(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...
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Summer had officially kicked off and the fourth of July was the following week. Rory's friend from Massachusetts was coming to visit. Maddie invited Laura and her girls for their first official day at the beach. She didn't work on Saturdays during the summer, so it was a perfect day for the beach. Maddie wasn't sure she was ready to wear a bathing suit, so she wore her favorite shorts which she finally fit into.
She felt good physically, she just wished she and Jack weren't at odds. Why were things so strained? Did she cause it when she told him to have sex? Did he cause it by pulling away from her over - what - their conversation or the anniversary? She just didn't know, but she missed him. He texted her that morning to let her know he wasn't running, so she ran alone. They hadn't seen each other since the day before Emma' birthday and the text was his first communication with her. He didn't even acknowledge the present and note she left.
As they sat on the beach, she shared some of her concerns with Laura. She kept some to herself especially her suggestion to Jack about sex. In retrospect, she definitely regretted that whole conversation. Laura could read between the lines and tell just how much Maddie liked Jack.
Maddie froze when she saw them walking on the beach. She watched as Jack carried Emma and beach chairs. They were a distance away, but they were not so far she couldn't see his muscle flexed from his load. Behind him was a woman - a beautiful, thin woman wearing a bikini and a sarong that looked like it cost more than Maddie made in a week. They were talking and laughing. He looked more relaxed than she'd seen him look recently. Rory was there too with a young boy. He must be her friend from home. Somehow she assumed, it was a girl, not a boy.
Laura noticed her distraction, and Maddie pointed to Jack. She waited while her friend sized him up.
"Wow Maddie, he is something!" Laura whispered, "Who's the woman?"
"I don't know." Maddie felt like she might cry. "I guess Rory's friend's mother."
"That woman had a baby? Look at her!"
Maddie was definitely looking at her, especially when she, Jack and Emma went down to the water. The woman put a toe in and jumped back grabbing Jack's arm. Obviously, the water was cold, but that was no reason to brush your breast against his arm. From where Maddie sat Jack didn't mind. They had arrived the night before and it looked like Jack finally had sex. Of course, he was suddenly relaxed and happy. She felt like she might be sick. She had ordered him to go do it. No wonder he didn't run, he probably still had gorgeous in his bed.
Things got worse when Rory noticed her, and in a flash, she came running over. Maddie couldn't help, but notice how happy Rory was. She was not the same sad girl, she first met last March.
"Hi, Maddie."
"Hi, Rory honey. This is my friend, Laura."
"Hi." She turned her attention back to Maddie and asked, "You're not wearing a bathing suit?"
