What was Maddie thinking? The last thing she wanted was for Jack to go pick up some woman. What possessed her to tell Jack to get laid? She didn't want him with anyone else. She almost told him it wasn't fair to her heart, if he used her to get over Nicole. She said too much and was embarrassed. They had both said things, and some gave her hope, but others made her more confused. Suddenly they were walking on eggshells and they were getting closer to Emma's birthday and the anniversary to Nicole's death. She couldn't imagine marking both events on the same day. It was heartbreaking and worse because Jack was isolating himself.

It didn't surprise her when Jack never showed up to run on Emma's birthday.

Peter asked, "No Jack?"

"It's Emma's birthday."

"Oh." Peter understood the significance of the day. After a pause, he said, "I thought I've suffered, but not like Jack."

Peter cared about Jack, but he was also a man who knew loss. Luckily for him, he found his happiness. Maddie wondered if Jack would find his and what it would mean for her heart.

Jack and the girls were spending the day with both his and Nicole's parents. She was glad all the people, who loved Nicole and Emma, would be together. It was also the one place she didn't belong. After work, she left Emma's present on Jack's doorstep, knowing they were at the Harris' new condo. She included a note for Jack that read, Thinking of you today. I'm always here for you if you need to talk. She signed it simply, M.

She waited for him to contact her, but he didn't. The next morning it was raining, so she didn't see him and she didn't contact him either. It hurt her he didn't respond to her note. If he wanted space, she'd give it to him.

"It's my sister's birthday tomorrow and I hate it."

Rory and Sam were alone on the beach. Rory sat with her head on his shoulder, and he had his arm around her.

Rory paused. "She's two. Sometimes I feel like she's been gone forever and other times it feels like it just happened."

"I know exactly what you mean," Sam whispered.

Sam turned and kissed her. It was soft and comforting, but Rory's cheeks were wet. When they pulled away, she saw he had tears in his eyes too.

"Are those for your mother?"

Sam didn't answer right away and when he did, he whispered, "A little, but mostly for you. I wish you weren't sad."

"I haven't been as much. At first, it was because of Maddie, but now it's because of you."

"I'm glad. Are you still worried your Dad is mad at Maddie?"

"I don't know. They still run, but Maddie hasn't been over."

"Your dad is probably just sad because of your mom."

"Yeah, he was doing so much better. Are you sorry your Dad got married?"

"Sometimes, because I don't feel like he misses her the same anymore."

"Isn't that good?"

"Yes, but I feel like it is my job to miss her and it makes me feel alone. Until I met you. Now I'm not alone."

It was the nicest thing Rory had heard. She was too young to love Sam, but she did anyway and planned to keep it a secret. Instead, she showed him how much she cared by kissing him. Normally, he always kissed her, but this time she initiated it and Sam liked it.

Jack woke on Emma's birthday in a mood that reminded her of how she felt on her birthday. Mimi and Pop were coming, and Gran insisted they stay at the new condo. Jack was happy to let Gran take care of the party especially with only bean bags and beach chairs in their living room. Jack didn't run, but he never missed his run except in bad weather. It was a weekday so he would have run early with Maddie and Peter.

"Dad, we should invite Maddie to come for Emma's birthday."

"Not a good idea, kiddo. Today will be worse than your birthday, and that was uncomfortable for Maddie. Today is about mommy and Maddie didn't know her."

Jack's face was sadder than it had been since before they moved..

The day started out alright, everyone was glad to see each other. Gran had a nice lunch. Jack talked about his plans for the house. Gran tried to convince Mimi and Pop they should move to Maine.

"What about our jobs?" Mimi asked.

"There are plenty of jobs here and Jack could help you out," Gran said.

"Absolutely," Jack answered.

"We told Jack that we didn't want his money," Pop said.

"Eventually, there will be the settlement from the accident. You can have that. I don't want it," Jack said angrily.

Rory didn't understand it, but the drunk guy's insurance had to pay money for what he did. There was a lawyer who Jack talked to occasionally. She didn't know why he had a lawyer, if he didn't want the money.

"Why do you have a lawyer then?" Rory asked.

Jack answered harshly, "Principle."

Pop said, "Jack use the money for the girls' college."

"I have money for their college. It would make me happy if you didn't have to work so hard. You could see the girls more. I know I took them away, but Rory's happy here. I'm happier, mostly, not today, but happier than I was in that huge house in that awful town."

"Darling, it's okay. You don't have to be happy today," Gran said.

Rory wanted Sam or Maddie, someone who understood her, but didn't also miss her mom.

Mimi said calmly, "Moving would be a big decision. We could certainly consider it."

The conversation turned to Rory. Mimi asked, "Who are your friends?"

"Cassie. She lives one street over."

"Just one friend?" Pop asked.

"What about the boys?" Gran asked.

"There are Cole and Sam. They're on our bus and Cassie is good friends with one of them."

"Good friends? Is that what you call it these days?" Gran said.

"What?" Jack asked, sharply.

"I think you'd say they're dating from what I heard."

Rory felt her stomach tighten. Her Gran had only been back a week, and she didn't even officially live on The Point anymore. How did she know about Cassie and Cole? Worse was Jack's response. She needed to keep Sam a secret.

"Dating! They're fifteen!" Jack stood up and paced.

"Jack, have you forgotten? You had friends who were dating at that age," Gran said.

"Who Maddie and Megan's brother?" Rory asked.

"They were an item for two or three years and it didn't stop Jack from running around all summer with them. I remember when it nearly ruined Judy and Marie's friendship," Gran said.

Gramps added, "It worked out okay. Ed and Todd are always on the golf course together."

"Dad, that was twenty years ago," Jack said.

"Is this your librarian?" Mimi asked.

"Yes, Maddie's our friend right, dad?" Rory asked, hoping he'd agree.

"Right, kiddo. She is." When he answered, Rory felt better.

After lunch, Jack took Emma home for a nap. Gran suggested a walk on the beach, but only Mimi wanted to go. Gramps wanted to read and Pop mentioned a nap. Gran parked at the house and Mimi commented on how small it was.

"It won't be by Christmas," Rory said.

It would be bigger than Megan's because Jack wanted an office and a room for guests.

Once they were walking, Mimi asked, "Is Jack alright? He had been doing better."

"He was, but the past week or so... Maybe it's today. I was miserable on my birthday. Now it's his turn, I guess."

Rory knew that some of it had to do with Maddie, but she didn't know why.

"Tomorrow's a new day and he'll be enjoying his summer in no time," Gran said.

They ran into Megan with her kids on the beach. Sophie ran to Rory and Gran talked for a few minutes before they moved on. Gran stopped to talk to a few other beachgoers.

Rory said to Mimi, "See everyone knows everyone."

"Do you know all these people too?" Mimi asked.

"Not all, but I feel like they all know me. Over there is Maddie's mom and there's our next-door neighbor and..."

"Are your friends here?" Mimi asked.

Rory looked around. Way down on the edge of the crowd she thought she saw them. "They're way over there."

"Should we say hello?" Mimi asked.

"If you want." Her voice trailed off.

When Gran was done talking Rory led the women over to where Cassie and Cole were laying on towels.

"Hi guys," she said.

"Hey Rory," Cassie said.

Rory added, "These are my grandmothers."

Both kids waved and Cole said, "Sam's in the water with the brat."

Rory nodded and Sam waved at her. She could tell he was having fun with his stepsister, Keira. Not wanting to cause attention, she waved and walked away.

Gran said, "The other boy is a nice young man. It's a blended family." Then she whispered to Mimi, "He lost his mother."

"Oh, that's who Rory should be friends with."

Rory didn't say anything, but she was feeling guilty.

After the walk, Mimi stayed at the house with Jack, while Rory went back with Gran. She knew he and Mimi would talk about mom.

Gran asked, "When did he start acting like this? I didn't notice it last week."

"I came home from babysitting and he was in a bad mood and it hasn't gone away. It's weird because I think he and Maddie argued, they still run, but she hasn't come over all week."

"It could be the anniversary and Maddie may want to let him grieve," Gran said.

"That would be my fault, because I was miserable on my birthday and poor Maddie sat through it."

"How good of friends are they?"

"Not good enough." Rory sighed.

"Is that what you want?"

"I love Maddie."

"She is a special girl. A long time ago, I knew someone who had a crush on her." Gran smiled.

"Really?" Rory smiled back. Maybe he'd remember, and Rory would get her wish.

Emma, who did not understand her birthday was a horrible day, was happy to be the center of attention. She ate cake and opened presents and enjoyed her four grandparents. Everyone in the room tried to forget why she was born that day, but it was hard to do. Rory could tell Jack and Mimi had been crying, but was glad they did what they had to in private. She cried enough without having to see them cry too.

Eventually, they left to go home. Going from the new condo to their old cottage was a huge difference. Rory really wanted to go meet Sam but was afraid to desert Jack. On the doorstep was a present for Emma and a note for Jack. Rory wondered what it said, but didn't dare ask.

She went into her room to text Sam while Jack put Emma to bed. He wanted to see her to make sure she was alright. Tomorrow, she answered.

They sat silently on the beanbags and she said, "I miss the sofa."

"Rore, I miss your mom."

"I know. Me too, but it's like my birthday. That was a really bad day, but the next day got better. We've both been better since we moved. It was a good decision. I'm glad we're here."

He didn't answer for a long time and finally said, "Mimi said that even mommy would be glad we're here and happy."

"That's what Dr. Deb said."

"Yeah, Maddie has said the same thing."

"I know she's said it to me. Dad are you mad at Maddie? You know I can't lose her too." Rory felt the tears come.

"You won't lose Maddie. I think I've just been sad about mom. I just needed some space."

"When can she come over?"

"We've got Finn and Elise coming. Somehow I don't see Elise liking Maddie."

"Probably not."

He was so confused about Maddie after their encounter. They still ran most days, but they weren't talking. How could he figure out what he felt for Maddie if he was trying to cope with the anniversary of his wife's death? He spent as much time thinking about Maddie as he did Nicole. He just wanted to get through the week and the damn visit with Elise. He loved Rory, but he didn't know how he'd last a weekend with that woman.

Rory asked about Maddie joining them for Emma's birthday, but it was a bad idea. He was determined to try to have a good day or at least smile in some pictures with the birthday girl. Emma deserved a happy father. The lunch conversation didn't help his mood between the talk of the accident that had yet to settle and fifteen-year-olds dating. In his mind, Rory was still the four-year-old he took out for pizza. He hated to think of her so grown up. Would Rory be dating soon? Could he really stop Rory from dating? He would like to say he could, but he was smarter than that. Even his mother said it was no big deal. Great! He would have to find out more about these boys. She was probably already kissing on the beach and not telling him, because he had forbidden it when she learned about the spin the bottle.

He wasn't sure if he was glad when Pam came to the cottage while Emma was napping. They sat on the porch and talked, but eventually, the tears flowed. He felt a kinship to Pam because aside from Rory, she loved Nicole as much as he did. He knew how much she loved her, because of his love for his daughters. They had their cry, and he felt better, but guilty, because his next thought was, how to figure things out with Maddie, so everything would be okay. How could he go from mourning his wife to thinking about another woman?

That evening when Rory asked if he was mad at Maddie, he told her he wasn't. He also knew she cared from the note she left with Emma's present. That was stupid of course she cared. He was pretty sure she loved him. He just didn't know if he deserved her love.

He thought about their company coming the next day and groaned. He would get through the weekend, and then he would figure out his mess with Maddie. He definitely missed her.