She slept well after playing mother all day. It made her feel sad because her chance of having a child was slim. Not impossible, but given her personal life highly unlikely. She hadn't worked a full day Saturday in a while but didn't mind, because she had helped Jack. He looked so lost; it was heart-wrenching. She could only imagine just how much he had loved his wife. Maddie had no one to love her so fiercely, obviously or she'd be married with a child or two.

She slept longer than she should have and was still eating breakfast when she was supposed to be outside meeting Jack. She heard a light rap at the door. Jack was standing on the porch.

"Sorry I'm slow this morning. Come on in. I need to get my shoes on."

She watched as Jack looked around. "Wow! It looks the same."

"Not the kitchen. We remodeled it recently." She pointed, and he walked into the kitchen.

Frowning he said, "Were you still eating your breakfast? Finish it, I'm not in a hurry."

"But the kids."

"Rory is perfectly fine watching Emma."

She sat back down but felt awkward with Jack watching her, although he had just eaten his dinner in front of her. She only had a few bites left of her egg white omelet.

"Let's go, slowpoke, what are you waiting for?"

He laughed. "I'll show you I'm no slowpoke."

Maddie liked the sound of Jack's laugh and wanted to get him to laugh more often. She wasn't sure why, but she needed to help heal the Harris family one step at a time.

Jack didn't take off as he threatened to. Instead, he kept pace with Maddie. Just as Peter had, he encouraged her to go a little further. As she slowed to walk home, he called back to her. "I'll see you at story time."

Maddie smiled because she'd be seeing Emma again and Jack too. Even better than she expected, both Jack and Peter arrived for story time. She saw Rory out of the corner of her eye go into the young adult stacks. Rory could keep herself busy through the entire twenty minutes which was as long as the small children could keep their attention. Both Emma and Abbie ran to her, and she hugged them. Emma wasn't happy to share her. "Mad Yee, Mad Yee."

Unable to resist, Maddie picked her up and kissed her. She handed her back to Jack right before it was time to begin. Saturdays differed from during the week when Jack was the only dad. About half the parents were dads and not all were as good at containing their child as Jack and Peter. When she was done, she found them talking in low voices.

Peter said, "I noticed the other one with the blue shirt."

Jack said, "So two of them!"

"Two what?" They both went mute. "Okay boys what were you gossiping about."

Jack said, "We were just noticing all the guys eyeing you."

"Me!"

"Yeah, since you've been running, you've been getting fit," Peter said. "You have some admirers."

"Stop teasing me." Maddie scolded them like they were children. She still had more weight to lose before she'd start turning heads, although more than a few dads were divorced.

Rory approached. "Hey Maddie, we used to have pizza and movie night on Saturdays, but Dad said we could get lobster rolls. Do you want to come over?"

Maddie looked from Rory to Jack. "You're always welcome Mads. Plus, I owe you big time for yesterday. That's if you're not mad at me."

It shocked Maddie as Jack Harris winked at her. Earlier, it thrilled her he laughed and now he winked and teased her. She smiled. "I'm still deciding how mad I am."

"Maddie," Rory begged.

"I'll come over for you, darling girl, but I'll eat at home first."

She watched as they left together.

Maddie was coming for movie night, and Rory was thrilled. In the car, she asked, "Dad, why is Maddie mad at you?"

"Oh kiddo, she isn't. She didn't like something that Peter and I told her, but she was teasing us."

"What did you say to her?"

"We noticed some other Dads liked her."

"Well duh, Dad! Maddie's great! Everyone likes her."

"We meant the other like," Jack said seriously.

"Oh like, date like?" Jack nodded. "But Maddie gave up dating!"

"I think she just said that, because of her old boyfriend. I'm not sure she means it."

"Adults are confusing." Rory sighed.

They ate lunch as soon as they returned home - turkey sandwiches and chips. Jack was getting Emma ready for her nap when there was a knock on the door. It was Cassie.

When Rory opened the door, Cassie asked, "Do you want to walk down to the beach? It's not that cold."

"Let me check." She walked to Emma's door. "Can I go to the beach with Cassie?"

"Sure, but Rore, wear your old sneakers and leave them by the door when you get home. A coat too, because of the wind."

Rory huffed because she wore sweatshirts more than coats even in the winter - no kids wore coats anymore. Cassie smiled and said, "I'm wearing a coat."

Rory fell in step with Cassie and the sun felt nice. They hadn't had a ton of sunny days since they arrived and somehow the sun made her feel happier. The girls talked about school and books. Cassie read adult books. Rory liked books written for her age or even younger. When they reached the beach, it surprised her to see others playing.

Sophie ran to her. "Hi Rory!"

"Hi, Sophie." When another little girl appeared beside her, Rory asked, "Who's your friend?"

"This is Ivy. She's my best friend. She lives across the street from me."

Megan called, "Hey Rory, come over."

The girls walked over and Megan introduced them to her friend, Ivy's mom. She needed a babysitter sometimes too.

As the girls walked away, Cassie asked, "Do you like to babysit?"

Rory said she did especially since she had loads of experience with babies because of her sister. They walk down the beach to the most amazing house with huge glass windows facing the beach. Rory wished they could live in a big house like that.

Cassie said, "That's Megan's parents' house."

Rory imagined what it looked like inside.

When they walked back to the others, Cassie sighed pleasantly. "There's Cole."

The two brothers tossing the football. Cassie sat on the sand to watch them. Rory scrutinized them and decided that although they looked very different they were both attractive, but they were still high school boys. The boys had tormented her at her school. More people made their way to the beach. Peter came with Abbie probably after her nap, and before long he had joined the boys with the football.

"Have you always lived here?" Rory asked.

"No, we moved from New Jersey in seventh grade. My Dad likes living by the beach, but my Mom hates it. It doesn't matter, neither are ever home. They work a lot."

"Never?" Rory was thinking of her Mom who loved where they lived when she didn't.

"My Mom is home today, but she's at her computer. My Dad went to work. He's trying to get a promotion."

Cassie had her own reasons to feel sad. She always assumed everyone else's life was perfect. The boys finished their game and walked past them.

Cassie called out, "Bye Cole."

Rory noticed that Sam was smirking as he made eye contact as if to say, I know she likes him.

The girls walked down the beach in the other direction and ended up at the River. If Rory thought the house with the windows was impressive, the house by the river was even more so. It was big and beautiful.

"Wow! Who lives there?" she asked.

"I dunno. Some rich summer people."

Rory saw the difference in the residents. People like Cassie lived in a house a little bigger than a cottage like hers and worked hard. The rich people who lived in mansions for the summer were richer than the snobs in her old neighborhood.

When they walked back Jack was on the beach with Emma. "Hey kiddo how was your walk?"

"It was good. Dad, there's this house at the end that is huge and beautiful!"

"Last I knew there were some tiny cottages down there."

Jen who was standing nearby said, "Someone ruined my beach by building that monstrosity."

"Listen, the profits from that talented build went directly into your house." Alex teased. "And besides..." He whispered in her ear.

Megan laughed and Jack said, "I assume Alex built the house."

"Yup. Let's say lots of sparks flew over that house."

Alex changing the subject. "Jack should come to play on Friday night."

Peter said, "My monthly poker game."

"Maybe."

Jack was probably afraid to have fun and Rory said, "Go. I can be with Emma."

"Then it's set," Peter said.

Having Rory out with a friend gave him a happy jolt. Every once in a while he felt signs that everything would be okay. Could they be messages from Nicole? He negated his good feelings when he thought that way. He worked while Emma napped. When she woke, he bundled her for the beach.

Rory wasn't there, but his friends were. Megan saw him looking around. "The girls went walking that way. She's fine, happy. I've had an eye on her."

Jack gave her a look that said, thank you. Then he asked her about daycare. They spoke a while, and Jen and Alex joined them. The conversations were natural and easy and he felt happy again to have friends. He didn't realize how isolated he'd been until he wasn't.

Envisioning himself working more, excited him, so he planned to call the daycare on Monday. Excitement and happiness were both so foreign. They were long-lost friends that had come to visit. He was no different from Rory because every time he felt good some guilt came with it - guilt because his wife was gone and he was happy even if only for a moment.

Rory returned from her walk and was happy too. Again he felt thankful. He didn't know a change of location could make a difference in their life. He wanted to find a house on The Point more than ever as he watched his daughters run in circles together on the sand. He took a video on his phone and sent it to the grandparents. Then he sent it to Maddie. If she wasn't working, she'd be with their mutual friends.

Thinking of Maddie, they would need to go home soon and get ready for movie night. Normally he would buy junk food, but he owed it to Maddie to serve fruit. Being lazy, he would pay Rick's prices for convenience. He walked with Rory past Cassie's house. She lived across the street from Jen because everyone lived near someone.

Walking into The Landing, Rick greeted them. He ordered two lobster rolls. He had food at home for Emma. Then he picked up a prepackaged fruit bowl and a bottle of wine to offer to their guest. Pulling out his credit card, Rick asked if he wanted to clear up his account.

"Account?" He looked at Rory.

"I've been getting hot cocoa in the mornings," she said sheepishly.

She never did anything without telling him. Once outside he said, "Hey kiddo, I'm not mad, but I think we need some rules. First, you don't need hot chocolate every day and second, you need to ask me before you charge."

"I know. I'm sorry. Am I in trouble?"

"Rore, you haven't been in trouble in years." Neither said anything, but they both knew just how many years it had been.

The last thing Jack wanted to do was to discipline Rory when she was finally acting like a kid. Maybe someday she'd get into real trouble if he was too lax, but she had a good head on her shoulders. Maddie appeared a few minutes after they'd finished eating. Rory put Maddie in charge of the movie. She had a pile of DVDs from the library. Most were old classics. They watched Never Been Kissed. I worried Jack he might be embarrassed to watch with Rory, but it was fine. Rory sat between them and occasionally Maddie and Jack would make eye contact during humorous scenes. It felt good to not be the only adult.

On Sunday, the visit to Pam and Bill's went well, even though the drive was longer. Pam pulled him aside. "I wasn't happy about this move, but both you and Rory look better... happier even."

"I think we are. Rory has made friends. Even I have friends. I'm going to play poker on Friday night, believe it or not."

"That's good. You've been alone too much. Rory can't stop talking about this Maddie."

"She's a librarian. Need I say more." Jack laughed.

"And what do you think of her?"

"I think she's a good friend even when we were kids and she's been very helpful."

"Jack, remember you won't be alone forever."

"Jeez, a month ago I barely showered. Just because we can get one foot forward doesn't mean I'm ready to... I'm not sure I'll ever be ready. Frankly, I'm surprised you're encouraging it," Jack said confused.

"I'm sorry, dear. I didn't mean to upset you, but I want to see you happy and Emma needs a mother. Rory had one, but the baby."

Jack didn't respond while she wasn't wrong about Emma, he would never marry without love. He couldn't imagine falling in love, because he loved Nicole too much. Someday he may be ready to be a man, but even those parts of him had been dead for a long time. Truthfully he didn't even wake up as he had before.