Shaun and Tansy stood at the fence and watched her mother ride. She never looked disabled on Lady.

After a few minutes, she tapped Tansy's shoulder."Let's see about lunch."

"PB&J!" Tansy called as she ran ahead.

Shaun smiled and nodded, as she thought of Josh. Her phone rang, and she expected it was him canceling his riding lesson. She stared at the caller's name. Reluctantly, she answered.

After an uncomfortable greeting, Courtney said, "You never RSVP'd to the museum fundraiser."

Courtney ran the public relations department at the museum, but coming from similar backgrounds had bonded them. Courtney's family was one of the wealthiest in Seattle. She may have used connections to get her job, but she was good at it. Those same connections were key to keeping the museum well funded.

Once a year, Courtney planned a gala, and it was the only time Shaun dressed up and socialized. Eliot loved attending because he spent the evening rubbing elbows with the wealthy patrons. Shaun didn't feel shy, because instead of small talk, she discussed the art. She frowned. She missed the museum and the art more than she missed her husband.

She quipped, "Who is your date for the evening?"

The pause was almost comical. Courtney deserved Eliot. Shaun knew why he was attracted to her former friend, but she wasn't feeling charitable enough to warn her.

"You deserted him." Courtney repeated her excuse.

"My father died, and I stayed with my mother following the funeral. I didn't desert him, but you moved in on him. You stole my husband, and you have the nerve to invite me to an event to see the two of you together. You are a home-wrecker and no longer my friend."

"Shaun!" Courtney cried as the call disconnected.

Her hand shook as she walked into the house. Stella looked up at her.

"Sit! You look like you'll faint. What happened?"

Shaun shook her head repeatedly and ended with a tilt towards Tansy. Stella tsked and brought her some ice water. "When will your new friend arrive?"

Shaun looked up at Stella. Was he her friend or merely an acquaintance? "Um, he said after two."

She imagined him lazing around with his girlfriend, much the way she imagined Courtney and Eliot together. Was he with her when she called? Had she cried in his arms? Why was she crying when she stole Shaun's husband? Shaun had to remind herself she was better off without him.

Attending the charity event and bidding on Joshua had given her some perspective. She felt braver than the quiet introvert who sat in the corner of the lunchroom. She also felt like her own person. For years, she allowed her identity to be tied to Eliot. At thirty-one, she was finding herself and embracing independence. Her first step had been contacting an attorney to start the divorce proceeding.

She was naïve to think she could stay in Dover and legally end her marriage. The parenting plan scared her. The longer she stayed in the east, the less she liked the northwest, but she would do anything for her daughter. As empowered as she felt, she was still a mother first and foremost.

As the shock of her conversation melted away, she laughed. Tansy mimicked her. Stella knitted her brow as Shaun wiped her eyes.

"You know what, the B can have him."

"Amen to that. I could have told you the first time you brought him home, but it would have fallen on deaf ears." Stella spoke the truth.

Shaun had been too in love. "I'm not deaf anymore."

The voices outside caused them to turn their heads. Sarah rode in with Denny behind her wheelchair. The two were laughing. Shaun looked from her mother to Denny. His smile faded as his eyes met hers. She feared her mother told her therapist too much of her private business.

Sarah said, "Stella, I convinced Den to stay for lunch."

"Busy day, lunch guest and later we have a dinner guest. This house is getting some life back. Sit down, young man and I'll take care of you."

Shaun smirked as he blushed over the fussing. His face was tanned from working outside. The bronze hue brought out his topaz blue eyes. The man was good looking and built. Stella called him young, but he had to be forty.

Denny sat on a stool. "I'm happy to exercise Shadow after lunch."

Shaun responded first as she stood with her empty plate. "No need. A friend is coming for a ride."

A small frown crossed his face. Did he want to ride? He had his own horses at his barn. He used their horses because of the location. His stable was about forty-five minutes away. Sarah was his first client when he was barely more than a kid. His organization grew with additional staff, but he always worked with her. Both Sarah and Stella treated him like a son.

Tansy said, "Denny, I'm gonna ride today."

He smiled at Tansy before searching out Shaun, who stood by the sink. "I can stay to help."

"It's fine. I'm sure you're busy."

He shook his head before turning to Sarah's voice. "We need to plan the fundraiser."

All adult eyes looked at her as Denny overcame his surprise first. "You really want to?"

"Grant would be disappointed if I didn't."

"Mom, I can help if we're still here."

Denny nodded to Stella as she placed a sandwich in front of him. "Thanks. Still here? Are you going back?"

Shaun nodded. "I may have to. I won't fly her back and forth across the country."

He nodded as Sarah changed the subject. "It's easy to plan, caterer, guest list. I used to entertain all the time."

Shaun felt lighter as her mother talked. She had been mourning and not looking forward to anything. Tansy had helped, and Shaun worried about her mother when they left. She hoped to have answers after she conferenced with her lawyer. Although they had saved a little after her father bought their house, they had very few assets. Eliot had wanted every dollar for his next big idea, but Shaun had wanted the safety net. Two thousand dollars had caused more than a few arguments. It was in a joint account, but most of it was from her birthday gifts. The new gown her mother paid for had cost half the amount they argued about

"Mommy, can I ride?"

Shaun smiled. "Come on."

"I'm right behind you." Denny had eaten most of his sandwich.

By the time she saddled Lady, Denny walked in the barn. Lady was smaller than Star and slower, so she was a suitable match for Tansy. In Shaun's fantasy world, she lived in Dover, and Tansy had her own horse.

Denny said, "Are you ready, young lady?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Denny lifted her onto the saddle. Shaun said nothing, but she had been teaching her how to climb on.

He clicked his tongue and led Lady out. Shaun couldn't decide if she was thankful for his help or annoyed. She swallowed her feelings, because Denny was too important to her mother.

After a loop, Denny said, "Mommy's turn."

He handed her the lead and smiled. He stood back and gave Tansy some instructions. "Sit straight. Good girl. You know you would make a great therapist."

Shaun laughed. "Art is my specialty."

"Or teaching riding lessons. You'd be good at either."

"I doubt I'm sticking around and I'll stick with Tansy."

And Dex. She felt excited about riding with him. Denny walked towards her.

"If you need to talk, I've done the divorce thing."

"Nothing to talk about." She handed the lead back to him. "I've hired a lawyer. My goal is to get as much time with her as possible. Nothing else matters."

"Yes, but ending a marriage isn't easy."

"Did your ex cheat?"

"No. We wanted different things."

Curious, she didn't hold back. "Like what?"

"Horses. I want horses and she's not a fan."

Shaun laughed. "I made that mistake, too. It's a character flaw. Seriously, who doesn't love horses?"

"Exactly!"

They laughed together, and Tansy joined them.

Denny said, "You're doing great up there."

"Just a little longer, sweetie. Then we need to brush Lady before Dex gets here."

"I can help." Denny offered.

"You must have something better to do."

He shrugged. "Not really."

Tansy begged for another circle and Denny agreed before Shaun could reply.

She walked to the fence and pulled out her phone as she waited for Joshua. When she looked up, Denny smiled at her. For a fleeting moment, she considered cheating on her cheating husband. A fling with the rugged horseman would be awkward and risky. He was too important to her mother. Still, she hadn't had sex since before her father died. She tried to think when it was. Eliot had been leaving her alone. She had to persuade him. They had been out with friends and she had a bit too much wine. Her face burned as the night came into focus. It was more than just her throwing herself at him. He had spent a long time sitting at the bar, talking to Courtney. Shaun hadn't minded because it meant he wasn't trying to hijack every other conversation. Had they already been fooling around?

Denny led Lady over to the fence. "If you need an ear. I have two to lend out."

She had been thinking of using him for something other than his ear, before her thoughts had taken a turn to her humiliation. She had never had a fling. Eliot was her first boyfriend and lover.

The sound of tires on the road saved her from responding. Joshua climbed out of his car and waved.

"Dex, look at me!"

He gave a thumbs up. "Looking good, Peanut."

He walked to the fence, smiling. Expensive sunglasses covered his eyes. Shaun nodded. "Nice boots."

He looked down. "Too much?"

She shook her head. When Tansy started talking, Shaun turned her head to see Denny holding on to the lead.

"Josh, this is Denny, my mother's equine therapist. Josh is an old friend from high school."

Josh nodded. "I heard you do great work."

"Tansy, let's get you off Lady."

Denny tugged on the lead. "I can take care of Lady if you and your friend want to ride."

Shaun smiled. "You don't mind?"

He looked at her with a frown and shook his head. She followed the horse. "Denny, you don't have to."

She stepped into the barn with Josh right behind her. Denny had Tansy down, and she ran to Josh.

"Dex, did you see me?"

Shaun's phone rang. Denny's frown confused her. Tansy's affection for Josh surprised her. The man she should admire was calling, and Shaun was stupid enough to answer it.

"What do you want?"

"You made Courtney cry."

She turned her back on everyone. "Are you kidding? You think I haven't?"

Eliot said, "For your perfect father. You loved him more than me, just like your baby."

Her baby. "Why did you call?"

"Courtney wants you to come to the event."

"Why? Are ticket sales down? I can't afford it."

"Your mother can make a donation. I heard you bought a man."

"What? How?"

"Online. I googled you. You aren't mourning. You're riding your horse and going to balls."

"And you're screwing my former friend." She cringed, afraid to turn around. Josh had heard enough on his last visit. Knowing her mother, Denny knew all the sordid details. She disconnected the phone and stood looking out for a few calming breaths before plastering on a smile and turning around.

Denny wasn't there, but Josh was brushing Lady. He looked up at her with sympathy. She walked over and rubbed her hand along the mare.

"You okay?" Josh whispered, and she nodded.

"Tansy, where's Denny?"

Josh tilted his head. "Tack room."

"Let's get you in the house?"

Josh put his hand on her arm. "I'll take her. You take a moment."

She led Lady into her stall and popped her head in the tack room. Denny looked up from oiling the bridle. "I gave you privacy."

"Thanks. Josh already knows about my failed marriage." She wasn't certain what he knew.

"So you two are..."

"Friends. I only need friends. My life is complicated enough."