Kristi and Megan walked to Plover Way with just Abbie in tow. She didn't want to think about what came next with the older kids - boyfriends and girlfriends, the dunes. They were still too young, she hoped.

Dan was already home. It was early for him, even on a Friday night. "Dan!" She called through her quiet house. She busied herself mixing the canned dog food into the dry kibble for Tucker's dinner.

He appeared a few minutes later wearing shorts with bare feet. He looked tired and strained. She watched as he went to the cupboard and pulled out the gin bottle.

"Do you want one?"

She shook her head. A gin and tonic was refreshing on a hot summer day, but it wasn't hot or summer enough. It required a day on the beach with sun kissed skin and sand stuck to her feet with the scent of sunscreen even after a shower.

"Bad day?"

He looked at her for a moment, not sure how to answer. "That's up for interpretation. Is Megan feeding the kids?"

"Yeah. How did you know?" Kristi felt the sour in her stomach, crawling up towards her throat.

"I asked her. I need to tell you something."

"What's wrong? I'm worried. I knew it. Patrick said I was crazy, but I know I was right. You have some floozy in New Jersey, don't you? Dont lie to me Daniel Probst!"

"My God, Woman calm down. Is that what you've been thinking? I wish you would talk to me and not Patrick."

"Why so you could lie to me?"

"I'm the one who should be jealous. I let you spend time with him. I trust my friend ninety-nine percent of the time, but that other percent." He shook his head. "I wonder."

"You just changed this from what you've done."

"I haven't done anything. If you let me talk, I'll explain."

"Fine." She needed a drink after all and poured herself a glass of wine from an open bottle in the fridge.

"Kris. I know you hated this project I've been on. I did too, but I also knew it was getting me recognized. In fact, it worked. They've offered me a promotion."

"What? Why did you freak me out? We should celebrate!"

He shook his head and she couldn't understand. "Kris, it's in the New Jersey office. They want me to transfer."

She was numb, dazed, and in shock. The glass slipped out of her hand and shattered on the floor. The crash snapped her out of it and she stepped back towards the sink and grabbed a towel.

"Kris, let me."

"No, you have bare feet! Grab Tucker!" She didn't want the glass to cut either of them.

"Babe, you do too." He said as he held the dog back from stepping into the mess.

She looked down at her legs, which had been splashed with wine. She had some mica flecks stuck to her skin from the sand. She felt a tear. She loved the beach and the sand. She loved The Point. Years ago, she and Dan had been excited about his transfer that brought them to Portland. They were tired of the crowds in Chicago and of the Midwest. They were young enough to want an adventure. When they found The Point, it felt like home immediately.

The Point was her life, her family. She couldn't take their kids away from their friends. Ben was ready to start high school. He had talked about going to Megan's school since he was little. Ivy was in middle school, which was a hard time for girls, but she had Sophie and Keira.

"Go clean yourself up. I'll get shoes and take care of this. Come on. Good boy!"

She stepped around the perimeter away from the glass and went upstairs. She didn't argue with him, although she knew he would never clean the floor right. It would be sticky for days. She sat on the closed lid of the toilet in her bathroom. It was a beautiful room. Alex knew how to do bathrooms. He was just a single guy starting out when they hired him to rebuild their house. She had watched him date the wrong woman and years later his wife gave birth to their second child. This was her family. She didn't want to think about Patrick. He still needed her. Even if he had Tessa, he needed a friend and Hannah did too.

Slowly she stood and stripped out of her clothes. The water was hot when she stepped into it. She felt the tears. She couldn't choose between The Point and Dan's career. He had worked so hard. His career meant everything. He measured his worth by his career. She had heard him tell people his title, and he always stood up taller.

But this was more than just a place to live, it was her family. She let the hot water run over her body. She didn't want to get out and face him. She thought of Megan, but Ben and Ivy were there. Patrick. She couldn't run to him. She had to face this with Dan together.

"Kris. Come on out. Please. We need to talk. I want to talk about it." His voice was filled with emotion. She could see his outline through the frost glass shower door. She turned off the water. He handed her a fluffy towel over the shower door. "Here. I'll let you dry off and get dressed."

She watched as his shape disappeared through the door into their bedroom. She loved her house, but she loved Dan. He worked hard to provide for them. Maybe she was being selfish.

When she emerged in her bathrobe, he was sitting on their bed. "Did you get the glass?" He nodded. "Where's Tucker?"

"I gated him in the mudroom."

He probably wasn't happy, but she often did it when she was washing the floor or had food out that she didn't want him to get.

"Kris, I didn't accept it. I was so shocked, I'm not even sure what I said."

"Do you want to?" She should get dressed. She felt exposed, which was ridiculous. They'd been together for almost seventeen years.

"I worked hard on that project. I gave up time with our family to travel back and forth to New Jersey. I hoped it would lead to a promotion. I could travel every week, some people do. I don't think that's what we want for our family. I'll come home some Friday to find you in bed with your best friend."

"I would never be in bed with Megan!"

"I meant Patrick."

"Dan, you know it's not like that for us. Besides, he's in bed with Tessa Simon."

"I know. I was never jealous of Peter or Alex even when they were available."

"I don't want to move. This is our home."

"I know, Kris." He sighed.

"What would happen if you said no?"

"I would probably never get another offer. The problem is all the advancements are in New Jersey. I should have noticed. I have watched people relocate over the years and never thought twice."

"Could you maybe work for a different bank or some place else?"

"I've been with the bank for twenty years. Portland isn't exactly a banking hub."

"We can live without a raise. I can stop spending and there is plenty we can go without."

"Kris, in four years we'll have college for Ben and Ivy is two years after him."

"We've been saving and there's that money from my grandmother."

"It's not easy. I'm halfway through my career. I have another twenty years or more ahead of me."

She paced during their entire discussion. "I'm going to put on clothes and take Tucker for his walk."

"Come here." She walked to the bed where he had been sitting. He wrapped his arms around her and drew her in. She leaned against his strength. He held her. Even when her robe opened, he didn't grope her. "Jeez Kris, I love you. No matter what we decide, we'll be okay."

"I know." She wasn't sure she believed the words she mumbled.

"I'll go with you on your walk. Only if you want."

A part of her wanted to be alone, but another feared she would run to Patrick. That was assuming he wasn't on a date. "Okay, but I don't want to talk about it anymore. Are you hungry?"

"Not very."

"We could go get sandwiches up the street. Lobster rolls maybe." She purposely suggested them to highlight what they would miss out on if they ever left The Point.

Tucker was excited when she grabbed the leash. Dan rarely walked with her, but normally she'd be thrilled that he was. Once they stepped out onto the street, she said, "I forgot to tell you. Jen had her baby, Noah."

"That's the best thing I heard all day."

Dan reached out and took her hand. Why did life have to be so hard?

When they looped around Sandpiper, it surprised Kristi to see Patrick home and mowing his lawn. He turned off his mower when he saw them.

"Hi, you two!" He waved.

"No, hot date?"

He shook his head. "Rehearsal for dance recital."

"You aren't going, are you?" He shook his head. She wasn't sure how she would react if he were. "Did you hear Jen had her baby?"

"No. Today?"

"Yup." She smiled. Any new member to The Point family was exciting. In fact, Tim and Amy, Patrick's other neighbors, were expecting a baby soon too. They were going to be busy since they already had the little girl they adopted last summer. "Your street is going to be full of babies."

"Why do you say that?" Patrick's tone was an overreaction to her comment.

She pointed to the Goodwin house and the Bassett house. "That's three."

"Oh, right. Enjoy your walk." He reached down and patted Tucker. "I have to finish this."

Kristi walked away, shaking her head. Dan said, "Whatever you're thinking, don't. We have enough to deal with without you concocting trouble."

"I'm not." Maybe she read too much into his response.