Shaun felt her head spinning. After years of failing to get by, she had money. It didn't matter how much it was. The four thousand Courtney gave her felt like a fortune. She wasn't sure she was ready to know. A part of her wanted to be mad at her father and cousin. Then she cringed, knowing Eliot would have spent it all.

Jimmy hugged her. "I think you should move back to Dover. If you live with your mother for a while, the douche will never get wind of your financial situation. Fly Tansy back for her days with Daddy."

Josh looked at Shaun. She felt the hit of Eliot's rejection again. "The douche doesn't have daddy days scheduled." Did Josh read her mind or step out of bounds?

"All the better. You hate it here. Don't lie?"

She paced. "But I want to stand on my own two feet. I wanted to provide for my daughter."

Jimmy stepped in front of her, stopping her. "You have for years. It was never your efforts that failed. Don't you know how proud your father was of you? Only once did you need help and that was to keep this house."

It was true. Eliot blew through money, and she kept working and putting food on the table.

Josh stood and approached her. "You should be proud of what you've done. We can't control others. The douche made his decision, and I say it's his loss. If I had a kid like Tansy, I would fight for as much time as possible."

"You wouldn't ever be in my situation."

He shook his head. "I stayed with Ann for longer than I should have. We all do things to avoid loneliness or to feel loved. I have no doubt he loved you or was an amazing actor."

Jimmy chuckled. "He should try his luck in Hollywood."

"He has the looks." Shaun could see him on the screen, fooling the world.

Josh surprised her. "Let's let it all soak in." He stepped towards her. "We'll be back in the morning." He brushed his lips on her cheeks. She wished she had turned his head to reach his lips like Easton had with hers. "We'll take you out for a big breakfast."

The two left before she could respond. Alone in her little house, not alone, with Tansy she was never alone. No regrets. Her daughter was worth every painful tear.

As she cleaned up the wine glasses, there was pizza left. She picked up a piece and ate it. Nothing was settled, but the big worry lodged in her throat had dissolved. She could pay for her next trip to the grocery store.

Did she wish her finances were different? She didn't want Eliot to blow through her inheritance, but she would have liked to have had more time with Tansy. Going back to work with an infant had been hard on her. She resented Eliot. Their marriage was never perfect. She had to admit she played a role. It was the never loved you part that hurt. Had all the moments she remembered been fake - their laughter, his teasing, in bed?

Too much thinking brought on a headache. Maybe it was her cheap wine. What a night! Easton had kissed her, and Josh didn't. Again. He said he wanted to.

She woke with Tansy nestled into her. Any progress she had made had been negated when she started daycare again. She refused to dwell on how much Eliot hated Tansy in their bed.

Knocking got her out of bed. She put on her robe as she walked to the door. Both men stood on the other side.

She opened the door a crack. "Seriously, I'm not on east coast time. It's my day off."

Jimmy pushed inside as Josh hung back and looked at her funny. She probably had bedhead and raccoon eyes.

"You'll waste the day away."

She scowled. "This is why I kicked you out. You show up damn early."

"Go get ready. Breakfast, remember."

Josh smirked as she groaned. "I hate you, James Sinclair."

"Mommy." A small voice called. "Dex!" A pajama-clad Tansy jumped in his arms. "You're still here."

Dex smiled. "Don't forget Jimmy, Peanut."

She reached over and hugged Jimmy.

"Go, Shaun."

She said, "Tansy needs to get dressed."

She took a quick shower and dressed in jeans and a sweater which hid her body, much like she wore in high school. When she left her room, she heard Tansy's voice. Peering into her room, she found Josh sitting on the pink comforter. Tansy had taken out half her clothes. He looked up at her and winked. Her heart sped up.

"Tansy put on this." She picked up a long-sleeved dress. "And these." The striped leggings were her favorites. "Josh doesn't need to watch you get dressed. Hurry. Jimmy's taking us out for breakfast."

"Pancakes! Yummy!"

When Josh followed her out of the girl's room, he jumped to his defense. "She insisted."

In the dark hall outside her room, his face looked grave. Shaun reached out and put her hand on his heart. His warmth filled her up her arm and throughout her body. "It's okay. I trust you completely. She can dress herself, but would have convinced you to help her. Have you ever said no to her?"

He paused. "I didn't swim the first time she asked."

Shaun smiled. "You didn't, but you wanted to."

He shrugged. "I confess I fell for her over PB&J. She is as adorable as her mother..." He put his hand over hers. "In um different ways."

Shaun felt a powerful urge to be wrapped up safely in his arms.

Jimmy yelled, "Come on. I'm starving. It's lunchtime at home."

Both Shaun and Josh laughed at Jimmy and dropped their hands. Josh walked to his friend while Shaun checked on Tansy.

They filled Saturday with fun. The day centered on Tansy with a trip to the children's museum. It was Jimmy's idea. What the day didn't allow for was the kiss that had been lingering on her mind.

Jimmy grew distracted with his phone as the afternoon wore on. Eventually, he looked from Shaun to Josh. "I need to go to France. We need to go home tonight."

Shaun felt disappointed. She thought they'd stay another night.

When it was time for goodbye, Josh hugged her. "You'll come for Thanksgiving?"

Jimmy sighed. "Come home, Shaun. You succeeded, but you aren't happy. I'd bet Tansy isn't happy without my boy, Josh. The offer still stands. It could be her Christmas present."

Josh asked what he meant, and Shaun spelled P-O-N-Y. Jimmy would spoil Tansy, but hadn't it been Shaun's dream to leave Seattle? At what cost to Tansy's chance for a father?

Confusion riddled her thoughts, and the easiest thing to do was let them walk away. She felt like she stood at a precipice. But of what? Was moving home throwing in the towel? Shouldn't having finances make life easier?

She looked at the credit card she hadn't been using. It never occurred to her it had her name on it because it was hers. Shaun assumed it was one more way Jimmy took care of her. She didn't want to be taken care of, yet she did at the same time. She missed having her emotional needs met. For years, it felt like he loved her. Always back to him.

Monday morning, when she dropped Tansy at daycare, she cried like she did every day. At work, she heard Courtney bragging about a new restaurant they went to. Everything was the same as if her weekend hadn't happened, and she was still poor. The only hint of her company was that Tansy cried, "I want Dex."

Mid morning, her boss called her into his office. Oscar was always approachable and fair, so she didn't feel apprehensive with him the way some bosses made people feel. They had met over many details in the past.

He motioned for her to sit. "I know being back hasn't been easy for you. Your professionalism has no bounds." She smiled at his compliment. "Reena has accepted a position in Chicago. I would like you to apply for the curator position."

Shaun's heart soared. It was her dream job. "Really?"

"Yes, but you need to be sure."

"Be sure?"

"At the curator level you will be forced to work with all departments including PR."

"Oh." It was like he let go of a balloon and it sailed across the room, hissing until it fell limp.

"Think about it. I know you took the higher moral ground. It says a lot about who you are, but it can't be easy. It does come with a considerable raise."

Her heart lightened. She kept forgetting she had money. She just didn't know how much. If her life seemed complicated when she woke, it had multiplied tenfold.