Josh considered himself a cheerful guy, but he had never been happier than he was for the past week. Even juggling the holidays wasn't a chore. Being with Shaun and Tansy felt like perfection.

When Shaun called him after she quit, he knew he won the biggest bet of his life. The wager wasn't money, but his future happiness. He bet she'd find her way. He might have helped with his admission to Tansy. Why was it easier to tell the little girl he loved her and wanted her to move back? Maybe because loving a child was less scary. He may not have said the words yet, but he loved Shaun. He had to remind himself to slow down.

She had barely settled into Dover, and he had dreams of a family home. He wanted to talk about school districts and private schools, but he wasn't Tansy's father. The douche's goodbye surprised him. Shaun needed to hear Eliot had loved her. Josh hoped hearing that he loved her would mean more. New Year's Eve was the perfect night to say the words he had been feeling for longer than he realized.

He hadn't understood why Oliver moved so fast with Emma. In their twenties, they dated slowly and leisurely. His relationship with Ann started the same, but lacked forward progress. The last thing he wanted was to move slowly. He wanted to come to terms and close the deal. Even with Denny sniffing around, he didn't think his plan would fall through. He didn't want to wait to reap the benefits, and he didn't mean sex, although he hoped they'd ring in more than the New Year. He no longer wanted to wait to be a family. A family of three and later four or five. Those were the details yet to be decided.

He thought like a nerdy lawyer. How did he win, Shaun? He smiled because his beautiful redhead was a nerd, too. She had broken out of her chrysalis. Her months alone in Seattle were important for his butterfly to learn she didn't belong in hiding. She needed to fly solo before she was ready to join the flock. Their flock was supportive and required their first compromise. They would start the night at the party he was invited to and end the night at the Sinclair party hosted by Jimmy's parents.

Josh took one last look in the mirror. His tie was straight. There wasn't any toothpaste on his mouth. He scanned his room. No socks. He hadn't reserved a car in time, so he had to drive. Instead of driving back to Dover, Shaun offered to stay with him. She had never been to his condo. She could have stayed at her uncle's, but Josh took it as a good sign she hadn't wanted to.

He no longer knocked and Tansy heard him first. She always jumped in his arms, but Stella stopped her.

"You're sticky. You'll see Dex tomorrow."

After brunch at the Sumners, they were planning to ride and swim. He had to work on the second, but Shaun was still figuring out her next steps. That was another reason he felt an urgency. He wanted to factor into her plans.

"We'll swim. Okay, Peanut?"

She smiled, but Josh hadn't noticed. Shaun appeared like a vision in a dark blue gown matching her eyes. She hadn't worn black.

"Wow!" He sounded like a prom date.

She smiled. "Tansy, I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Bye."

She didn't look up from the cookie dough. Shaun frowned. In the mudroom, Josh helped her with her coat and grabbed the bag, packed and waiting. It was official; she was spending the night.

Her frown erased his smile. "What's wrong?"

Shaun sighed. "She didn't care I was leaving."

"She knows you'll be back."

"She cried every day when I left her at daycare."

"That's because she knew she didn't belong there. She belongs in Dover."

"Some days, she cried for you."

He squeezed her hand as he helped her into the car. "That's the past. It's the start of a new year."

"Tell me about this party."

"It's at the Petersen's. Bea Petersen is colorful and fun. I'm invited because of Alicia Sumner. She's close to the women."

"Women?"

"Bea's friends. Calhoun, Hayes, Whitby."

"Can we go back straight to my uncle's? Those were the popular kids in high school."

"They are nice adults. Most are married with kids."

"High school sweethearts."

He shook his head. "Most married people who didn't grow up wealthy. They are all very nice. Don't worry, Emma will be there."

Shaun relaxed when she realized no one recognized her. They danced and sipped champagne. She had a conversation about schools with Tori, JJ's old flame. Shaun had attended the same school Tori taught at, but Josh had not.

"You should come visit. There's a pre K program. Maybe there is space for one more. You are alumni."

Behind Tori, Jonathan Hayes looked perplexed. "Alumni? Shaun? How did I not recognize you? You were one of the prettiest girls in our class. All the guys were afraid of the smart girls."

Tori laughed. "Not all. My sister. I was two years behind you."

Josh said, "I was two years ahead, but it's all relative now."

"Be sure to call the school. You won't regret it."

On the drive to Jimmy's, Josh asked what she thought about the school.

"I'll talk to my mother. None of them were like I expected. They were all so nice."

"Sweetheart, they were nice back then. Believe me, kids are afraid of shy girls. I was, and I talked to you every day."

"I was afraid of you. It's just as well. We never would have lasted. If Monty and Sloane didn't, no one could."

Josh laughed. He knew secrets no one knew he knew, but they weren't about his story which started and ended with Shaun.

The party at the Sinclair home was more sophisticated than the Petersen's. The scotch was good, but Josh needed to stay sober. Jimmy had given him a bottle for Christmas, and he was saving it. Jimmy was in the corner talking to a man his age who mirrored him in wealth.

When Josh asked if she knew who he was, Shaun responded like it was no big deal. "That's his old friend, Baxter Kane."

Josh's eyes popped out of his head. "Kane. The family who owns half the real estate in Boston? You were afraid of my friends and you know a Kane?"

"Not well, but yes."

Kane left and Jimmy greeted them. They toasted the New Year early. "This crowd is too old for me. I'm going to party hop. You two should ring in the New Year alone." He grabbed a bottle of champagne and handed it to Josh.

From the time Josh met Jimmy, he felt him pushing his shoulder towards Shaun. Josh didn't need the shove. On the short ride to the waterfront, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Just say the word and I'll sleep on the couch."

"Do you want to?"

"No. I want to sleep with you. I hope..."

"Good. Me too."

She put her hand on his thigh, and he breathed again.

Shaun had been married but hadn't been with a man in almost a year. When she confided in him she had only been with Eliot, he wanted to be better than the douche in every way. Two willing participants made the seduction easy. She was not shy, which surprised him most. They fit together like they belonged. She felt like his home. They should have been asleep, but he was content holding her.

"Shaun, remember we talked about what our goals are?" She nodded. "I think they will work well together. I'll give you my love, and you can give me a family."

She looked up at him. "Your love?"

"Yes, I love you and have for a while. You and Tansy, both."

Her eyes were moist. "I love you too, and trust you not to hurt me."

"Never. Hurting you would be like hurting myself."

Shaun yawned. Josh kissed her forehead. "Tomorrow, we can plan our future." He thought of Oliver and his direct approach. "I plan to marry you."

Shaun hugged him and buried her head in his chest. He smiled.