(Complete) New Year's Day is a time for resolutions. Jack Harris, still mourning the tragic death of his wife, vows to start living again. Maddie Evans dumps her boyfriend and vows no more meaningless sex.
Jack moves to The Point to live in his pa...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Waking early, Maddie felt good that she had a new plan to improve herself. She bundled up to go for a walk. She had just set out when she heard fast approaching footsteps. Turning around, she saw Peter Brenner running towards her.
"I thought I was the only crazy person out here." Maddie could see his breath in the cold.
"You know new year, new resolution."
"Good for you! Do you want to run with me? Just as far as you can. I'll go slow." He encouraged her.
"I'm not sure." Still, she fell into a jog next to him. She lasted halfway down the street and slowed to a walk and called out to him. "I'm done. Bye Peter."
He waved as he ran off. Maddie was out of breath and the cold air burned her lungs, but she felt remarkably good. She didn't know she could run two feet never mind down the street. She continued her walk and then prepared for work. She held her breath as she squeezed into her pants that were much too tight. They would never be any tighter, if she kept at it. She packed a lunch which she hadn't done in a while.
Arriving at the library, she greeted her co-workers and went to the children's section. Looking at the books, Maddie felt at home. She loved them all, but especially new ones because of their smell and pristine condition. Still, there was something about a well-read tattered book. Her day was busy, and she didn't go into the backroom to find the table loaded with candy and goodies until late morning. She suspected others had cleaned out their holiday treats. She turned around and walked away. She ate her packed lunch and was satisfied. Glancing at the clock it was one-forty-five. She was reviewing the circulation statistics and knew by two-thirty, she would be overrun with middle school students. She had her book group today, but she spent most afternoons babysitting kids who used the library as their after-school care.
When she left work at six, she spent her drive home planning the healthy meal she would prepare for herself. Her biggest obstacle came after dinner when she longed for something sweet. If she looked she would find something, she didn't throw out. Instead, she called her parents in Florida hoping she would forget the urge. After an exchange about their respective weather, she told her mother that she broke up with Steve.
"Dear, you'll find the right one. I'm sure of it." Judy Evans sounded concerned.
"Mom, I'm happy to be single. I'm sorry, but your dream of being a grandmother has a slim chance of coming true."
"Women are having babies much older nowadays, don't give up yet."
Maddie was glad her mother couldn't see her roll her eyes. Truthfully she was never opposed to motherhood but never had an overly strong yearning. She had a very quiet biological clock, and the ticking didn't bother her. Years ago Maddie had envisioned herself becoming a wife and mother. She had dated Drew in high school, but they parted as friends when he went to school in California. In college, she had a few brief relationships although none were serious. It was in her mid-twenties that she dated Jeff for two years. She assumed they were heading towards marriage when Jeff was actually heading to Texas where he moved without warning. It was a shock but she felt more foolish than anything. Because she was still young, she missed having someone to go out with. She dated some other men before she met Steve, but looking back now she realized she had never been in love and regretted it.
