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The Hallmark Channel's 'Chesapeake Shores'

Mick & Megan O'Brien

By Annette Zoaps

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Chapter 1

'Lovers Parted'

"Grandpa, come dance with us!"

Caitlyn and Carrie spy Mick across the Art Walk Festival's dance floor and drop their grandmother's hands to run to him.

As Megan joins them, she and Mick exchange an awkward glance and smile for the girls.

"There are four of us," Megan points out. "We could square dance."

"What's a square dance?" The girls make a face.

Instead, the youngsters instruct Mick and Megan to join hands and hold them aloft to make an archway. They circle Megan in one pass-through and Mick in the next, repeating the pattern to everyone's laughter.

But the game is over as soon as it begins, as the girls squeal in unison, "Trace is here!" and dash to the stage.

Mick and Megan are left holding each other's hands.

As the Trace Riley Band sets up to perform, and his youngest groupies clap from the front row, a DJ continues to play recorded music in the interlude before the headliners begin.

"So we come in second place to Trace!" Mick laughs, turning to his ex-wife. "Um, would you like to finish this dance?" he asks formally.

Megan pauses a moment before stepping into his waiting arms.

Stilted silence passes before Mick recalls, "Remember when we took that ballroom dance class?"

Megan nods. "It was fun."

"Fun while it lasted, you mean," Mick says sadly.

"I didn't say that," Megan says.

"You're thinking it."

"Mick, don't do that." She shakes her head.

"Oh, I don't blame you," he says. "I blame me."

"It was fun," Megan repeats. "That's the way I choose to remember it."

"A good way to look at it, I guess," he says. "You're right, it was fun. Period."

She gives him a doubtful look.

"You know, there's a new dance studio opening up in one of my properties, and I signed up for some classes."

"Good for you," she says, forcing a friendly, cheerful tone. "It's a great way to meet some interesting people."

"I'm not hoping to meet anyone," he says. "You're going with me."

She can't control a burst of laughter. "I'm not signing up for — that!"

Mick looks perturbed.

"Sorry for laughing in your face," she says, stifling a grin. "But I know what you're trying to do."

"Oh, you do?"

"The same thing you were doing when you invited the kids — and me — back to Chesapeake last year. It's a heroic attempt, Mick …"

He smiles at the word "heroic."

"… But we can't fix the past by recreating it and hoping for, or forcing, a different outcome."

"Don't go looking for some deep meaning in this," he says. "I just want to have a little fun. I remember it was fun dancing with you, so why not?"

"You know we'll have to invest more than one night a week. We have to practice, too."

"I don't have a problem with that."

"It's a commitment, and I know how busy you are." She looks at him sympathetically with no accusation.

"You're busy, too," he reminds her. "I know how much work you put into this festival. You did an amazing job, and I couldn't be more proud of you."

"Thank you." She glances away, as the awkwardness returns for a moment. "I can't believe I did it, and that I even had time to work on a few art pieces of my own."

"I saw them. They're really nice," he says, sincerely. "All six of them."

"There are only four," she corrects him.

"Well, four signed and two unsigned."

She gives him a sideways look. "Who told you?"

"No one. I saw your paintings, and then I was curious about the anonymous pieces and noticed a few similarities that told me you were the artist."

"And they even got some bids," she says proudly. "Oh no," she moans in response to the guilty look on his face. "You are the bidder, aren't you."

He doesn't admit anything, but his expression tells her all she needs to know.

"What are you going to do with two new paintings? Your house is perfectly furnished. I can't imagine where you would put them."

"When I looked at them, I had an idea," he says. "I thought I would put one in our, in my, bedroom, and ask you if you wanted to hang the other at your house. You know, a matched pair, separated, but still connected. We'll always be connected, Megan, because of our children."

"That's a nice idea," she says, feeling her eyes grow damp. "I don't suppose you noticed the title of the paintings?"

"Yes, but I don't speak French."

"The translation is, 'Lovers Parted.'"

"Huh! You know, I sensed something like that. They kind of gripped me right here." He touches his chest with the hand that holds hers. "Are they about you and me — or maybe someone else?"

"Someone else? Seriously?" She shakes her head. "There's no one else, and I wasn't thinking about us when I painted them, at least not consciously. They make me happy, hopeful. Not sad."

"I guess that's a good sign."

. . .

"They've been dancing a long time." Jess nudges Kevin as the siblings sit at a picnic table near the dance area. "What can they even have to talk about?"

"As near as I can tell by lip-reading, Dad just asked Mom to take a dancing class with him."

"Since when do they dance?" Jess exclaims.

"They used to," Kevin reminds her. "Now they're talking about her paintings. I think Dad bought one, or something."

"What does he think he's doing, letting Mom back into his life. She's only going to break his heart again."

"You don't know that," Kevin admonishes. "Why don't you give her half a chance?"

"Never. And you shouldn't, either."

. . .

"Do you have your phone on you?" Mick asks.

She slips it out of a small pocket in her summer-print dress.

He opens his calendar app and she does the same.

"The class starts here."

He watches as she enters the information on the appropriate date.

"And the recital is here."

"A recital? You really are a glutton for punishment! Are you sure you're ready for this?"

"Piece of cake!" He smiles.

"I'm not signing up to go on stage and be embarrassed," she admonishes. "So we're going to have be serious and practice."

"Every night," he promises.

She laughs. "Well, no need to go overboard. A few nights a week will do."

"And think about this," he says. "If you should want to back out before the first class, remember it's for the arts, Ms. Arts Liaison Coordinator."

"To the arts," she agrees, clicking her phone against his in a salute.

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See Chapter Two

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If you love Mick and Megan as much as I do, be sure to check out my other stories:

NEW! Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, The Whiskers of Machu Picchu, 2 chapters

Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Come Let Me Love You

Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Fear of Flying, 3 chapters

Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, The One That I Want

Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Where the Wind Blows

Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Once a Promise

Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Mother of the Bride, 2 chapters

Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Love Song

Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, First Kiss

The Hallmark Channel's 'Chesapeake Shores' — Mick & Megan O'Brien, 9 chapters

Chesapeake Shores — Megan at the Met — Mick and Megan O'Brien, 6 chapters

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I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has been reading and making positive comments about my stories!

I appreciate it more than you know!

Annette Zoaps

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