“Cast my worries. I know, I know. I was praying about that this morning. I’m great at saying I’m doing that, but then I worry too.”
“Then you don’t believe it.” Maeve placed her hand on top of Amanda’s, patting it with each word. “No backup plan. Trust in the journey.”
“I’ll try.”
Just then the server came over, so Amanda placed their breakfast order, then handed the menus back to the waitress.
“Paul stayed for dinner with us last night,” she blurted out.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing. It’s dinner.”
“So you think it’s okay? Really?”
“Yes, I absolutely do. He seems wonderful. It scared the puddin’ out of me the way Hailey went screaming up to him on the beach. About gave me a heart attack, but no, I’m not worried about him one bit. He’s a good one.” Maeve paused, then lifted her shoulders in an impatient shrug. “Honey, Jack’s never coming back. If there’s something romantic or even just comfortable about being with Paul, enjoy it. Take a chance. The only people who need to be right with it is you and your children.”
“He is great. I’m not going to lie. It’s been nice having him around, even just a day or so. He fixed my toilet. I’d mentioned it randomly ran in the middle of the night, and he went straight to the hardware store to get the stuff to fix it.” She snapped her fingers. “Like that. I didn’t even mention the gate being creaky, but he fixed it too. Just did it. Didn’t even tell me he did it.”
“That’s pretty nice. That was always my love language.” Maeve tittered. “The little things. Take my garbage out and I feel so special. Other people are material. I don’t remember what all five love languages are, but you get the idea.”
“Oh yeah. I’ve heard of them. I’m the same way. Fixing my toilet was better than a nice piece of jewelry, any day of the week.”
“Sounds like Paul knows that about you.” Maeve seemed to be studying her reaction, making Amanda self-conscious.
“He should. We were all best friends for a long time.”
Tug sat down at the table. He made a playful double cluck with his tongue and patted Maeve’s hand. “How’s my best girl this morning?”
“I’m fine, you old flirt.”
“She loves it when I flirt with her,” he said to Amanda. “Plays hard to get, but I know.” He leaned sweetly over and nudged Maeve.
“Stop it.” Maeve swatted his hand away. “You say that to all the girls.”
Amanda had a feeling Tug wasn’t kidding, though. There was a sparkle in his eyes, and kindness in his actions.
“What do you two have your heads together about this morning?” he asked.
“The shells with the messages,” Amanda said to Tug. “Have you ever heard of anyone finding more than one?”
“Yes, I have. Remember, Maeve? There was that article in the paper a few years back. That woman had found what, two or three?”
Maeve didn’t seem to remember. “Not sure.”
“It’s strange how the right message gets to each person,” Amanda said. At least that was the case with the two she had found.
“I don’t know,” Tug said. “I liken it to how we can all sit in church and hear the same sermon, but each of us feels like that preacher was giving us a personal communication. We all hear what we need to hear.” Tug got up. “More coffee for my best girl?”
“Thanks, Tug.” Maeve’s soft response was filled with appreciation. “That’d be great.”
Amanda waited until he got out of earshot, and then she leaned in. “He likes you.”
“No.” Maeve shook it off. “We just have a million years of history.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that. I’m telling you, I can see it in his eyes.” The door opened, and Hailey and Jesse zipped inside to a chorus of the Gilligan’s Island theme song led by The Wife.
“We learned a song.” Hailey scooted into the booth. “We love playing with that bird. She really likes us too. We’re trying to teach her our names.”
“She’s very smart,” Maeve said. “She’ll be saying hello to you by name before you know it.”
Hailey clapped her hands. “I can’t wait.”
“Hey, you two,” Amanda said. “I was thinking about taking Denali over to Paws Town Square for a walk this afternoon. How does that sound?”
Jesse bounced in his seat. “That would be fun!”
“Maeve should come with us,” Hailey said. “You have to see that place.”
“Yes, Maeve,” Jesse said. “Please?”
Maeve hesitated, but only for a moment. “Yes, I’ve been wanting to see how it turned out, and the time keeps slipping away.”
“Slipping away? Is everything okay?” Amanda felt a note of panic in her voice.
“Oh, it’s just an expression. I’m not getting any younger.” Maeve seemed uncomfortable, shifting in the booth. “I could go around two. Would that work for you?”
“That sounds great,” said Amanda.
The waitress brought their order to the table, and Maeve got up. “I’m going to let y’all eat. I need to get home and make some calls this morning so I can play later.”
“I’d offer you a ride home, but we walked down today too. Besides, I know you prefer the beach route, and I’d never try to come between you and your treasures.”
“Well, you are one of them, my dear. You and these two.” Maeve pointed at the tops of Hailey’s and Jesse’s heads. “But I do need my daily dose of the ocean as well.” She spread her arms wide and started to walk out the door. “The tide beckons me.”
—
It was late in the afternoon when Amanda pulled into Maeve’s driveway and tooted the horn. Denali lazed in the back between the car seats.
Maeve walked down the stairs. It was the first time Amanda had seen her in anything other than a skirt or dress. Dressed in blue jeans, she looked alarmingly thin.
“Hi, Maeve!” Jesse said.
“Hello, you two. Didn’t I just see you this morning?”
Hailey blew
