177.

The kids' excitement of greeting guests quickly transformed into sheer amazement at the size of the Escalade. While the adults ferried bags inside, Noah and the twins piled into the vehicle and bounced from seat to seat.

"Where'd ya get dis car, Justy?" Noah asked.

"We rented it," Justin replied, "Like it?"

"Yup!"

"Dissa a house!" Maggie said. She'd figured out the mechanism for reclining the seats and pretended, for a second, to be asleep.

"My bed back here!" Wyatt called from the third row.

"There's a TV!" Noah pointed to the small screen hanging behind and in between the front seats. "We need our blankets and pillows and some snacks and we can live here! Like a tent, but, with wheels!"

"Nee'toys, No," Wyatt said. He sounded a bit worried, but, at the same time, did not seem eager to leave his cozy spot. "Lego an' books and puzzles!"

"Yup," Noah replied in his assured big-brother tone, "We'll get 'em."

Olivia rounded the car and knocked on the window, startling all three kids, especially Maggie, who was closest. She laughed and put her hand on the glass, in front of Olivia's face. "Ma! C'inside!"

Olivia opened a door, "Are you three going to stay in here all day? It'll get hot."

"It's our new house, Mommy!"

"Oh, my, it is a nice house," Olivia replied. She paused to admire the black leather and sleek chrome finishes, "But we're all in the other house and we miss you. Please come and join us?"

Wyatt scrambled from the back seat, "I'm comin' Mama!"

"Aw, thank you honey."

"Imma DIVE!" On her feet now, Maggie grabbed the steering wheel and tried to turn it back and forth. It locked and she pouted. "Turnna cah on!"

"I bet we can go for a ride later," Olivia suggested. "Let's go out to the porch. Sarah's making Shirley Temples…"

"Lessgo!" Noah shouted. "Shirley Templesssss! With cherries!"

This was enough to entice Maggie. She and Wyatt followed Noah around the house, through the backyard and onto the porch where everyone was seated and sipping cocktails. Sarah had already made the kids' drinks and they were lined up on the coffee table, complete with paper umbrellas she'd ordered from Amazon especially for the trip. "No sippy cups, twinsies, so don't spill."

"B'careful," Wyatt said with his face halfway into the cup so his raspy voice echoed.

"There are straws, though!" Sarah said. "Somewhere…"

The porch buzzed with chatter and activity. The three kids, energized by the presence of new people, skipped around, sloshing their sugary concoctions, and making plans for the rest of the day. At one point Maggie sidestepped a small Shirley Temple puddle on the slats and crouched.

"Uh-oh! G'have ants!"

"Omigod," Sarah gasped, "She's so smarrrt!"

"We have a bit of a nature obsession," Olivia remarked, "Bugs, worms, you name it, Maggie is interested."

"Maggs, we should get you an ant farm," Sarah said.

"No," Ed muttered. He mopped the spill with a paper towel much to his youngest daughter's disapproval. He returned her frown with a goofy grimace of his own and Maggie burst into giggles.

Noah noticed G sitting on one of the new barstools and looking a tad overwhelmed. He skipped over to her and asked, "You wanna tour, G? When new people come we always give da tour."

G smiled, grateful for the rescue, "Sure."

"Mommy I'm gonna show G inside," Noah said with a giggle, "She hasn't been inside yet!"

Olivia and Ed exchanged guilty glances. "That was so rude of us," Olivia said, "I'm sorry, honey. I promise we're better hosts than this."

"No worries," G said, "I get the sense you spend more time out here than anywhere else."

"Very true," Olivia replied, "Noah, make sure to show G her room and where the towels are."

"Kay!" Noah turned to his siblings, "Babies, you comin?"

Maggie and Wyatt barely heard him.

Noah shrugged and opened the door, "You and me, G!" He giggled again, "Sare Bear, what we say?"

Without missing a beat, Sarah replied, "You're a poet and don't know it!"

G grinned and followed Noah inside, suddenly very grateful she hadn't decided to back out at the last minute.

…

Walking along the Hudson River was one of Ed's favorite ways to decompress. Often, after a day at Internal Affairs, he would grab a quick drink at a nearby bar and walk the half mile or so to the path. Ed had only lived in New York and always loved how, no matter where you were in the city, water was nearby. It was soothing to walk along and hear the water sloshing or boats motoring or even the echoes of car horns and kids' shouts while looking out in the direction of the harbor. Any city, Ed thought, needed a place near water where its residents could come to decompress, and New York had one of the best.

The first time he walked with Olivia along the Hudson, the conversation and premise were work-related, but he remembered how her hair flew around in the breeze and how much he wanted to hold her hand or put his arm around her or accidently bump into her. That had been several months ago, and so much had happened since then. When they were merely two cops who kind of liked each other debating the intricacies of a case, a stroll had been perfectly fine. Now that the line between friendship and intimacy had been crossed, Olivia was more reluctant to spend time together in places where they could easily be spotted by the wrong eyes. So, Ed was pleasantly surprised she and Noah were up for a walk that afternoon. They walked south since they would pass more playgrounds in that direction, and Ed had mentioned swings to Noah while he waited for Olivia to find a more casual jacket.

"How was today?" Ed asked as they meandered along. Their pace was in stark contrast to the joggers and bikers whizzing by.

"It was good," Olivia said in her mom voice, "We painted and did puzzles and took a nap, didn't we Noah?"

Noah looked up and grinned.

"Sounds fun," Ed replied, "What'd ya paint, Noah?"

"Bear and Zeeba!"

"He's excited for the zoo," Olivia explained, "Another couple of months…"

"Been to the Bronx Zoo?"

"We have," Olivia said, "But he'd just turned a year old. Last summer we only made it to Central Park. Kind of...got away from us."

"I seem to remember a lot of trips other places?"

Olivia shot him a grateful smile, "You do."

He noticed her bruises had almost completely faded and she had not made any effort to conceal what remained with makeup. In fact, she was wearing no makeup at all other than a bit of lip gloss.

"I remember one time I went with the girls and gave them some quarters for the goat feed or whatever that is? Well, I don't know if it was user error or not, but the whole container of it emptied into their hands. The goats went wild."

"I bet!" Olivia laughed, maybe a bit harder than she needed to, but she appreciated Ed boosting her mood. "A kid I went to school with ate it."

"Disgusting."

"Funny how you remember certain bits and pieces," Olivia said, "I must have been in third or fourth grade? For some reason I've held onto that memory."

"Because it grossed ya out so much."

"Probably."

They walked along for a few minutes talking mostly with Noah, and Ed worked up the courage to delve into more serious topics.

"How'd ya sleep last night?" Ed asked about the night before in particular because they'd spoken on the phone until well past midnight and she hadn't sounded the least bit drowsy.

"Not great. I think, I'm," Olivia paused to look at Ed as if she were making sure it really was her trusted confidante at her side and not an imposter, "I'm hyperfocused on work because I don't want to deal with anything else."

"One of the toughest things in the world is to try and clear your mind so you can sleep," Ed said, "I've read a hundred different strategies for it and none have worked."

"You've tried some?"

"Uh, no, not exactly."

Olivia laughed again. This time, it was even more sincere. She relaxed and drifted closer to Ed so their arms brushed against each other as they walked. Noah skipped along in front of them, his arm swooping back and forth across his body as he "flew" a toy airplane.

"I've never put much stock in that kinda stuff," Ed continued. "Self-help books, management books, leadership articles, none of it. Maybe I should."

"You seem to be operating okay without them," Olivia remarked.

Ed shrugged, "I am but maybe I'm missing something."

"Well I have many of those books," Olivia said, "And I can attest most advice is easier to write and read than put into practice. Longstanding habits...are difficult to change."

"Yeah they are...especially the ones that could kill ya."

"How long ago did you quit smoking?" Olivia asked, assuming cigarettes were the habit he was referring to.

"Five, six years ago. When they found that spot. Even then, it wasn't exactly cold turkey. But, ya know, sometimes I miss bein' able to go into a bar and have a few drinks and be able to smoke. It was, I dunno, somethin' appealing about the whole thing, the atmosphere, the way you felt like you were escaping. Not that you can't do that without cigarettes, but they were part of the whole production, the routine."

"That's the tough part," Olivia said, "Habits and routine go together, and they're a source of comfort."

"Exactly. And," Ed cocked his head and furrowed his brow, "You know, after I stopped smoking, I started walking more. Coming here more after work. Yeah, weird," Ed chuckled, "I didn't realize the two were connected until just now."

"I can see how these walks would help you relax, sort out your thoughts."

"Yeah?"

Olivia looked at him and smiled, "Yeah." Her eyes darted back to Noah, but she dangled her fingers so that they touched his.

He gave her hand a quick squeeze.

"Paygown!" Noah shouted. He spotted a few other kids pumping their legs on swings. "PayGOWN!"

"We have time to stop?" Ed asked.

"Of course," Olivia replied, "Can't have a walk without a playground stop."

"Want to grab some food after? There's a place close to here...has great chili...soup...might need to warm up. Sun's starting to set. Or, we can get it to go? Take a car back?"

"We can take the car back," Olivia said, "But let's eat there. It's so nice to...be out and, well, just, be."

Ed smirked and nodded, "I know what ya mean."

…..

Sonny had rolled his neck so much on the walk home from the park Brooke joked she would soon have a headless husband. Their team won the second kickball game, but being part of an undefeated team didn't make their muscles hurt any less. Part of the reason why Sonny was so sore was that he insisted on giving it his all on defense. He dove for line drives and threw the ball on dart-like trajectories across the field, clearly trying to prove his worth to their mostly younger teammates and opponents.

"I need the hot tub right now," he said.

"Couple more days." Brooke leaned forward over the stroller. Sofia had been gabbing away but now she was sound asleep. They were lucky to have a family-friendly team. Two of the players' spouses volunteered to watch kids during the games, so nobody had to worry about finding babysitters. This was the second week in the row Sofia was conked out after playing with her new friends. "Want to stop for a beer and some lunch?" Brooke suggested, thinking they may as well take advantage of the nap and the gorgeous day. Sonny agreed and they made their way to a restaurant they knew had outdoor seating.

The first and second beers went down quickly and easily. Sonny and Brooke found themselves enjoying the day and the conversation with each other. A major trial was ending, and Sonny talked about his closing argument and joked about all the wild techniques he could possibly use during Monday's speech. The topic led to a debate about old cop shows and Sonny demanding they watch the entire series of Hill Street Blues which apparently he grew up watching with his grandfather and loved.

"Such passion," Brooke said in reaction to his emotive summary of the show, "I'm intrigued."

"It's streaming!" Sonny announced gleefully.

"We have our evenings planned for the near future."

"Yes we do," Sonny grinned at her, "You think we should eat? This beer's going straight to my head."

"We should. Let's order when he comes back."

The waiter did come back but only to announce he was moving to the bar and another server would be with them shortly. He apologized for the mid-shift switch, but someone was ill and, post-pandemic, they weren't taking any chances. Brooke and Sonny assured him they understood. The new guy on duty soon sauntered out, still tying his apron, and fumbled with an ordering pad.

"Hey, I'm-"

"Aidan!" Brooke jumped up and gave Aidan an awkward hug over Sofia's stroller.

Sonny shook his hand, "How ya doin, man? Good to see you. We thought-"

"-you were in Texas," Brooke said. She sat back down, and, feeling extra fidgety, took a huge gulp of her beer.

"I moved back here after I graduated," Aidan said, screwing up his face, "Brutally hot there. Sorry, I, uh, shoulda called or something but I just got back and got moved into my place and finally got this job, and, uh, another one, so…"

"Busy guy," Sonny interjected.

"Yeah." Aidan shifted his weight from foot-to-foot. He was dressed in all black, sported a sterling silver stud in each earlobe, and wore several rope necklaces that looked uncomfortably tight. He'd let his dark brown hair grow longer and the shaggy mop framed his face, curling around his ears and at his chin. "So, uh…"

"Let's order," Brooke said brightly, "He's working, Son."

"Oh, yeah, right, sorry," Sonny smiled sheepishly, "What's good here?"

"I don't really know, I just started."

Brooke silently hoped he did not use this as his standard reply to patrons. She and Sonny both ordered burgers and more beer. Aidan nodded and started to head inside but Brooke stopped him. "Hey, I'm sure everyone would like to see you. We're going to the beach next week, but let's plan something soon, okay? Even if it's only the four of us?"

"Alright," Aidan mumbled.

Sonny waited until the door flapped closed behind him to react, "Well he's gone to the dark side."

"Did you see his nails?" Brooke asked of the chipped black polish, "It's like he's turned into the stereotypical goth. I hope he's okay. It's weird, right, that he didn't let us know he moved back?"

"Very weird."

"This is going to sound terrible," Brooke said, "But I'm relieved we're out of town for the next week. I don't want to feel obligated to reach out to him. I don't...want to deal with drama right now."

"You might have to. If he gets in trouble and needs someone quick, who do you think he's gonna call?"

"That's different. And why would he be in potential trouble? You can be weird and trouble-free."

"Can you?"

"You are."

They shared a good laugh but collected themselves before Aidan showed up with the refills. Sonny held up the new glass, "To being weird."

"And to yummy food."

"Yeah," Sonny said, "We need that stat or you're gonna have to carry me home."

…

Over dinner, Maggie and Wyatt updated their brother about the afternoon's events at school. Both amused and stunned, Noah listened as the twins took turns adding details to the story. This time around, Wyatt speculated the "stolen" phone was actually lost, and, when asked what led him to the conclusion, he replied, very simply, that Carter often misplaced her belongings.

"She's always asking 'where's my pencil?" Where's my stylus?' and runs around looking for it," Wyatt said.

"Drama queen," Ed muttered under his breath.

Noah laughed.

Wyatt grinned.

Maggie shoved a forkful of mashed potatoes in her mouth and said, "Yep. Drama queen."

Olivia shook her head and rolled her eyes at her husband. "Maggie, don't say that aloud in school. Wyatt, you either." She'd been burned once before by specifically warning one twin about something and not the other. They were sweet, but they were also very sharp.

"So she really hit him?" Noah asked. He'd been very intentionally sheltered from violence his entire life, so a private school tussle between eight-year-olds sounded more scandalous than it should have.

"Slapped," Maggie said and gently reenacted the assault on herself. "Like this. Not a punch."

"Brandon's face was super red," Wyatt added.

"They're gonna get suspended," Noah predicted.

"What's that?" Maggie asked.

"It's when you break a rule, a really serious rule," Noah said, "And you have to stay out of school for probably, three days. But you still have to do your work and then you have to do a bunch of stuff to erase the demerits, like extra volunteer hours."

"Whoa," Wyatt gasped. His eyes were wide and everyone at the table could tell he was terrified of this type of punishment.

Maggie screwed up her face, "You get like a snow day for fighting? How come you get to have days off when you're bad?"

Ed smirked.

Olivia answered, "Honey, a lot of school rules are old. Fifty, sixty, a hundred years. I'm sure suspending kids was to get them out of school for a while and away from everyone else and make them feel bad about what they did. And it bet it was a little embarrassing."

"Still is," Ed added.

"Which is why we don't hit people or push them or slap them when we're mad, right?" Olivia made eye contact with the twins. Noah didn't need the warning, but she gave him a seconds' worth of the glare anyway. "When there's a problem we solve it with words. So. What should Carter have done when she saw her phone was missing?"

"Tell the teacher," Maggie said.

"Exactly."

"Or just not lose the phone," Noah replied. "Be responsible."

Olivia could practically hear Ed's face contorting into a smirk again. His no-nonsense approach to every problematic scenario was rubbing off on their son. Noah even rolled his shoulders back like Ed did when he offered matter-of-fact, straightforward solutions.

"Didja get an email 'bout the fight, Mom?" Maggie asked.

"I haven't checked." Olivia finished the food on her plate and balled her napkin. "Okay. Before dessert. What did we learn today?"

Wyatt was first to respond. "If you're gonna steal a phone," he said, "Don't take Carter's."

…

Very deliberately, Noah led G through the house. He began in the kitchen and laundry room and proceeded through the dining area to the living room and den, opening and closing cabinets along the way and pausing to allow for added details or questions. He explained the large table was "not jus' for eating" but where they played their nightly card and board games. The Tuckers weren't a family who designated certain seats for each person, but Noah explained he and his siblings shared the loveseat when they watched movies. In the den, Noah sidestepped Sarah and Justin's luggage and showed G how the lower built in cabinets could function as excellent hiding places.

"If ya can't find those babies they might be in da cab'nets."

G recalled the twins using cabinets in a game of hide-and-seek under her watch back in New York. Maggie and Wyatt apparently had a nose for cabinetry concealment.

"Now, we go upstairs!" Noah said. He marched up the oak steps and turned left at the top. "Dis is Mommy's and Daddy's room." He went inside but G merely poked her head in. The colors-grays and blues with a few pops of seafoam and salmon-fit the home's modern-beachy decor. Catching G's eye was the part of the room where the slanted ceiling formed a nook complete with a window seat. The view of the ocean was impressive, but this cozy spot was, in her opinion, the best part of the space. The bed was haphazardly made and the pillows were piled against the headboard. "Dere's a bathroom in here, too," Noah said, "But it's jus' for Mommy and Daddy. Our bathroom is dis way. There's no tub in Mommy's!" Noah laughed incredulously, as if a bathroom without a tub were the most ridiculous housing decision ever made.

As instructed, Noah showed G where the towels were stored and pointed out extra shampoo, soap, and toothpaste. Next to the bathroom was the room where Brooke, Sonny, and Sofia would sleep, and the room directly opposite the master suite belonged to Noah and the twins. Its windows overlooked the street below and a good chunk of the small beach town. The room was large enough for two full beds, an armchair and ottoman, and a dresser. The kids' backpacks hung from wall hooks, and a few of their toys were on the floor. Books were piled on the nightstand. One bed was full of stuffed animals and their favorite blankets.

"This is a great room," G said.

"Yeah," Noah ran to the window and pointed to something in the distance, "And lookie! You c'almost see da marina where da boat is! You know we have a boat, right? Itsa pontoon."

"I heard. Sarah told me."

"Sometimes Daddy pulls us on da tube and sometimes we jus' go float in da middle of da bay! We probably go t'morrow. Okay, now, your room! It's right next door, neighbor!"

Noah grinned. He was missing a few teeth, a little sunstreaked, and sand and sunscreen were caked in his hair. He was wearing a bright blue swim shirt and matching trunks printed with smiling shark heads. The color made his skin pop, and G envied his tan.

"Follow me!" Noah said.

"Okay."

He pushed open the door with a flourish, "Here's G's room!"

"Wow," G said softly, "It's so nice!"

"Yeah," Noah said, "I helped Daddy paint dis." He slapped the teal accent wall and then heaved himself onto the bed. "And dis bed it extra bouncy! Sometimes me and Maggs and Wyatt like to jump on here."

"Oh, well, as long as I'm not sleeping that's okay with me."

Noah grinned.

Either Justin or Ed had brought her suitcase and tote bag upstairs, and she noticed someone had taken care to balance the overstuffed tote on the room's armchair. It was a good thing they were at the beach, because the lure of the water and sand were the only things G could imagine pulled her away from this space. To her delight, this room also had a window seat and a partial view of the ocean. The quilt was a simple white with subtle silver seashell patterns sewn in. On one wall hung a set of three beachy images-a sand dollar, a crab, and a clamshell, and on the other was a black and white panoramic portrait of the Bethany Boardwalk.

"Thank you for showing me everything, Noah," G said.

"You're welcome," Noah replied. "Wanna see da beach now?"

"Sure. Let's go downstairs and see what everyone else is doing."

"Kay."

On the way to the stairs G noticed the wall sconces illuminating the hall and the family photos hanging in between the fixtures. Olivia had obviously taken great care to select photographs of the family enjoying themselves on the beach and in the house. The kids were posed on the porch swing and in front of the surf. They hovered over sand castles and pretended to drive the boat. In one, Maggie and Wyatt were each perched on a jet ski and holding the handlebars. G assumed they were very close to shore, but whoever had taken the photo had snapped it at an angle, cutting out any sand, so it looked like the twins were cruising around on their own.

The home and everything in it radiated joy. No wonder, G thought, Olivia had wanted her to visit. Who wouldn't want to share this special place with someone who so badly needed it?

Halfway down the stairs, Noah saw his mother come inside.

"Hi Mommy!"

"Oh, Hi sweetie, I was coming in to see if you were lost!"

"Nope!"

"He's a great tour guide," G said. "Very thorough."

"I bet," Olivia beamed at her son, "Noah, Daddy's going to go to the market and get food for dinner. Do you want to go?"

"Yes!" Noah said. He turned to G and said, "I gotta pick out da lobster claws!" Noah ran outside.

Olivia smiled at G, "Does your room look okay? Need anything?"

"It's so nice," G said, "I don't need anything. Thank you so much, it's, I, I think being here is exactly what I need."

"Good," Olivia said. "We're so happy you're here." She gave G a quick hug, and realizing they were both beginning to tear up, made a concerted effort to be cheery, "Okay, now, I came in here to get you two and also for more daiquiri mix." Olivia opened the pantry and her eyes darted around.

"I think it's actually in the refrigerator," G said.

Sure enough, it was. Olivia laughed. "Noah covered all bases, huh?"

"Yes," G said, "He sure did."

Out on the porch, Noah had found a pen and paper and was carefully calculating the number of lobster claws and shrimp they needed. When he came up with the number, he handed the paper to Ed and slid on his flip-flops. Ed grinned and murmured he guessed it was time to go. Before leaving, he kissed Olivia on top of the head and asked, "Need anything else while I'm out?"

"No," Olivia said, grinning at him, "We're pretty well stocked."

"Be back soon."

Mundane interactions like this melted G's heart. While everyone else carried on the conversation, she couldn't help noticing how even a quick run to the market revealed Ed's attentiveness. He clearly lived to make sure his wife and kids had everything they needed and wanted. It was sweet and refreshing. Knowing Olivia and Ed had become a couple later in life gave G immense hope for her own future.

Maggie and Wyatt had been happily entertaining themselves after being ousted from the SUV, but now they clamored for attention. They targeted G and approached her with sand pails in their hands.

"Seasell, G?" Wyatt asked, "Wann'go out dere?" He pointed toward the water.

"How about we all go walk a little?" Sarah suggested to the agreement of everyone. "But let me run to the bathroom first."

G went inside as well. On her way back outside, she noticed a flash of light near the kitchen window. Upon closer inspection, she saw Olivia's rings in a small bowl probably crafted by Noah during one of his pottery classes. His school's art department was well-respected and generously funded, so the students were given frequent pottery lessons throughout the year. G knew this because part of her Christmas gift had been a bowl similar to the one holding Olivia's jewelry.

It was strange to see the rings separated from Olivia's finger, and it was all G could do to stop herself from trying them on. The square-cut diamond engagement ring was especially appealing. G was sure it was handcrafted specifically for Olivia. The design was elegant yet not overly feminine. Ed obviously had taken great care and a lot of time to select the one-of-a-kind piece.

She heard a door open and close and Sarah soon appeared. "Isn't this place grand" She asked, already beginning to slur her words. A walk and food were both good ideas.

"I love it here," G replied, "Thanks again-"

"-ah! Stop thanking people. No more thanking. We're thanked. We're-"

G held up a hand and laughed, "I get it."

The screen door opened and Maggie entered, looking as annoyed as a three-year-old could look. "C'mon!" She said, "Goin to d'beach!"

Sarah tugged one of Maggie's pigtails, "Yes ma'am. Sheesh."

"G'get sells!" Maggie let the door slam and she ran to catch up with Wyatt and Justin.

"We have two little ones who were apparently starting to get sick of their parents," Olivia murmured.

"Oh, Livvie, that is not true! You're the most fun parents in the world!" Sarah slung an arm around Olivia's neck and lowered her voice, "So, how's that shower treating you?"

Olivia's cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson. "Oh, you know, it's a shower…"

Sarah burst into laughter and squeezed Olivia even tighter, "Oh, Livvie," she said, "You are a terrible liar."

…

#Tuckson