Shaun woke on Sunday morning with a smile. She rolled over to find her bed empty. Either Tansy had slept in her own bed or she was already awake. The sprawling house her father had built after her mother's paralysis had two wings. One was her parents, which included their bedroom, her father's study, and her mother's sitting room.

The other wing had four rooms. Shaun's childhood bedroom with an adjoining playroom and two guestrooms. All the bedrooms had private baths. Since her marriage, Shaun had slept in one of the guestrooms.

She climbed out of bed and slipped into her robe. Her pink toe nails caught her eye. She and Holly had a spa day, complete with a champagne lunch the day before. Shaun had her first pedicure in a very long time. It had been a luxury she couldn't afford. The warm spring weather meant sandals, although she preferred riding boots.

Holly had made a metamorphosis since high school. Being extremely smart worked as an adult. She worked in a research lab and was involved with things Shaun didn't want to comprehend. Unlike Shaun, Holly excelled in science and had successfully found the right man. Gabe was extremely intelligent, and they worked as a couple. Shaun laughed at her friend's stories. It was obvious both husband and wife lacked common sense and were destined to burn their house down.

Holly laughed at Shaun's account of the auction, and PB&J. "I look forward to seeing him at your mother's party."

"You don't have to go. I know you hate talking to strangers."

Holly waved her hand. "I go every year. Your mother was so kind to me growing up."

"She had to be. You were my only friend. Joshua is going to ask Oliver."

Holly patted her chest. "I wonder if he is still gorgeous."

"He is and supposedly has the perfect wife. You have a perfect husband."

"I say you should have your filthy rich cousin pay off your loser husband and move here for good. Then you could celebrate by getting horizontal with the hotty who helps your mom ride or Joshua, or both. One at a time."

Shaun blushed. "What have you done with my quiet, reserved friend?"

Holly laughed. "In high school, I would have bet I'd die a virgin." She leaned in. "I love sex."

Shaun laughed. "You're shut off."

She walked to the kitchen, smiling over the memory.

"Good morning." Stella greeted her.

"Tansy isn't up?"

"Just me enjoying the quiet."

"I think she stayed in her bed!"

She returned to her wing of the house to confirm Tansy's door was shut and the playroom was empty. She looked forward to a quiet cup of coffee.

Back in the kitchen, Stella nagged her about eating breakfast. She was never a big eater, but didn't have much of an appetite since her life imploded.

"I'll eat with Tansy. You know I'm not big on breakfast."

Stella muttered under her breath. "Breakfast, lunch, or dinner."

Shaun had been too thin in high school. Her parents and Stella worried. She hid under baggy clothes, so her figure was as invisible as she was. Holly ate and hid her lack of curves under clothes. Her friend had trimmed down in college and had enough curves to make her husband happy. Shaun smiled and then frowned. Holly mentioned sex a lot. Shaun had thought she was doing it right, but maybe if she was better at satisfying Eliot's needs.

"Don't think about that, dumbass. You are too good for him. I'll tell you every day if I have to." A knock at the door interrupted Stella's lecture. She went and ushered Morgan in.

The young girl turned down coffee. "Which horse should I exercise?"

"Mrs. McManus isn't riding today."

Shaun was glad not to be seeing Denny. She feared she'd mess things up for her mother, thanks to all Holly's talk.

Shaun said, "I'll take care of Star and Shadow. Thanks."

"No problem. The stalls are clean and they're fed. I'll take Lady and then be on my way."

"Thanks, Morgan." Shaun smiled and waved.

"So our friend is coming again. Is this becoming a thing?"

"What? Dex likes to ride and Sunday is his day off? Don't read too much into it, and no more talk of high school crushes!"

"Touchy. Now eat."

Giving up, she took a piece of toast, but Stella grabbed her plate and spooned scrambled eggs on it.

"Protein. Are we serving lunch or just dinner?"

Shaun shook her head. "I didn't invite him for either meal."

"What time is the man coming?"

"Around two."

"Then he'll stay for dinner. Jimmy is coming. It will be nice to have two men at the table." Shaun shrugged, but she agreed. "I'll pack a little snack for you to share by the stream you love."

"Stella!" Her warning was laced with annoyance. "It isn't a date and besides, after our ride, Josh is going to swim. We can't linger when Tansy is waiting."

"Fine. Another day."

"You act like a matchmaker. There is no match here. Josh isn't single, and I need to be focusing on picking up my life in Seattle."

Stella muttered under her breath, but Shaun ignored her. "I'm going to shower. Please listen for Tansy."

She returned after her shower to find Tansy watching Pinkalicious. Glancing in the kitchen, Stella and her mother had their heads together. At first, she assumed they were talking about her. As she stepped closer, she could see Stella rubbing her mother's shoulders.

"Mom?"

Sarah's face was streaked with tears. She wiped them and forced a smile. "I'm fine. I just miss him."

Shaun felt the stabbing pain. Even living on the other side of the country, she had been close to her father. It wasn't unusual for them to talk daily. He called her on his way home from work. Some days, they spoke only for a moment or two, but others they discussed their day, the headlines, or Stella's meal the night before. Every day, she heard his voice telling her he loved her. He was her father, and she missed him terribly. The grief Sarah hid with a forced smile had to be tremendous.

"I know." Her voice cracked, and she knelt in front of her and hugged her.

One more worry was if her mother would be okay when Shaun left. Tansy served as a wonderful distraction from grieving.

Sarah's voice grew stronger. "Now you'll do what you need to do to get divorced and go on with your life. Stella and I will miss you, but we'll be just fine. It's what your dad would have wanted."

"I'll take care of her, and there's Jimmy, too."

Maybe Jimmy could arrange for her to stay. She had talked to her attorney about her mother's disability. Washington was a no fault state, but the parenting plan was the crucial piece. Community property was not an issue. She'd divide up their wedding gifts and meager savings.

The mood changed as Tansy charged into the room.

"Time for mail."

"It's Sunday, sweet pea. The mailbox is empty. We can go see Lady by the fence. Stella will get you an apple."

Shaun watched as Tansy followed the wheelchair out of the house. She turned to Stella.

"Is she okay?"

"None of us are, but we're all doing the best we can. She insists on doing everything on her own, things your father would have done."

Shaun nodded. She had witnessed her father pick his wife up and carry her a trillion times. In and out of bed, onto the sofa, the list was long.

"The evenings are the hardest. She misses his company and waking alone."

Shaun nodded. "You understand better than anyone."

Stella had been a widow for about five years. Stella frowned. "I know you loved him."

She moved her head from side to side. "Nothing like Mom loved Dad. I see it now."

Stella smirked. "I meant your father, not that walking pile of..."

"I get the picture."

"Those horses make plenty of it. Go get pretty before your friend arrives."

Shaun laughed and waved her finger. "We're riding, not going to a ball."

"You'd look handsome together at a ball."

Shaun gritted her teeth. "Stella. I told you no. It's Josh and Ann. I'm not a part of the equation."

"But you want to be."

She threw up her arms. "I'm leaving!"

Stella smiled and shook her head. As much as she wanted to stay, Shaun had read enough about divorce and children. Don't use your child as a pawn. Alienating a parent would come back to bite the other parent. She wanted Tansy to have a relationship with Eliot. Being close to her own father, she understood the significance.

After lunch she took Tansy to ride Lady. It helped them both pass time until two o'clock. Tansy talked incessantly about swimming.

"Dex didn't say he was bringing his suit. He may only watch you."

Sarah had hired a swim instructor who came on Tuesday afternoon to give Tansy lessons. She loved to show off her new skills. She led Lady in circles while Tansy talked and sang nonstop. It was hard not to laugh at her unfiltered thoughts.

Shaun's pulse quickened when she heard car tires in the driveway. She convinced herself the reaction was because she liked to ride. She led Lady to the fence and helped Tansy climb down as Josh walked toward them, smiling.

"You look good up there Peanut."

"Dex! Will you swim with me?"

His eyes sparkled. "I told you I would."

He turned to smile at Shaun. "I didn't ask you, but Stella's counting on you for dinner, if you can stay. Jimmy's coming."

He shook his head. "You're family. I shouldn't intrude."

"Please. You brighten my mother's spirits. She misses him. We all do."

"Emotional blackmail. Since I have no plans, I accept your invitation. Thank you."

Shaun smiled. "Let's let Stella know. Come on, Tansy. You can hang out with Stella and Gran."

Stella greeted Josh like he was her own son before she shooed them out the door. Josh saddled Shadow without help.

"You're a real horseman. You can exercise Shadow or Star on your own after we leave."

Josh looked at her, but his eyes had lost their sparkle.