Alex was working when Sydney Thompson arrived. He did a double take, behind her Ms. Dixon was dressed in business clothes unlike any he'd seen in Maine. She wore makeup and pinned her hair up. Every time he had seen her, she had her hair in a ponytail. Her eyes stood out, and he noticed their unique mocha color. Maybe Tom was right, she could turn heads when she walked in a room. She turned a few of his workers' heads.

Sydney greeted him warmly. He liked her in spite of the fact she ruined this land. She looked around wide-eyed. The last time she saw the house the inside walls weren't up. She walked through pointing out different things. He went back to work as the two women talked design.

He suspected that the last phase of this house would be long and miserable dealing with this designer. He was beginning to feel like he needed a vacation, which was something that he had never had before. A night out might work, so he called Julia.

He had talked to her once since she returned from New York. When she answered her phone, he greeted her. "I was wondering if you were free to grab a bite tonight."

They made plans. The women waited for him to get off the phone, as he added, "I missed you last weekend."

He didn't know why, but somehow he didn't want Jennifer Dixon thinking he was single. She scrutinized him enough, and she didn't need to know that his social life was pathetic.

His social life was not as fulfilling as he wanted. Both he and Julia approached their relationship casually. He considered if she would be interested in becoming more serious, but truthfully he wasn't. He liked her and was physically attracted to her, but he wasn't in love with her. He wondered if he would ever feel that way for anyone again.

His evening with Julia was nice. Because it was a work night, they said good night at the restaurant. He asked her out for Saturday night and promised he'd take Sunday morning off.

"I'll take you for the best coffee and muffins you've ever had."

He enjoyed waking up to a warm soft body next to him. He pulled her close and held her until she stirred. He definitely liked not waking up alone. It was mid-morning when they showered and headed out together.

Rick greeted him, and Alex introduced him to Julia. Rick said, "Any friend of Alex is a friend of ours."

He saw Jen in the corner reading the New York Times. She looked younger than when he last saw her with Sydney looking very much like a New Yorker.

He sat at a table with Julia. They shared the Portland Sunday Telegram and quietly talked about the contents, as they read. He enjoyed relaxing on Sundays. Peter, Dan and their five kids disrupted the quiet. They both waved to him. "Dads in charge!"

Dan said, "The girls are walking on the beach."

Jen looked up, and he wondered what she thought of her old friend with a new best friend. Her look didn't last, because Sophie was talking to her with Dan and Kristi's littlest Ivy following right behind. She smiled. Had he ever seen her smile? She carried on a conversation for a while.

"Do you know everyone?" Julia asked.

"Almost, but I put a second story on both Dan and Peter's houses. Dan's was back when I was still starting out on my own. Do you want to see the house I'm working on?"

Julia had never seen his work, other than his own home. He drove her down past Dan and Peter's houses and pointed out others he had worked on. He showed her the beautiful home he built with the Italian tile and then he drove down the end to the Thompson house.

"Wow! Look at the view!"

He looked out and saw two familiar figures walking on the beach. He waved not sure if they saw him.

"I know it's breathtaking. My next house will be down here. I'm just waiting for one to be available. Do you want to see inside?"

She followed him. He liked to look at people's faces when he showed his work. He always felt proud of his builds. He loved the fresh smell of lumber. When she smiled, it turned him on. He showed her around and ended in the large master bedroom. It had spectacular views of the beach. He came up behind her and put his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck. She turned and kissed him, and he thought it would be a nice day.

Pulling away, she looked at her phone. "I need to get going. I've got a ton of things to do today."

Alex felt disappointed on the drive back to her apartment in Portland. She jumped out of his truck.

"I'll talk to you during the week. Bye."

It was the first time she'd stayed past noon. He would like to find someone to spend the whole day with, but more importantly, he wanted someone to love.

Since he was already part way, he went to see his mother and Hank. When he arrived, his sister, Kate and Matt were visiting with their baby, Joshua.

Kate said, "What a surprise! Have we met?"

"Nice to see you too. Kate, I saw you a week ago." He reached over and took the baby out of Kate's arms.

"Since when do you hold babies?"

Holding his nephew, he said, "I have friends." He had held Megan's daughter, Abbie, many times. "I like kids and they like me, especially when I build them new houses."

"Well, you're full of surprises, big brother."

"You'd be surprised if you met my friends. You would even like them."

"I know plumbers, electricians..."

"No. Let's see. There's a banker, scientist, teachers, an accountant, and..."

"Candlestick maker." Kate teased.

"Leave your brother alone," their mother intervened.

He stayed for dinner and headed home. He planned to go to sleep early to rest for the week ahead.

Kate burped little Joshua and thought of her brother. He never came home without her mother begging him. She had just seen him at the Christening. He looked miserable, but she enjoyed watching him squirm. It couldn't be easy seeing his first love happily married and expecting a child when his life was so ─ unfinished. Did he really still love Cara? They were as in love as seventeen-year-olds could be. Kate had always respected Alex for sending Cara off to experience college, although for a long time he was heartbroken. She remembered how he hurt Cara, but in time she realized Alex was right.

Alex had always put the good of others before himself. He would do anything to make her and Tommy happy after Dad left. He would go see Dad even when Gwen didn't like them, because it was the right thing to do.

Only once he didn't put others before himself. Dumb fool he was getting mixed up with that married woman. Still, he caved to protect Hank. Kate always thought if Alex asked him, Hank would have fought for him.

She hit him with a magazine. "You idiot. I love you, but you're a fool." She hit him more. Then she sat down and held him. Eventually, she said, "I hope she was worth it."

He finally responded, "I'm so stupid. I had real feelings for her knowing the whole time it was wrong. Please don't tell Cara or anyone about this. I'm going to feel like an idiot my entire life because of something I did at twenty-five. It's bad enough I hurt mom and Hank."

Now she hardly recognized him. She couldn't believe when he nonchalantly picked up Joshua. He was not yet two months and most men were afraid of him ─ Hank was, Matt was still a little, but not her brother. He enjoyed holding him. When he fussed he paced and jiggled him. She teased him, but what she refrained from saying was, do you have a kid out there we don't know about?

He had made a life for himself, but he was still alone. He dated, but never very seriously. She told him he needed to let himself fall in love. He replied that he would if he ever met a girl he loved. "You sure you're not ignoring the signs?"

"Could you have chosen not to fall for Matt?"

He had a point. Maybe his problem was meeting the wrong girls. He'd have to hurry because he wasn't getting any younger. He'd be thirty-three soon. Maybe she should recommend he should look for younger women. Really why did he have so much trouble? He had what her friends were looking for. She had always known both her brothers were good looking. If she was blind she'd have known because from seventh grade on all her friends commented repeatedly. She also knew that Alex had money, not just because he wrote a generous check for Joshua, but because of Hank's comments. According to her stepfather, her big brother had a knack of turning houses into gold.