She watched him walk away. Was he nervous she wondered? She was suddenly antsy and got up. She went for more coffee even though she had had enough.

She walked over to Alex's friend and asked if she wanted more coffee. "Thanks, I'm just waiting for my friend to come back."

"We all know Alex. He told me what he's up to."

"I've known him since he bought his first house down here. I had no idea how successful he'd end up. I thought he was a crazy kid. Do you live down here?"

"I grew up here. I mean upstairs, but I don't live in Maine anymore. I'm just home for the holiday weekend."

"I always like it here. The coffee is the best." Jen smiled and went back to her seat.

When Alex came back, he was smiling. "We agreed on a price. I saw the inside, it's structurally sound, and that's all I care about. I can't believe this is happening."

Jen could tell he was ecstatic as he should be. She wanted to hug him but knew she couldn't. Marcy however did and then he sat down with her and they worked on the paperwork necessary to make the agreement official. Jen went back upstairs while they worked.

She was with her mother when she received a text message from Alex. he asked, can you come over to celebrate?

She responded, maybe later. I told Megan I'd stop by.

She wanted to run into Alex's arms, but she needed to be careful. She went to Megan's, and they walked down to the beach and watched while the kids played. She thought of how she and Megan once played just like them.

Another text came in, but it was from Avery. She said, we're going on a roller coaster. Come with us!

Okay, when?

Tonight!

Jen knew Avery loved roller coasters. They used to talk about going to Six Flags but never did. Sterling wanted no part of that adventure. She told Megan, who laughed. "We rode plenty of roller coasters together. Soon the twins will be tall enough."

Jen was ready when they picked her up. She and Avery had to climb into the back seat of Alex's cab, which was not ideal. They went to Funtown. It had changed very little since her last visit back in high school. Getting out of his truck, Alex pulled her into his arms and whispered, "I've been wanting to do that all day."

"You really got your house. When do you start?"

"When do we start? We're doing this one together. Do I need to hire you so you can come back?"

"Sterling would never agree to you as a client. I'll be here working on your Higgins house and we can work then and weekends. It's your dream house." She reminded him, but she hoped that she'd be spending a lot of time there, after her divorce.

"Come on, come on!" Avery called them.

Without asking Alex bought her admission ticket, and she felt like she was on a date. The idea was exciting and the fact she was going home to her little bedroom made her feel like a teenager, not that she dated back then. They went straight to the roller coaster. Jen sat with Alex, and he took her hand. Definitely a date, she smiled. They rode the ride and Jen knew she screamed, but Alex was just smiling.

Avery had a great time dragging them from ride to ride. Jen wanted ice cream, and Alex bought it but insisted they share. He wasn't afraid of seeing anyone that knew her. She imagined no one who knew Jennifer Dixon would be here.

"Come home with me. I'll drive you back."

"To your air mattress."

"I just want more time with you. I've had fun, but I like when you stay with me better."

"Next weekend." She promised.

She went home with Alex because she wanted more time with him too. "I'm so happy for you. Has it really sunk in yet?"

"No, but it will we're closing the same day as this house. You'll be here when it becomes mine."

"Yes, but where am I going to be staying? If I want to go to The Point, I'll have to stay with my parents."

"I'm not sure that I can stand another weekend like this."

Reluctantly she asked him to take her home. All she could think was the judge better sign off quickly because she wanted her divorce. She suddenly wondered if she had taken Sydney's job, without knowing the truth about Sterling would she have developed feelings for Alex? One thing she knew he would never have pursued her.

Was it wrong to have strong feelings for Alex and still be hurt and unable to face Sterling and Trevor? She wondered if her relationship with Alex had helped her move past the betrayal a little. Her emotions surrounding Sterling were complicated. There was an array of feelings that resulted from her entire marriage being a farce. To invest so much in a loved one who was so deceitful was humiliating and painful.

Fourth of July was on Tuesday and the three of them were scheduled to leave that afternoon. Jen had no appointments scheduled for the short holiday week. Could she stay and work without Sterling even knowing? Did she care if he found out she stayed longer? As far as he knew, it was her parents she was staying for not Alex. She called and rearranged her airline ticket. She was eager to tell Alex her plan.

On Monday, her friends came over for lunch and the beach. Alex had worked some that morning. "You must be tired," she said as they walked to the beach.

"A little, but I'm too excited to feel it."

She announced to the three of them she was staying through next weekend. She told Avery that Sterling will never know.

Alex asked, "Where are you staying?"

She smiled. "My parents think I'm leaving tomorrow." He just smiled.

On the beach they found their friends and joined them. Megan said, "Thanks to Avery and Tom, you get to see Alex."

Jen wasn't sure how to answer and tried to joke. "It could be worse."

Megan laughed, "Aside from Peter, any guy comes second to Alex Goodwin. You agreed don't you?"

"He is definitely... something." He was with Sophie again. "Your daughter thinks so."

"My Soph is a good judge of character."

Jen and Alex each socialized on their own. Sometimes they were in the same conversations and other times not. Still, to Jen, it felt very different from Memorial Day.

Feeling the hot sun, Jen ventured into the cold water. It took her awhile to grow accustomed to the temperature. After a while, she saw Alex walking toward the shoreline. The last she'd seen Sophie was burying him again. She assumed he needed to rinse off.

This weekend was enjoyable with the two couples. Obviously, Alex and Jen wanted more time together, but they were adjusting. She couldn't deny that they belonged together. Avery was reasonably sure it wasn't if, but when Jen moved back home. Maybe in time, they would be related by marriage.

She had never seen a couple more compatible, well except her and Tom, but she was biased. Love was a strange thing. It was impossible to deny and they may not be admitting it, but she knew Alex and Jen loved each other. It surprised her the entire world couldn't see it.

Tom was asleep and Peter was off playing with the kids, so it was just her and Megan watching as Alex went down to rinse off.

Avery said, "She's changed. She's herself here. Sterling has been my friend for a long time, but he stifled her."

"I missed her and now that I've seen her, I miss her more when she's gone. I wish she'd move back."

"You never know. Although then I'd be the one missing her."

"You and Tom could move too. I bet my father would give him a job at his firm."

Avery questioned her and she explained about her father being a partner in a Portland law firm and pointed out her parent's house down the beach.

Megan said, "Look they're swimming. I'd love to see something happen between them. Jen would come home if she caught our most eligible bachelor."

Avery didn't answer because she knew she was losing her best friend or was she just being selfish. Tom stirred and Avery thought, as long as she was with Tom, Jen would be part of her life.