Page 9 of Happily Ever After

“That’s a relief.”

A new dog ran past, and Milo and Maple went to join him. Essie and Maude stayed where they were, watching.

Maude shifted her weight and cleared her throat. “Have you heard from Frank recently?”

“Yes,” Essie said. “He called last night. We had a good chat.”

Maude’s brows lifted. “How is he?”

“Busy,” Essie said. “He and Chad are tied up with the new mill and organizing things at the office there. Meetings, inspections, hiring. There’s so much to do. But it’s coming along.”

“That’s good to hear. He must be ready to come home.”

Essie nodded. “He is but he can’t until things are in better shape. He’s trying to stay focused, but he sounded tired. A bit like his mind was somewhere else even while he was talking.”

Maude nodded. “I’m sure he has a million things going on. Can’t be easy, though. Being away from you, I mean.”

“It’s not easy on either of us.” Essie missed him terribly. Having Maple around helped. But she was so looking forward to the day when it was the three of them. Frank was just going to love that sweet little dog.

They sat quietly for a moment, the sounds of the park filling the air around them. Dogs barking, someone laughing near the gate, the rattle of the latch as someone else came in.

“Did he say when he’s coming home?” Maude asked.

“He said soon,” Essie replied. “Which could mean after the next round of inspections. I can only imagine how much Chad misses his wife and kids, too.”

Maude exhaled. “I bet.”

Essie tugged at the hem of her shirt. “There was some talk about me, Tasha and the kids going over but things have been so busy there that Frank thinks we’d end up being on our own most days. And I’d have to find someone to watch Maple. Might as well just stay here.”

“Are you okay?” Maude asked. “With all of this?”

Essie kept her eyes on Maple. “I am,” she said. “I have to be. Frank’s doing what needs to be done. I can’t stand in the way of that. He’s ultimately doing it for his kids. Not that Sophie seems to care about anything but how much money she’s got coming.”

Maude studied her for a second, then sighed. “Have you heard from her at all?”

“Nope,” Essie said. “She’s still active on TikTok, though not like she once was. The happy, personal posts seem to be gone, replaced by more introspective ones.”

“Maybe that’s a good thing,” Maude said. “Maybe she’s really doing some thinking.”

“I can only hope.” Essie said a quick prayer for Sophie.

If there was ever anyone who needed divine intervention, it was that young woman.

Chapter Five

Maude couldn’t help but keep an eye on Essie. Maude liked Essie a lot and she didn’t want her to be sad or feel alone. Maple had to be helping, but even so, Maude was there for Essie if she needed more company.

Essie sat on the bench with her hands folded loosely in her lap, her gaze on Maple as the dog trotted across the grass, stopped, then doubled back as if she wasn’t quite sure where she wanted to be. Milo followed at an easy distance, content to follow his new girlfriend around.

That made Maude smile. But it wasn’t enough to make her forget how Essie had gone quiet after talking about Frank. Not withdrawn, exactly. Just still. Like her head was full of thoughts she couldn’t share.

Maude had learned to notice stillness because of Robbie. When he went quiet, it was often because he was internalizing things. Thinking about him made her check her phone to be sure she hadn’t missed any messages. Nothing. But she noticed the time. Nearly lunch.

“Hey,” she said as an idea came to her. “Are you hungry?”

Essie turned, surprised. “I could eat.”

“I was thinking we could get some lunch,” Maude said. “There’s that barbeque place just past the Colony gates. The one with the shaded patio. The Smokehouse.”