductive chapter, but he swallowed it with a bite of sandwich. He remembered the embarrassment.

"You know the regular. Went to college, met a guy..."

"Why haven't I seen you at other events?"

"We live in Seattle. We came home almost six months ago."

"Alicia told me about your father. I'm really sorry."

"Thanks. I'm fine, mostly. So how long have you been with..."

"Ann. About three months. Listen, if you need a friend."

She concentrated on her sandwich. "I don't have good luck with friends."

He frowned. "Why do you say that?"

"I had one in high school, a few in college that I hardly see, and my most recent is... Forget it!"

Her eyes looked glossy. "Is what? I think you need a friend. Trust me?"

Her voice turned syrupy. "Tansy, do you think I can teach Dex to ride?"

She giggled and nodded. "I wanna ride."

"Maybe later. Dex is our guest."

"Are you telling me you can ride and I can't?"

Shaun said, "Only slow with a lead."

Tansy nodded. "Like Gran."

It was Josh's turn to be surprised. "Your mother rides?"

"For therapy. Her therapist uses our barn. It's a worthwhile charity."

"You should give me the details. I think it's amazing she rides."

Shaun smiled. "She swims every day."

Tansy interrupted. "I wanna swim."

"Maybe later."

"With Dex?"

Shaun shook her head. "Another time."

"Sounds to me like we're friends."

Shaun put her hands up. "I concede."

Joshua laughed. He knew she needed a friend in high school, but he didn't try hard enough. He sensed her need was even greater, and he intended to try harder.

Shaun stood. "Okay, Tansy. Let's show Dex the horses." She looked at him. "Trust me."

He nodded. He did.