The weeks following Josh's trip brought little change. He felt less guilt, but still hadn't kissed her - thanks to Jimmy. When he called, Shaun spoke to him, but gave him no indication of her plans. She wouldn't even commit to Thanksgiving.

One day, he was returning from a meeting and admittedly wasn't in a good mood. He stopped as Lillian ran past him into the public relations bathroom. Annoyed, he went by Kendall's office and overheard her yelling from her desk.

"Lillian, get me Fortier on the phone."

He promised to protect Ann from the dragon lady but didn't know how to intervene without making it worse. He could call Ann, but it suddenly felt awkward. Yes, I broke up with you for a future, and mine looks lonely and bleak.

Oliver popped his head in at the end of the day. "You are alive. Rumor has it you died here from working too much."

"Never, say never."

"Emma won't take no for an answer. I'm ordered to drive you to our house for brinner."

"Who's cooking?" Brinner was breakfast for dinner. In other words, waffles. Josh loved Sumner waffles.

"Me. No disasters."

Josh smiled. "You wanna bet."

"Yeah, twenty says my lovely wife won't spill, trip, or cause any mishaps."

Josh laughed. "You're on." Twenty meant Oliver wasn't overly confident.

"Great. Finish up, we're leaving at five." He raised his voice. "Did you hear that Joyce?"

"I heard every word. Oliver, you're like an angel from above. The man's going to cause me to retire."

"Hey, I've never made you cry in the PR restroom."

"That poor girl should quit, but she's tough."

Oliver waved and disappeared. Josh went back to work until his friend dragged him away.

Emma embraced him first. "Hi, Em. What's the big deal?"

She poked his chest. "You've been avoiding us."

He wanted to protest, but it was true. He had felt unsure since his return. November was half over, with no news about a visit from Shaun, who had said she'd come home for Thanksgiving.

While Oliver changed his clothes to get started in the kitchen. Josh sat with Emma and watched Daphne crawl around the room.

Emma looked at him with sad eyes. "What happened? Did she break your heart?"

"No. I ended it with her. How would it work if you didn't like her?"

"Not like her? Not Ann. Shaun?"

Josh sighed. "Oh."

"You do like her, don't you?"

"Yes, but she's not here. We haven't even dated, so how do I know how much I like her?"

"I liked Oliver after one kiss." Josh shook his head. "You haven't kissed her. Go to Seattle and kiss her."

"I don't know, if..."

"Nonsense, I bet one kiss and she'll be head over heels."

"Are you betting?"

"I'm betting on you to win her."

"How?" Maybe he needed a woman's perspective.

"By being you. You're sweet and funny."

Josh rolled his eyes. "JJ doesn't think so."

"Ignore him. He's in his own world with Violet."

Josh sighed. "See, the auction worked for him."

Daphne crawled over to him and pulled up, using his knee. "She can stand. Amazing! Tansy wanted me to help pick out her clothes. I didn't even feel weird in her room."

Emma laughed. "Why would you? You love her. Do you love her mother?"

"A biology question would be easier."

Emma smirked. "How about chemistry? Do you and Shaun have it?"

"Physics? E=mc²."

"Come on, Daph, let's feed Uncle Joshy. He's a lost cause."

Josh chased after her. "Lost cause?"

Oliver put a golden waffle on a plate. "Lost cause? What's a lost cause?"

"Dex, he doesn't know if he's in love."

"Em, not all guys are as sure as me."

"I think he should go see her again."

Oliver looked from his wife to Dex. "I bet we'll be missing Dex on Christmas Eve."

"I bet he needs to go get her."

Dex put his hands up. "I bet on Shaun. I want her to be happy."

"She'll be happy with you. I need her number."

Josh shook his head. "You'll scare her."

"Me! I'm not scary. Oops." Emma's hand gesture knocked over her glass.

Oliver jumped up for a towel. "It was an accident."

Josh thought an accident or not it happened, so Oliver needed to open his wallet.

Later, Oliver insisted on driving him home. His friend didn't baulk at paying up, but Josh was smart enough not to ask him in front of Emma. She was his friend, and he voted against her.

"I keep wondering if I made a mistake. Maybe Ann is as good as it gets for me."

"Don't say that. Even if it's not Shaun, there is a woman out there who will value you above everything."

Without thinking, he said, "Shaun wouldn't. Tansy comes first."

Oliver laughed. "That's a no brainer. Daphne's needs come before mine, but I wouldn't respect Emma if they didn't. We're in it together with Daphne. You and Shaun would be the same with Tansy. You already love the kid. That surprised me but didn't at the same time."

"She took to me immediately. I felt a need to protect her, both of them on my first visit."

"What's keeping her in Seattle? The kid's father?"

Josh hadn't told Oliver the truth. It was Shaun's secret. "He plays a part, but it's her job and her pride."

Oliver nodded. "This is nothing compared to her situation, but when I had to move home for my renovations, it felt like a step backwards. Does she have to live at her mother's?"

Josh shrugged. "You couldn't pay me to live at home."

Even during his summers while in college, he lived in Newport. After that, he had a cheap apartment for law school. Except for the betrayal, Shaun had seemed happier in Dover with her mother and horses. Tansy had been much happier.

He stayed up late to call Shaun. He probably wouldn't have slept if he'd gone to bed at ten-thirty.

She answered, "Dex, what's wrong?"

"Wrong?" Everything. "Nothing. I called to say hello."

"It's late."

"I went to dinner at Oliver's."

"Oh, that's nice."

"What about you? Are you still having dinner with Easton?" Why had he asked?

"Occasionally."

"Has Jimmy come to visit?"

"Don't you see him?"

Josh admitted. "No, we both work too much."

"Join the club. I work most nights after Tansy's in bed."

Josh paced in circles. "How's my bff?"

Shaun laughed. "She's okay. I don't see her enough."

He couldn't dance around it any longer. "Are you happy?"

"Happy? I like my job, except..."

"Douchette."

"Yes. She's hinting about a pending engagement. I feel like I should warn her."

"I say she gets what she deserves."

Shaun snorted. "What do I deserve?"

"You deserve to be happy. To be loved."

"I don't know how."

He could hear her tears. "Come home for Thanksgiving and we'll talk about it."

"My mother..."

"Your mother misses you. She loves you. I know, if she could travel easily, she would visit you. I can visit again."

"No, it's fine. It's almost Thanksgiving."

"You should find a barn and go for a ride."

"I don't have time. Plus, I don't like to leave Tansy."

"Book her a lesson at the same time."

"Maybe."

He hoped Tansy would beg for Lady and Dex. The little girl might convince her mother to come home. He yawned.

"You should go to sleep. It's late."

"I know. This time difference is hard on a friendship. Shaun, I miss you too."

Her voice was faint. "Bye, Dex."

He eventually put down his phone and stood up. It was time to toss and turn.

Are you ready to back to The Point? Recommended reading Christmas Lost & Found and Shadows in the Dark.