The snow fell steadily from the early morning into the afternoon. As expected, the schools, and the library were closed. The wind blew and Maddie could hear the house rattle, but the power stayed on. High tide was scheduled for two in the afternoon and thankfully the storm let up before then. Maddie saw some figures braving the wind and blowing snow. She knew that after being shut in her neighbors would one by one venture out to meet at The Landing.

Feeling the need for company, she put on her snow boots, down coat and bundled up with a hat, scarf, and gloves. Her first breath of fresh air felt great. She lived just around the bend from the local store and so it was a very short walk. She missed her daily exercise outing that morning, but the weather couldn't be controlled.

Pushing open the door, the warm air hit her. As soon as she had unwrapped her scarf, Rick called, "Maddie."

Others turned and waved to her as she approached the counter for coffee. She had mentally prepared herself. She was there only for coffee and no treats. Her neighbors gathered as the children ran around and the adults talked.

Megan approached her and teased. "So I hear you've been meeting my husband regularly."

"Yes, Peter's a good sport to encourage me."

"I think you're a big sport to keep at it. He left early this morning to get to work before the roads were too bad. I hope the causeway doesn't flood. I'd like him home." Megan looked worried as she turned to the window towards the causeway.

The water was rising and high tide was still an hour away. Terms like astronomical high tide and storm surge were being discussed around the room. It looked as if most of the men went to work. Megan was with her children as was her neighbor Kristi. Even Megan's mother, Marie was there. She was trying to keep her youngest granddaughter, Abbie, from pulling merchandise off the shelves.

Megan called over, "Mom, bring her to the table. She'll sit and eat."

Alex was one of the few men because the weather would have put a halt on his building projects. Maddie walked over to greet Cassie, a young teen who was reading. "So how do you like it?" Maddie asked, referring to her book.

"It's better than the movie."

Maddie swelled with pride and smiled. "I'm so glad."

The other children ran over to her calling, "Maddie, Maddie..." One by one they shared with her the books they were reading. She prided herself in being friends with all the children. Some were easier than others. Sophie, Megan and Peter's daughter, was talkative and truly thought Maddie was her friend.

Maddie approached Alice, Rick's wife, and Marie, who asked, "Maddie dear, what's the word from Florida?"

"Bragging about warm, beautiful weather."

"They're missing all the fun," Alice laughed.

"If Ed doesn't take a week off this winter, I'll go get warm in Florida by myself," Marie said.

Maddie laughed, "Ed, golf, and my Dad... that's a trio made in heaven."

Both women laughed, but then Alice whispered, "Did you hear my exciting news?"

Maddie hadn't but could guess what was making her glow. Alice's daughter, Jen had been married to Alex for about four months. "Is she?"

"Yes, but it's early still." Alice confirmed.

Maddie congratulated her and looked at Jen and Alex. They were a gorgeous couple, and she wondered for a moment what it would be like to be loved like that.

Maddie stayed through high tide which lapped the causeway but came short of flooding it. That relieved all the women with husbands working off The Point. As she walked home, she waved at a teenage boy, Sam, who rode by on a snowmobile. Maddie smiled because she really liked that kid.

Jack came and told her about his idea to move to Maine. It never occurred to her he would want to move to another state. When she mentioned Mimi, he assured her they could still go visit.

She tried to remember the time they went to the beach to visit Gran and Gramps. She had a memory of playing in the sand and watching fireworks, but not much else. Maybe a place without memories of Mom everywhere could be a good place. Jack told her they could live at the beach all summer, but she would still need to get through the rest of the school year at a new school.

Rory didn't know what to think. Part of her wanted to get as far away as possible. Another part was afraid of change. Jack promised her he wouldn't decide for her.

"We're in this together, kiddo. Gran told me that one of her neighbors is a high school teacher. I feel old because when I knew her, she was a kid like you. Some neighbors are rich, but a lot aren't. Teachers aren't rich."

Rory thought it was funny, because Jack was rich, but he didn't act like it. Technically, that meant she was too, but she didn't feel rich or even care to be. Mimi said she'd be glad about the money when she was ready for college.

Jack came up to talk to her at bedtime. She said, "I'm just not sure."

"I know. We have time. It might take a while to sell the house."

"Do you think there is a place where we'll be happy?" Rory asked.

"I think so. I know I'm happy I have you and Emma. I love you, kiddo."

"I know. I love you too, Dad."

Rory meant it even though she didn't act that way often.

I love you too, Dad. Those five words meant the world to him. How could he not love Rory when she was a part of his wife? Nicole had mesmerized him the first time he saw her. The company where he was working hired her as a temp to answer phones. There was a room full of computer geeks and they all started sniffing around her. He stood back and watched as each one made a fool of himself. At some point, Nicole noticed him laughing at his coworkers and smiled at him. Her smile warmed him, but he was careful not to act like the others. Instead, if their paths crossed, at the coffee machine or the elevator, he would talk to her about their foolish antics and her obvious disinterest. It took him longer, than he cared to admit, to realize she needed coffee whenever he did. On a Friday night she was leaving the same time as him again, he nonchalantly said, "Tough week. I need a drink. You?"

"I need one, but I can't have one."

"Why? Boyfriend?"

Nicole smiled, "No, better. I have to get my daughter from daycare."

Jack could have let it go, but asked, "Does she like pizza?"

"Yeah, but you don't want to."

"The only thing better than one lovely lady is two."

"She's only four." Nicole laughed.

"Meet me at Romero's. I'll be waiting." He walked off before she had a chance to say no.

He chose Rory that night before he ever met her and then he chose her for life the day he adopted her. He never questioned it, but knew being her father was absolutely what he wanted. As soon as he heard she had no father, he knew he would never abandon her.

They had fun that night, and he didn't try anything. She didn't want all the guys at work knowing about her daughter. He asked if they could go out on a grownup date sometime and she agreed. The only hug he gave was to Rory. After their alone date, he kissed her, then they were together almost every day. They kept it private so no one at work knew. The secrecy led to excitement and after a month of hiding their relationship at work, Jack emailed her, Can you come over tonight?

She replied, Yes.

Jack hoped she was ready for what he wanted. Jack had never loved like he loved Nicole and he was sure he never would again. He was twenty-seven, and she was only twenty-two, so he didn't rush to marry her, but two years later she became his wife and shortly after Rory officially became his daughter.

Jack climbed in bed and smelled her scent next to him. He thought of his day and his idea of living at the beach. Their furniture would need to go into storage. He thought about the items he'd miss, most of their belongings were new for this house, but Nicole chose them. The bed where they slept together was new, and he had now slept in it alone far longer than he ever did with Nicole. It was a big change they were contemplating. The beach house was small with only three bedrooms. When his parents arrived for the summer, he'd have to share with Emma. He couldn't ask Rory to share with her little sister. He would have to work in his room or perhaps the screened porch.

He hardly worked as it was. He did enough to keep current and his brain from shriveling up. He'd been offering to dissolve the partnership and let Adam have one hundred percent of the business, but he refused. Jack envisioned a time when he could put Emma in daycare and work all day and feel a sense of purpose again. He just wasn't ready yet. Meanwhile, he had an obscene amount of money from the sale of Castleland, so they could live comfortably for as long as necessary.

Jack thought about what other possessions he would miss while staying at the beach. Oddly enough, his treadmill came to mind. The treadmill he had not used in more than a year and a half, but prior to that, he relied on it to help keep his stress under control. He used to love to run but hadn't gone on a run since the morning of the accident. It had been June, so he had run outside and when he returned, Nicole was still asleep. He remembered waking her to say he would leave work early if he could. He wanted to go with her. Instead, he was stuck on a conference call discussing the details of the sale of Castleland. He hated that game now and all its commercials and toys. Yet he suddenly missed running. He was getting on that treadmill. When they moved to The Point, he'd run on the streets and when it was warm enough the beach. That was if Rory agreed to the relocation plan.