A couple weeks later…Henderson, NV

At lunch, Gracie walked down the street from The Chronicle to Buzz, her favorite coffee shop, as she did daily.

Not only was she a coffee addict of sorts, she also hoped to catch a glimpse of a certain someone. He obviously took the same lunch as her because he was always in the corner booth in the back, typing on his laptop and drinking a cappuccino.

She ordered her large mocha and her usual bagel sandwich. Once she got them, she headed over to a small table and pulled out her novel. However, the purpose of the novel was just to look like she was doing something. Really, she was watching him. Not in a stalkerish way...just sneaking glances.

She successfully snuck a glance or three without him noticing, but the next time she peered over her book in his direction, pow! His eyes were looking straight into hers.

Not only that, but he gestured to the seat in front of him...as if he wanted her to...whoa.

He smiled and gestured again so she touched her fingers to her chest and then looked behind her. "Me?" she mouthed.

He nodded and sipped his cappuccino. She put her novel in her purse and grabbed her coffee and what was left of her bagel and walked over, trying not to trip over her own feet.

"Hi," she said, feeling her cheeks turn hot. This close, he was even more cute than he was from across the room.

"Hi. So...I'm Jude."

"Gracie."

"You're in here everyday…"

"I'm a coffee addict," she admitted, taking a sip of her mocha. "What's your excuse?"

He chuckled. "Its close to work."

"Where do you work?"

"I run the office at The Rio."

"The country club? Ooo ritzy."

"So not me. It's just to pay the bills."

Interesting. "So what would you rather be doing, Jude?"

He closed his laptop and sipped the last of his cappuccino, taking his time in spilling the details of his dream. "I want to open a non-profit. To help abused women and children leave and get somewhere safe. My good friend is a lawyer and he's going to partner with me."

She tilted her head and looked at him, even more intrigued now. "It feels like maybe you've been touched by violence," she mentioned quietly.

"Something like that. This is so important to me. No one deserves to be hurt like that. Especially women and children."

"So...you'll be like their super hero."

He smiled and stood up. "I don't know about that but I definitely want to help. It's nice to finally meet you, Gracie."

"Wait." She stood too, knowing he was about to leave. "Will you be here tomorrow?"

"Yeah. Same bat time...same bat channel," he joked.

"See you then."

"Bye, Gracie."

Elizabeth's house, that evening

Rosie pulled out a carved wooden box from Elizabeth's closet as they rifled through things to give to charity or to keep.

"What's this, Beth?"

"Oh, I forgot all about that. It was Jack's. Kind of a memory box."

"Did he make it?"

"Yeah."

"Are you going to take it with you?"

Elizabeth stopped folding pants and looked at the box. She thought for a moment. "No. I'm going to go through it and give it to the kids."

"Are you sure?"

Elizabeth nodded, finding it harder to move forward than she thought it would be. "Yeah. I'm sure." Elizabeth could tell her friend wanted to look inside so she nodded. "Go ahead."

The things inside were perfect mementos of their life together. "There are twenty roses," Rosie mentioned.

"Jack bought me a rose every year on our anniversary. Until he got sick."

Elizabeth started cleaning her dresser out, trying to stay focused on her own task.

"Like fifteen movie stubs."

"Should be twenty of those too. He took me to the movies on our anniversary too."

Elizabeth's own wedding and engagement ring in its velvet box, pictures of her holding each of the kids for the first time, a sketch book and…

"Letters? Beth...these…"

Elizabeth walked over and sat down on the floor by Rosie. "I had forgotten about those. He wrote them when he knew he wasn't going to get better. The kids...I didn't think they were ready for them at the time...but now...I think I was wrong. It was selfish of me to keep them from them."

"You aren't selfish, my dear. You were protecting them like any good mother would."

Elizabeth couldn't read hers again. Even just the thought of it made her want to get back in bed and cover her head with the covers. Instead, she stood and went back to the dresser.

"Beth, I know this is hard...to move forward, make your own life...but it's going to be so good for you."

"I know."

Over the next few weeks, Elizabeth finished packing only the essentials and took them to Rosie and Lee to ship to her once she arrived in England.

She had signed a one year lease electronically on the cottage she wanted on Water's Edge with the option to buy. Simon, her realtor, assured her the cottage had the essentials besides food so it would be liveable until Rosie and Lee sent them.

Her moving date was August 12th, only two more weeks away and she felt ready. There were a few more things to tie up though.

That night, the kids came over, Jake bringing Tara of course. After dinner, they sat around the living room with tea and hot cocoa and chatted.

"Alright, kids. When Aunt Rosie and I were going through my things a while back, I came across some items that I need to give you."

She handed them the letters and then sat down.

"Mom?" Gracie asked.

"These are from your Dad. I realize I should have given them to you long before now...I'm so sorry."

They both stared at the envelopes, not moving much. Tara, the sweetheart that she was, slipped her fingers between Jake's, silently telling him she would support him. She kissed his cheek and leaned against his shoulder, bringing joy to Elizabeth's heart. Her boy would be just fine when she moved.

"Gracie?"

She looked up at her mom, tears in her eyes.

"Its okay if you don't want to read it right now. Or if you do, I'll be right here."

"I don't think I can," she admitted.

Elizabeth sat next to her daughter and held her hand. "Okay, sweetie."

"I'm going to miss you so much," Gracie said, her voice hitching. Yes, she was an adult and she was going to finish her degree in the next year and she even had a new guy in her life, but knowing her mom was going to be so far away...it made her feel lost.

Jake was so very thankful for the woman holding his hand. She knew what he needed and they had decided without words to read it later, together.

Jake got up a few minutes later and hugged his mom, motioning for Gracie and Tara to join in.

"We are both going to miss you."

"All of us," Tara admitted. She didn't know Elizabeth as well as a daughter might but the handful of times she'd spoken with her and eaten at the house, had endeared her to her. The woman was making her way in the world. She was doing it alone. It was amazing and courageous.

When Tara walked into her parent's home that night, she knew. She had to move out. They were wonderful parents. They gave her space and supported her job choice. She'd lived separate from them before, just out of college but this would be different. She was going to be independent.

"Hi, sweet pea," Jesse, her dad, said from his leather recliner.

"Hi, Daddy."

"Did you have a good evening?"

"Hi, baby," Clara, her mom, said, entering the room and handing Jesse a cup of tea.

"I've made a decision, guys."

"What's that?" Clara asked.

"I'm going to move out."

"Okay, sweet pea, but there's no rush from us. You can stay here as long as you need."

"I appreciate that but I'm twenty six. I need my own space, my own life."

"Okay, darling," Clara told her. "Let me know if you need my help with anything."

She kissed their cheeks and thanked them, heading to her bedroom down the hall.

The next day was Gracie's day off but she still headed to Buzz to have coffee with Jude. They'd met there everyday since that first coffee together except for Sundays.

She walked in and he waved her over, having bought her coffee for her. That was new.

"Hey," she told him with a smile. "You bought me coffee?"

He shrugged and squeezed her hand, just for a second. "Good to see you," he told her, closing his laptop.

"You too." She sipped her mocha. "Mm. Perfect. How did that meeting with that investor go?" she asked.

"Potential investor is the key word. Potential. They decided to go a different way."

"A different way? What better cause is there than to help abused women and children?"

"Unfortunately, that's not everyone's opinion."

She'd been waiting for the perfect time to bring up the idea she had and now seemed right. "What if I know someone that could be an investor?"

"You do?"

"Yeah. My grandmother, Charlotte. When she was a child, she was in foster care and was abused for years, so frightened to tell anyone. Eventually, her teacher spoke up after seeing the bruises on her arms and Grams was moved to a better situation. Anyway, she's always looking for causes to invest her money in."

"Your grandfather would go for it?"

"He passed away right after I was born. I could tell her about it and let you know what she says."

He stared at her for a moment. "What?" she asked.

"Why would you do this for me?"

"We're friends, aren't we?"

"Of course."

"We are friends and I believe in you and your non-profit, Jude. I want to help."

"I appreciate that, Gracie. Okay, let's see what she says."

"Great!"

"There are like zero apartments in my price range," Tara told Jake over the phone.

"Maybe you should move to a house."

"Jake, are you listening? If I can't afford an apartment in the Henderson or Vegas area, how am I going to afford a house?" she asked with a laugh.

"Maybe get a roommate?"

"The whole point is for me to move out on my own. Be independent."

"You can be independent and still live with a roommate."

"I guess. Know anyone looking for a roommate?"

"Yeah. Me."

"Ooooh no. Not doing that again."

"You've lived with a boyfriend before?"

She stayed quiet a moment.

"Tara?"

"Not a boyfriend...fiancé."

"You've been engaged?"

"Yeah. It obviously didn't work out and it was mostly because he didn't trust me or even want to set a date."

"He was obviously an idiot."

"Jake, we've only been dating three months. Are we ready for that step?"

Jake thought about it. Obviously, since she was his first kiss, she'd be his first in other areas too. He did know that it was getting harder to say goodnight to her and he also knew, one day, they'd be married.

"Jake? Can I think about it?"

"Of course. I'm not looking to pressure you. I just wanted you to know you always have a place with me."

"Thank you. I do love you. Even if we don't move in together."

"I love you too."

Las Vegas, Charlotte's home

"Gram? I'm here!" Gracie yelled, walking in the house.

"Gracie Rose, no need to yell. I can hear just fine," Charlotte said from her rocking chair. The woman was 79 years old and always cold, even in the desert, so she parked her chair by the always running fireplace.

"Gram, it's so hot in here."

"Nonsense."

"You do know it's almost 100 outside."

"What brings you here?"

"I have something I wanted to speak with you about."

"Shoot." As she listened, Charlotte continued knitting the blanket on her lap.

"So, he needs investors and I thought of you."

"So this friend...you dating him, Gracie?"

"No ma'am."

"And why not?"

"We're friends."

"Best foundation for a wonderful marriage."

"Gram, what do you think?"

"I think you like this fellow and you only live once. You should ask him out. I think girls do that these days, don't they?"

Gracie was sure girls did do that but she hoped he'd make the first move.

"I meant, what do you think about investing with his non-profit?"

"Bring him to meet me so I can talk to him."

"Bring him...Gram, I don't know."

"What don't you know? You don't expect me to invest in something without meeting who I'm investing with, do you?"

"I suppose not."

"Alright then. Give me a kiss, dearest and go get him."

"He's working today, Gram. But I'll let him know." She kissed Gram's cheek and smiled. "Love you."

"Love you too. Don't forget. Life is short."

"Yes, Gram."