Maddox: You did a good job with it.
Eve: That was mainly Sofia.
Maddox: But you picked the blowups and the themes.
Eve: It was a spur of the moment decision.
Maddox: It's going to be great.
Eve: I'm driving around town tomorrow, putting up signs.
Maddox: Do you need help? I'm off work.
Eve: I'd love the help.
Maddox: I think everyone has seen us around town as a couple now.
I hated that he brought that up. It made me feel like this was still an act, and I'd stopped thinking that a while ago.
Eve: We are friends who hang out together for real. Not to convince anyone of anything.
Maddox: I'd like to do more of that.
Eve: Me too.
Warmth spread through me. I wasn't looking for a relationship, especially not during the holiday season. This was my busy time. But I was falling more for Maddox every day. I liked that he'd stopped by the other night for hot chocolate.
Maddox: I went to a grief support group before we came to see you.
That made me pause.
Eve: I didn't realize that was something you were doing.
Maddox: Frank wanted me to talk to a therapist, which I am. But I saw this flyer at the town hall. Thought it might help.
I allowed people to hang flyers on the bulletin in the town hall, but I hadn't looked at it in a while.
Eve: What did you think of it?
Maddox: It was good. Really good.
Eve: I'm glad it was helpful. I'd imagine it was nice to connect with people who've been through the same thing.
Maddox: I got some phone numbers from other single parents. Apparently, they connect outside of the group meetings.
I chewed my lip. Would he connect with someone at these meetings who was a single mom? Would they have more in common than we did?
I didn't like the way that made me feel. I should be supportive, not jealous.
Eve: That's great. I'm happy for you.
Maddox: It feels like I'm finally getting my shit together.
Eve: There's no timeline on these things, and it wasn't like your life was falling apart.
Sometimes I felt like I hadn't dealt with mine. I certainly wasn't doing everything that Maddox was, but then again, he was a parent.
Eve: Did you want to bring Sofia tomorrow to test the light trail?
