Page 12 of Between the Lines

Essie nodded. “I am now.”

She ushered everyone inside, the house filling instantly with noise and movement. Liliana went back out for the suitcases. Shoes were kicked off in a messy pile. Mira pulled a beach toy from the basket by the door. Mattie ran a fast, enthusiastic lap through the living room, narrating his intentions to go swimming, eat snacks, and possibly see dolphins, in no particular order.

Essie watched it all with a full heart. This was the antidote to the quiet tension Sophie had left behind. The house felt right again, occupied and used the way it was meant to be.

Liliana set the baby bag down and glanced toward the hallway. “Is Sophie still here?”

“Yes, but she’s out. Gone to the beach or the pool,” Essie said carefully. “She didn’t want to intrude. I guess.”

Liliana’s mouth tightened, just a little. “More like she just didn’t want to deal with us. That seems more likely.”

Essie didn’t comment. She’d learned that sometimes the best thing a mother could do was listen and let her grown daughter draw her own conclusions.

“Well,” Liliana said, brightening as she took in the kitchen and living room. “This place already smells better than my house.”

Essie smiled and pointed to the fruit platter she’d put out. “I planned ahead, in case you and the kids were hungry.”

Mattie popped up beside them and grabbed a strawberry. “I’m starving.”

“Of course you are,” Liliana said. “But wash your hands first. Both of you. First door down the hall, right, Mom?”

“Right,” Essie answered, thankful she’d put the little stepstool in there.

As Mattie took his sister off to clean up, Essie caught Liliana’s eye again. There was a lot she wanted to say about Sophie, about Frank being away, about the strange feeling of trying to hold a family together when one of the family members didn’t want to be held.

But not yet. For now, she would keep her comments to herself and let Liliana make her own judgments.

Besides, there were sandwiches to make, towels to find, and a beach day waiting just outside the door. Essie turned back to the counter, grateful for the noise, the motion, and the simple truth that some love arrived loud and unapologetic.

No conditions required.

Chapter Five

Maude had Robbie’s website open on her laptop, the homepage updates underway. The new photos she needed to add sat in a folder on her desktop. They were nice shots of the oak farm table he’d just finished. It was beautiful and classic, something that ought to do really well for him. It was the kind of piece that probably looked easy to make until you tried to do it yourself.

She dragged one image into place, adjusted the crop by a fraction, then stopped. It didn’t need more fixing. Neither did the headline she’d rewritten three times already.

She was really just passing the time.

Pixel’s tank hummed softly from the counter, the fish floating along in his little world, the light from his tank casting a glow on the wall. Outside, the afternoon was loud with lawn equipment. At least she liked the smell of freshly mown grass.

Maude glanced at the clock. Paige would be here any minute.

Maude had gotten her text, but Paige hadn’t explained anything in it. Just said she was stopping by and needed to talk. Paige wouldn’t say that unless she meant it, and she wouldn’t drop by without a reason.

Maude finished up, saved the page and published it, then closed the laptop just as the knock came.

Paige stood on the porch in one of her cute pickleball dresses that Maude could never pull off. Paige’s expression was calm, but there was a solemness to her that made Maude step back and wave her in without comment.

“Everything all right?” Maude said, even though she knew Paige wouldn’t be here unless something was up.

“I don’t really know,” Paige said. “But I need your help.”

“That’s what I’m here for. You want some water? Or a diet soda?” Maude led her into the kitchen and opened the fridge, grabbing a Diet Coke for herself.

“A soda would be great, thanks.” Paige set her sunglasses on the counter and stood there like she didn’t know where to start.

“All right,” Maude said, handing her the can. “Let’s sit in the living room and you can tell me what’s going on.”