My eyes fix on him as I drift away from my bewildered family pulled by the human magnet climbing out of his Jeep. I hear a vague cry of "Mother!" but ignore it in favor of basking in the sunshine of the smile which fills my dreams at night.

"I didn't tell you what time I was picking up Mia. How did you figure it out?" Standing only a few feet away, Griff turns towards me his eyebrows rising towards his brow and several seconds pass before a hesitant smile pulls at the corners of his mouth.

"Libby, hey there. I'm here on business picking up a client — more like a friend of a friend that I'm helping out." He runs his hands through his tangled hair. Within seconds, an awkwardness develops between us.

I gesture over to my crew, turning away quickly to blink away the hot tears taking shape in my eyes. Looking to cover the evidence of my humiliation, I pull my sunglasses down from the top of my head.

"I have an unexpected guest and not enough room in the Prius for everyone, the luggage..." My voice comes out higher and more brittle-sounding than usual  before it fades away. 

As I turn to walk back the way I came, Griff's warm, callused fingers gently touch my forearm. "Libby, I can help you if you can wait long enough for me to locate my client."

Looking over my shoulder, I nod and manage a small smile.

"Give me a few minutes, okay?" Griff hustles across the street and into the terminal.

I plaster a broad smile on my face as I step towards my kids. The group is a contrast of emotions — Mia vibrates with happiness while Carrie's narrowed eyes match the thin line of her lips, and Nate's face could be the template for the bewildered emoji with his wide eyes and slack jaw.

"I solicited some help with the luggage." I force a happy enthusiasm into my words hoping my daughter's eagle eyes don't pick up on my false mood.

"Who's the beach bum?"

"Carrie! That is downright rude." Who is this judgmental woman? Not my little girl. I can only wonder what had soured my sweet girl on life, on others, and on me.

"You didn't answer the question." She folds her arms across her chest and tapping the fingers of one hand against her upper arm.

"And you look just like your father right now. Griff is a friend who is doing us a huge favor; unless one of you would like to sit here with the luggage while I transport Mia and the other sibling to my home and return here in forty minutes or so." It's beneath me to compare Carrie to her dad. I regret my words as soon as they pass over my tongue.

"Well, here comes your friend with some blonde woman. Is that his wife?" Nate questions as he shoots Carrie a look when she opens her mouth to speak. Carrie, ever sensitive to her brother's opinions, doesn't respond but focuses on Griff and his client as they cross the street.

Griff pulls a large suitcase as the woman moves with caution a hand resting protectively on her rounded belly. I grab Carrie's bags before she can protest and head back to his parking place. The blonde eyes me with caution but Griff says something I can't hear, and her face softens with her smile.

"Is that all? I have room for the dog crate if I break it down," Griff asks as he hefts the bags into his SUV.

"That would be great if you could."

"Sure, sweetheart, no problem. Let me introduce you to my guest. Libby Crenshaw, I'd like you to meet Clare Moran."

I extended my hand to grasp Clare's hand. I was surprised at the strength in her grip. Her bright blue eyes shine with friendliness.

"Nice to meet you, Libby. Griff has been an absolute lifesaver letting me hang out at his home. I hope I see you again sometime. It'd be nice to have another female around."

"Nice to meet you as well. I guess I will need to get my guests out of the sun and back home. Griff, will you have time to drop the bags off now or will you come over later?" I don't know what to think. Griff introduced her as a client but then referred to her as a guest. What is she to him? For that matter, what am I to him?

With his head tilted to one side, Griff studies me, steps closer, and places his hands on my shoulders. Raising my eyes to meet his gaze, I wait uncertain of what action he may take. He won't kiss me in front of my kids or a stranger, will he? He chuckles and brushes his index finger down my nose. The man can read me like a book.

"I will get Clare settled first; otherwise her husband will make my life miserable, and she's had a long journey. I will be over as soon as I can. I want to meet your kids." With those words, he releases his hold on me and proceeds to assist Clare into the Jeep.

I need to move and not stand here like an idiot, but facing my kids isn't on my list of favorite things of late. Brave soldier that I am, I hustle back to my car. Nate has already dismantled the crate, so I grab it and walk back towards the Jeep. Griff meets me halfway.

"Libs, you have nothing to worry about regarding Clare. You understand that, right?"

I swallow hard working to fight back the insecurities. "Sure. If you say so."

"I say so, and if I were certain I wouldn't embarrass you in front of your children, I'd show you. Right here, right now," he answers in a low rasp that produces goosebumps up and down my arms.

As I retreat, I hear his deep laughter. I want so much to believe in him, but I'd learned a lesson about infidelity and how blind I can be when I care for someone.

As the distance shortens between my family and me, I straighten my spine. Don't let them see you emotional. Buck up, woman. Pull yourself together, for God's sake.

Carrie leans back against the car with her head cocked to one side. I shoot her a big smile as I clap my hands together and say, "Let's get a-going!"

I crank the air conditioner in the hopes it might help before giving up and opening the windows so Mia can hang her head out the back. Nate -- ever the gentleman -- gives Carrie the front seat as he crushes his large frame into the rear seat with Mia. An occasional flutter of air stirs my hair as Carrie fans herself with some paperwork from her purse. She thwarts her efforts with the warm breaths from her repetitive sighs. Suddenly, a three-day visit stretches out like a life sentence.

Chastising myself, I turn on the radio to some peppy Latin music thinking it will lighten the mood.

"Could you turn the music off? I've got a terrible headache." I glance over at her as she closes her eyes and puts the back of her hand against her forehead. When I glance at the rearview mirror, Nate's reflection shows him looking out the window gazing at the scenery. I turn the radio off. The twenty minutes drags on until I take the turn to my condo.

The crash of the waves can be heard over the electric vehicle's quiet engine. Mia whines in anticipation. I almost join her. As soon as I pull into my assigned space next to the building and park, I'm out of the torture chamber on wheels. Poor Mia has my attention first. I grasp her leash as I open her door. She jumps to the ground sniffing the ground as she investigates.

Nate pulls the bags from the back before Carrie manages to extricate herself from the front seat.

"Wow, Mom, you live right on the beach! This is great!" Nate's praise is much appreciated. "It's everything you said over the phone."

"Let's get inside, and then we can spend some time on the beach if you want?" I lead them up the stairs to my little home. I'm anxious about showing them where I live, and I don't know why I care. I guess I'm still worried about making a good impression instead of being content with my own happiness.

While climbing the tile steps, I point out some of the features of the building including the pool area and laundry room. As I open the front door to my apartment, my arm extends in a sweeping motion, and I want to bend at the waist in a subservient bow to usher them in but refrain from the impulsive action.

Nate makes his way over to the sliding glass doors leading to the patio. "This is great, Mom." He opens them and lets the soothing sound of the waves flow through the room.

When I look over at my daughter, I observe her nose is wrinkled up as if she smells something nasty. She looks weary and older than she should. I wonder if her life isn't exactly what she wants. Is she feeling the toll of working in the frantic New York City business community.

Approaching her, I place my arm around her waist. She stiffens and then relaxes. "Let me show you the guest room and the bathroom. You're probably exhausted after the long flight and can get freshened up. Take a nap if you feel like it. You are on island time now, so relax and enjoy."

She nods but says nothing, following me down the short hallway. Once I have her situated, I head to the patio. With his forearms braced on the patio wall, Nate gazes out over the Atlantic Ocean.

"It's beautiful, isn't it."

"Yeah, it is." He turns to face me. "Are you really planning on staying here?"

"For now. I don't want to be limited in my options. It's partly why I'm still renting a car, but I think I'll buy something used and cheap."

"I'll help you if you want to look for something while I'm here." 

"You aren't here for long, and I have some friends here who will help if I need it." I gloss over the reference to Griff.

"That guy at the airport?" Nate looked me in the eye.

"He's been a big help. He's also teaching me to surf." My response produces some laughter.

"Wow, Mom! Talk about pushing your limits. Good for you." He chuckles, adding, "Just don't tell that to Carrie. She thinks you need to be placed in a box surrounded with bubble wrap to keep you secure."

I shrug. "She shouldn't worry—"

"Mom, Carrie is afraid she'll lose you, too. We weren't prepared for Dad's death. Not at such a young age, anyway." His tone sounds harsh, but I know it's his way to avoid the emotions he's feeling.

I place my hand over his hand as it rests on concrete wall and smile up at him. "I understand, sweetheart, I do. I know it's been a difficult year for all of us. I need to get past it because it would be too easy to fall back into the empty void that I'd lived in for over a year."

Nate wraps his arms around me pulling me in for a bear hug. I relish the closeness of having him near, but when the doorbell buzzes, I step back wiping away the tears from my face.

"That should be Griff with Mia's kennel."