(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.
Maddie heard the news about Jack's house from Rory on Saturday afternoon. Jack's parents had just left to go back to Boston. Wanting more details, she walked Rory home. They found Jack looking online at Alex' website.
"So is it true?"
"Yup, my parent's signed a purchase and sale this morning. Their new place should be ready in June. Which is perfect, because there was no way the five of us would have survived the summer."
"Jack, this is great!"
She was very glad they were staying. They came here looking for a place to hide and instead they found a home.
"This will be good too because I move on when I have a project. Selling the house and moving kept me busy. It made a huge difference. The Jack that moved here was so much better than the Jack at the first of the year."
"He's right. He even started showering. Now if he would only shave," Rory said.
Jack was embarrassed and scolded, "Rory!"
Maddie laughed. She liked the way Jack's unshaven face felt soft and prickly at that same time when they kissed. Heat rose to her cheeks. She didn't want Jack to see her blush, so she turned her attention to Rory.
Any thoughts they were succeeding were crushed a week later when she celebrated Rory's birthday. It was a somber affair. Fifteen was a cause to celebrate, but Rory was withdrawn and Maddie felt out of place because Nicole Harris was everywhere. The shadows of the past saddened both Jack and Rory. This differed from when one or the other would be sad. Their sorrow seemed deeper, and even Emma was fussy as if she noticed too.
Maddie made Rory smile with her gift. She gave her a blank journal to write her feelings and a gift card to Barnes and Noble with a promise of a shopping trip to Portsmouth. Usually, Rory would talk to Maddie to help her feel better, but Maddie felt helpless. For the first time, Maddie didn't have fun being with her friends. By the time Maddie left, Rory had retreated to her room and Jack had drunk one beer too many.
"Let me walk you home?" Jack said.
"I can get home fine, Jack."
"Please."
She nodded, and he followed her. At her house, he whispered, "God Mads. I thought when she invited you the day would be different. You should have left."
"I wouldn't leave, Jack. It was her special day, but it broke my heart that she's so miserable. I've never seen you drink like this before. Here come inside a minute."
She stood with him just inside the door. "Is she still seeing Deb?"
"Yes."
"But you're not seeing anyone?"
"No, just you."
Without thinking, she put her arms around him. He fell into her and clung to her. When he spoke again, he said, "I'm okay. It's Rory that I'm worried about."
