“I bet you two are a good team,” he said.
“The best. Come on, Jesse. Let’s finish the tea party.” She sat back down, and Amanda and Paul watched them in an awkwardly weird but wonderful quiet.
Amanda spoke softly. “I hate that Jesse doesn’t really remember Jack. I’m not sure how to keep all the memories alive without keeping the hurt around too. And Hailey…oh my gosh, if she doesn’t end up a psychologist, I’ll be shocked. That kid is so in tune with my moods. She can sense when I’m struggling. I hate that.” Pain danced in her eyes.
“Perhaps Jack’s working through them to make sure you’re okay,” Paul offered.
Her lips parted softly. “Hadn’t really thought of that.”
“You’re a wonderful mother. If anyone can lead them through this, it’s you. You know the way.”
“Yes. I sure do,” she said, pressing her hands together.
“I thought you might have gone back to Ohio. Your mom—”
She flipped a hand in the air to stop him. “That’s a sore subject. She’s been so determined to get me home that she’s been no help at all.”
“I’m sure she means well.”
“You know how she can be,” Amanda said.
It was true. Amanda and her mom had had their challenges over the years, but Paul knew after burying his parents that those matters didn’t seem worth fighting over when they were no longer around to love.
She held her head high. “Our life is here now. It’s a good place to be.”
His whole life was here, too, although explaining that meant telling her that he’d left the Marines. She’d only ever known him as a soldier. Jack had died for this country. He’d wanted to fight for Jack’s honor, but no matter what, he couldn’t bring him back.
He wanted to tell her—Maeve seemed to think he should too—but it was too much to lay on top of the already emotional day. Instead, he rested his forearms on the table and leaned in.
“I’m so glad I saw you today. Thank you for letting me back in.”
“I needed someone to blame, and your big shoulders were right there. You didn’t deserve it, but I guess even that served a purpose. It made me figure it out by myself, and I needed that.”
“My big shoulders are always here for you. For them. Please let me help.” He thrummed his fingers against the wooden picnic table. “I don’t want to overstay my welcome, and actually I have some things to take care of this afternoon, but can I call you? Can we get together and keep…talking…pick up where we…”
“Sure.” She stood up, a half smile on her face. “Oh, I guess you need my number, right?”
“Yeah.” He stood, too, and handed her his phone.
She typed in her number and handed it back.
He pressed a button, and her phone rang from somewhere inside.
“I’ll find that later,” she said. “Thanks for coming by.” She walked him to the gate and then, on tiptoe, hugged him around the neck. “Gosh, it feels good to get a real hug again. You always were the best hugger.”
As much as he wished he could hug her all night, he let her go. “I’ll call you.” He backed up. “I’d better go.” He opened the squeaky gate, his insides whirling. When he looked back, they were all waving.
Did this really happen?
He got in his truck, almost afraid to check his rearview mirror in case that cute house had turned back into the little abandoned shack that he’d try to buy a few months ago.
He started the engine.
His nostrils flared, trying to get air. Through Amanda and those children, his best friend lived on. His head and his heart were crossing swords over what this all meant and what he should do about it.
Bravely, he glanced back.
She stood there, her hand on the top of the gate.
He pressed his foot on the accelerator. Before he even realized it, he was pulling into his parking spot at Paws Town Square, thankful for second chances.
18
Maeve wanted to shepherd Amanda through to the other side of her loss, but she was comforted in knowing Paul would be there for Amanda too.
Time wasn’t her own. The shell she’d found reminded her of that. She would call Judy. How crazy was this world that messages in shells found the right people and people’s paths crossed at just the right time too?
It had been a hard call to make, but it couldn’t be put off.
After talking to Judy, Maeve didn’t have the energy to do anything but rest. She’d given herself permission to stay in bed all day if she needed to, but the ocean still called to her.
She set off on her walk a little later than usual.
Her heart lifted when she looked up and saw Amanda and the kids at the water’s edge. Yesterday had been unsettling, even if it had ended well. It did her heart good to see their smiles.
“I thought you’d be exhausted after yesterday,” Maeve said. “Didn’t expect to see you out here today.”
“It was definitely an emotional day.” Amanda kicked the water in front of her with her toes. “Thank you for your help. That was so—”
Maeve raised her hand. “What friends do. I’m glad I happened along when I did. I don’t think my heart has pounded that hard in years.”
“Mine either.” She patted her chest. “You have impeccable timing. You are a treasure.”
Maeve made a delighted face for the kids. “Think that means I’m extra special?” She bent her knees, getting down to their level.
“Totally,” Hailey said, and Jesse echoed her, as he did eighty percent of the time.
“Where are you going?” Jesse asked. “You don’t have your bag for treasures.”
“I’m going to walk down and say hello to Tug and The Wife.”
“The bird!”
“Yes.”
“I like that bird.” Jesse flapped his arms like wings, stomping in the water, creating his own vortex.
“I like Denali,” Maeve shared. “We had fun with him yesterday, didn’t we?”
Jesse’s head bobbed.
“He looks
