Page 85 of Between the Lines

She showed him the photo, then typed a quick response. She’s perfect. Congratulations! Then she turned the phone toward him again. “What a beauty, huh?”

Ollie stopped walking for a second to get a better look. “That’s a good-looking dog,” he said. “She already looks content. And calm.”

“She does,” Maude said. “I’m so happy for Essie.”

Milo leaned in, too, nose bumping Maude’s phone as if he could smell the picture. He let out a hopeful huff.

“No,” Ollie told him. “You can’t have her.” He glanced at Maude. “Although, maybe a play date would be all right?”

“I’ll talk to Essie but she might not want to share Maple just yet.” Maude laughed and slipped the phone back into her pocket. “I’m really happy for her,” she said. “There’s no way that house will feel empty now.

“Frank still in Italy?”

“Yep. Not sure when he’s getting back yet, either.”

They started walking again, Milo settling into an easy pace just ahead of them. The beach stretched out in an endless length of pale sand and rolling water. Maude felt an incredible sense of rightness. This was where she was supposed to be. Here on this beach. With Ollie and Milo.

The sun had begun its slow slide toward the horizon.

Maude glanced back at the path behind them, maybe just a little to make sure neither Gigi nor Darcy were nearby, then looked forward again.

Being in the moment felt like a gift. This time with Ollie and Milo, and the simple act of walking and talking and letting the day wind down around them, she understood that it was something special.

They walked on, the surf keeping steady time beside them. Milo trotted a few steps further ahead, stopping now and then to sniff some random bit of seaweed or interesting shell before catching back up when they passed him, satisfied with his findings.

Ollie was quieter than usual, Maude noticed. Like he was lost in thought. She let the silence be, more than comfortable enough to wait him out. It was nice that they could be quiet around each other.

To her, that felt like they’d achieved a new level of togetherness.

He cleared his throat. “You know,” he said, eyes forward, his tone soft. Like his words were meant just for her. “I really like what we’re doing. Sharing meals. Walking. Closing out the day together. Just…being able to do things like this with you feels….”

Maude got the sense he had more to say, so she just nodded but didn’t interrupt.

“It feels good,” he went on. “Better than I expected, honestly. Maybe even better than I remembered. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed you until you were back in my life like this. Spending time with you again is…it feels like a second chance. A really important one.”

“Yeah, for me, too,” she said, mostly so he’d know she was in complete agreement.

“Good.” He nodded, a little smile playing on his lips. “I’m glad.”

Milo paused, forcing them both to stop. He resumed once Ollie gave the leash a gentle tug.

“I’ve been thinking about how strange it is,” Ollie said. “Life, I mean. How it takes you in all these directions, and then somehow circles you back around to someone you knew when you were practically kids.”

Maude smiled faintly. “It is strange. We were so different then. And yet, we’re also not that different now.”

“I was a boy back then,” he said. “I thought I knew what life was all about. I didn’t. Not really.” He hesitated, then added, “What I feel now…it’s different. Deeper. Not as hormonal, for sure. But it’s stronger. It makes more sense.”

That made her slow a little.

“I care about you in a way I couldn’t have then,” he said, turning to look at her. “I see you more clearly now. Not just for who you are but for how you’ve made your life your own. I know myself better, too. And I don’t take this time for granted.”

Warmth bloomed in her chest, permeating her entire being. Nothing about it overwhelmed her, either. She shared his feelings. She also appreciated that he was willing to share them with her.

She’d dated enough to know that Ollie’s ability to convey his emotions was a rare quality in a man. One she respected and admired.

“I feel that, too,” she said. “Being with you feels…easy. In the best possible way. Like I don’t have to explain myself. Like I can just be me because you know me. I don’t have to pretend to be anything I’m not. Couldn’t get away with it anyway.”

He laughed, relief softening his expression. “That’s exactly it. Same for me. You know me better than anyone else. You always have.”