By the first of February, Maddie had lost over ten pounds and was feeling great. She could run all the way to the beach with Peter and she started trying on clothes once deemed too small. A few fit, but others were still a pipedream. Maddie had a pair of favorite shorts she had tucked away for three summers. She visualized herself wearing them as she walked down the beach feeling healthy and confident. She imagined sitting on the deck of The Beach House bar with friends, laughing and feeling wonderful. That was her real goal, she told herself.

People noticed her weight loss and not just friends, but patrons at the library. Even though it showed mostly in her face, each comment gave her a renewed energy to continue on. She bought some free weights and started toning. She had spent hours perusing the internet and weights were one of many suggestions she sorted through.

One of her biggest challenges was the weather. It was impossible to walk every day with ice- and snow-covered roads. The town plows always cleared their streets last. She splurged and bought a treadmill. It wasn't really a splurge since she had the money. After all, she lived in her parent's house. Her room was originally a sun porch but had been winterized years ago. Using that room allowed for the upstairs to be closed off during the winter which saved on oil. They kept it just warm enough so the pipes wouldn't freeze. Her room was big, and her new purchase fit in easily.

Maddie went out after work on Friday with some library staff. She was the youngest, but the others were a lot of fun. One glass of wine wouldn't hurt, except she was afraid it would lead to her craving food. She wanted to avoid eating until she was home and could have a healthy dinner.

Jane, the reference librarian turned to her "How's your man friend?"

Casually Maddie said, "I sent him packing a month ago." When pushed, she shared some annoying details of their relationship. "The man never shut up. I ignored most of what he said."

"That's not good. Sounds like me and my husband, but it took us twenty-four years to get to that point," Maureen who worked at the circulation desk said. "Honey, you don't want to start a relationship that way. Besides, there's plenty of fish in the sea."

Maddie wanted to argue with her, but she would sound pathetic. There may be plenty of fish, but she suspected most were bottom dwellers. She turned the conversation over to Bev whose daughter was getting married and acting like a bride zilla. Once home, she was glad she went and proud of herself for sticking to her plan. She thought of the shorts and how it would feel to walk down the beach holding a hand. A girl could dream sometimes.

On weekends she went on her run-walk without Peter, so he surprised her when he came up behind her. He gently encouraged her to push herself.

"Maddie by the first of March you'll be running around the loop. I'm sure of it."

Maddie felt good to have someone who believed in her. Too bad Peter didn't have an older brother, because he would interest her.

As she slowed down, she called out, "Will I see Abbie later?" She didn't hear his answer. She only worked a few hours on Saturdays and typically only during the school year when the library held story time.

Ever since they decided to move, school felt more torturous for Rory. The end was near, but it wouldn't come fast enough. She used to like school when she was younger when Mom was still alive. Damn, she thought about her, and she wanted to cry in the middle of English class. Deep breaths, one, two, three, think of your happy place... one, two, three. Those were tricks that Courtney taught her. The problem was she lied about having a happy place. She said it was her bedroom at Mimi's house, but there was sadness there too.

Maybe if they went to Maine, the beach could be her happy place. It was always happy in books and movies. There were fireworks and ice cream and sunny days. She really had only been to the beach a few times in her entire life. There were the times she couldn't remember when they went to Gran's and a few times when Mom took her to Elise's place on the Cape. Elise was Mom's best friend, who was divorced. Her son Finn was Rory's friend. She and Mom went to see them on The Cape while Jack stayed home and worked.

Rory secretly wished Jack would marry Elise, so that Finn could be her sort of brother. It was a dream, because Jack didn't even like Elise. Rory could tell, because he had always said, "I'll stay home. You go have fun."

Elise could be loud and crazy, and Jack was quiet and dependable. He let Elise and Finn come over, because it made Rory happy. She wondered what Elise would think if they moved to Maine. Would she still get to see Finn? There were always more things to talk to Jack about. She tried to write a list of reasons not to move to Maine, but they always had to do with Mommy, except for missing Mimi, Pop, and Finn.

After school, Jack picked her up from the library and he looked different. She studied him. "Did you have a shower?"

Normally that would be a weird question, but Jack always forgot to shower. Without Mom, he had no reason. Mom never would have let him look so messy all the time. She was always trying to fix one piece of hair that fell in his face. If Rory missed that she was sure Jack did too.

"I did something new today. I used my treadmill. I know, it's been a long time. But Rory, it felt good. I missed my runs."

Jack was smiling, a real smile, not even the smile with a sad look like when Emma does something cute. Rory felt jealous of him for finding something he liked. She had books and music, but they often made her sad, not happy.

Remembering, she asked, "If we went to Maine, would I ever see Finn?"

"I guess we'd have to make a point to. I doubt they'd come to see us."

"Maybe if you liked Elise, they would."

"Rory, I like Elise enough. In fact, what would you think if I asked her to help me... us with the closet?" Jack looked like sad Jack again.

"I suppose. I could see Finn if they came."

"Hey kiddo, do you want to talk about the move?"

"I dunno." She really didn't. Could the school be worse? That was impossible. She wasn't ready to decide. It was too big; she had to think about it longer.

"We'll see when Finn can come over. Plan?"

"Plan."

It felt good to get back on the treadmill. He did more walking than running, but if he kept at it, that would change. Emma cooperated as he set her up in the playpen with the television on. Tv wasn't his favorite babysitter, but he needed her nap time for work. Even his old playlist felt good. It was heavy rock, so none of it reminded him of Nicole, who hated that kind of music. She was a top forty pop girl. It was pathetic he surprised Rory by taking a shower. Somehow just an awareness of his failings was healing. Could he finally be turning a page?

The realtor called, because she wanted to show the house the following day at naptime. What could he do? They only had two showings so far. He spent his entire evening sprucing up the house. He would pack the playpen and take Emma to the office for the day. Adam would be thrilled and he could get some work done.

He was exhausted by the time he had Emma in the car, but the house looked showable. His staff greeted him like he was the Prodigal Son, he learned about in religion class in high school. Their office manager, the gem that kept things humming so they could create, grabbed Emma the minute he crossed the threshold.

"She's grown. Come to Auntie Paula. Today is my lucky day."

Emma pouted but was alright while Jack went for the playpen and bags in the car.

Adam came in as he was setting up the playpen in his office. "Nice to see you. Have we met?"

"I know. I know I'm a bad partner and a worse friend."

"So is this going to be a regular thing?"

"No, in fact, you might want to take me up on my offer to dissolve the partnership. I've put the house on the market and if Rory agrees we're going to Maine until at least September. If she likes it longer."

"Maine! Why Maine?" Adam asked in disbelief.

"My parent's house... the beach this summer... a change mostly."

"That's why you came today to tell me?"

"That and the fact we needed to be out of the house for a showing." Jack answered truthfully.

"Jack, I don't want to lose you. I owe you. You made me rich when we sold your game."

"We were already doing well without that stupid game. I will continue to work on projects, but I'll never pull my weight as a full partner. I can come down once a month. Rory and Emma are my priority."

"I know. How's the poor kid doing?"

"She's struggling. We both are. You know if the move turns out alright maybe I can troll for clients in Portland. I want to work more, eventually, but never like I was. Like you still do," he mumbled.

Jack found Emma and set her in the playpen and attempted to work. He had considered daycare, but he couldn't handle that much structure yet. Getting Rory to and from school was enough. Also, Nicole had planned to stay home with Emma, so he was honoring her wish not that they needed her to work.

Their day went remarkably well. Emma entertained his staff, and aside from refusing to nap she was a trooper. She could sleep in the car on the way to get Rory. As he was packing up, his phone rang. His agent reported the couple loved the house. She reminded him that loving didn't mean an offer, but it was encouraging.

The offer came through shortly after. It was low, so he countered. Later his agent called and their final offer was a figure he could live with, but they wanted a quick thirty day closing. Could he get out of the house in thirty days? He could if they were putting everything in storage and moving to the beach. The answer was up to Rory.