Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
By the time Joe finished his last set, the crowd at Shooters had settled into that easy, happy lull that came from good music, good food, and the light buzz of alcohol. Maude had only had one gin and tonic, and Robbie, she’d noticed, had only had one beer.
If he’d done that because he was watching his funds, she was proud of him. Or maybe he’d done it because he didn’t want to drink too much in front of her friends. Or her. She was proud of him whatever the reason, but she also approved of him being frugal when it counted.
She’d overheard him talking to Paige and Essie about his Florida state charcuterie boards. Maybe they’d put in orders. He’d tell her if they had.
She checked the time on her phone and then looked at Robbie, who was mid-conversation with Paige and Graham, animated in a way she hadn’t seen from him in a long time. She didn’t want to end his night prematurely, but she was ready to go. Mostly because she wanted to spend some time with Ollie.
While Ollie headed to the bathroom, Maude dug her keys out of her purse.
“Hey,” she said, holding them out to Robbie. “You’re good to drive, right?”
He blinked. “Home?”
“Yes. My home,” she said. “Before you get any ideas.”
He laughed as he took the keys. “Yeah, I’m fine. Why? Do you need me to drive you? Did you have too much to drink?”
“No,” she said. “And before you ask—this is not a test. I just want to go back with Ollie so he and I can have a little time together.”
Robbie’s smile softened as he took the keys. “I get that. You leaving now?”
“Yes.” Maude stood. “Hang out as long as you want.”
Ollie appeared beside her, his own keys in his hand. “I’ll make sure she gets home safe,” he said.
Robbie gave him a look. “I wasn’t worried.” Then he rolled his eyes. “Don’t do anything I’ll have to explain to Mom.”
Maude waved him off. “As if. I know I said hang out as long as you want, but don’t be out all night either.”
“Okay, Mom.” Robbie grinned, knowing he’d landed that one.
“Yeah, yeah.” Maude shook her head before saying her goodbyes to the gang, making sure to give Joe a thumbs-up and a wave, since he was deep in conversation with the guy who looked like the manager on duty. With that done, she walked to the door with Ollie.
Outside, the night air was a little cooler and carried the familiar scent of salt. It was a nice change after the fried-food aroma of Shooters. Overhead, the strip mall lights buzzed with a low hum.
They strolled to Ollie’s car in comfortable silence, hand in hand, before he opened her door for her.
“Fun night,” he said once they’d pulled out.
“Yeah, it was,” she said. “Joe is pretty good, huh?”
“He is,” Ollie agreed. “I could do that again.” He let a few quiet moments go by before asking, “How are things with your brother?”
Maude leaned her head back against the leather. Ollie’s BMW was quiet inside. Like a vault. It was a nice ride. “They’re good so far. He’s trying to be a good roommate. That’s the part I keep reminding myself of.”
“Come on. How’s it really going?” Ollie asked. “Two siblings in a tiny house sounds like a reality show.”
She chuckled. “It could be. It really isn’t that bad.
We’ve had some good talks. He wants to make furniture.
Like, actually make a go of it as a new career.
He’s got big plans for the arts and crafts fair in July.
He’s already registered for a booth. I’m building him a website, too.
We’re talking about a storage unit so he can work without turning my house into a furniture factory. ”
Ollie nodded as Maude finished explaining about the storage unit, his hands resting easily on the steering wheel.
“That makes sense,” he said. “Getting him out of your living space without stopping his momentum will be good for both of you. And having his own space to work in ought to really dial it in that this is a serious opportunity.”
“That’s the hope,” Maude said. “I want him to feel like this is real. Not like he’s killing time on my couch. Or that my place is forever. I just need to find him some space that will allow him to do the woodworking.”
Ollie was quiet for a second, then said, “Actually…I might know someone who has some space Robbie could use.”
Maude turned toward him and raised her brows. “Seriously? Tell me.”
“There’s a guy I went to med school with—well, we did residency together—named Calvin Jensen. He left medicine a few years back. The stress was too much. Anyway, Cal now runs a small commercial property management company. Warehouses, flex spaces, that kind of thing.”
“Flex spaces,” Maude repeated, wondering how much a space like that would cost. “That already sounds promising.”
“They’re not fancy,” Ollie said. “But some of them are perfect for light fabrication. Concrete floors, plenty of power, decent airflow. And he’s got a few smaller units that haven’t been spoken for. I have one of them, actually. Storing some stuff I couldn’t fit in the new place.”
“Ollie, this could be just what he needs.”
“Cool. No promises, but I might be able to talk Cal into a better price.”
Hope came alive inside her. “This could be better than a storage unit.”
“For what Robbie wants to do, I’d think so,” Ollie agreed. “And if this is short-term, Cal’s usually flexible on lease length. Month-to-month in some cases. I’m sure he would do it for a friend of mine.”
She could have kissed him right then and there. “That would be amazing. Robbie really needs to get cracking if he’s going to get things ready in time for the arts and crafts fair.”
Ollie glanced at her. “I bet. Well, I can see what might be available. Again, no promises.”
“I’m not asking for favors,” Maude said quickly.
“I know,” he said. “But sometimes favors happen without anyone owing anything afterward. Besides, I already owe you for all the help you’ve given me with the divorce stuff. I know I paid you, but you went above and beyond. So just let me do this.”
“Okay.” She smiled at that. “You’re good at saying things that make it hard for me to argue.”
He chuckled. “Occupational hazard from dealing with patients, I suppose.”
Maude looked out the passenger window, the familiar streets sliding past. “If Robbie had a place like that…somewhere that felt legitimate…I think it would really help him stop second-guessing himself. Help him get focused on what could be. Help him get to work.”
“Then let me see what I can do,” Ollie said. “I’ll make a call tomorrow, first thing.”
She turned back to him. “Thank you.”
He shrugged lightly. “You’re helping someone you love to try to stand on his own. It’s admirable. I don’t mind lending a hand at all.”
Maude nodded, warmth spreading through her chest, not just from the solution, but from Ollie recognizing what she was doing.
Ollie shot her another look. “I just don’t want you to think you have to do any of this alone. If you need something and I can help, I want to do it.”
And that, Maude realized, was how Ollie had always been. She reached over and took his hand. “I’m so glad you’re back in my life.”
“Same here. This whole furniture thing with Robbie could really turn into something, huh?”
“Maybe. I’m hopeful,” she said. “Cautiously so. I told him I’d front the startup costs. As a loan, not a gift. But obviously, I want him to succeed more than anything.”
“That had to be a hard conversation.”
“It was a bit,” Maude admitted. “But necessary. He needs to have skin in this, you know?”
“I do.” Ollie nodded slowly. “It sounds a little like raising a child. He has to learn to be responsible for himself. To be accountable. To know that this isn’t just you rescuing him.”
“Exactly,” she said, surprised by how well Ollie understood her. Then again, he always had. “At least he’s not making a fuss about us seeing each other again. I expected something but he’s been great.”
Ollie smiled. “That’s good to hear, but he’d have to be a fool to upset the sister who’s doing so much for him.”
“He would,” she said. “Hopefully, Robbie gets that. Which I think he does.”
They drove in easy silence for a moment, the road stretching out ahead of them, quiet and dark and familiar.
“Thanks for taking an interest, by the way,” she added. “It feels good to talk about all of this instead of worrying alone.”
Ollie reached over, covering her hand briefly with his. “That’s what I’m here for. Always will be, too.”
Maude smiled and looked out the window, the night moving by in steady rhythm, and let herself enjoy the feeling of being taken care of.
She was falling in love with Ollie all over again, and as much as that made her happy, she wondered how he felt. He was barely divorced. Was he genuinely okay with getting this deeply involved so quickly?
They hadn’t talked about it.
It was a little unsettling how quickly her old feelings had crept back in. Not as dramatic as her teenage years, but very real and a lot harder to ignore. In high school, back when time felt endless, choices didn’t carry nearly as much weight.
They had different lives now. With different stakes. But the pull was undeniable. She wanted to be with him more than anything.
And yet…Ollie’s marriage hadn’t been over that long.
No matter how justified the divorce was, no matter how clearly it needed to happen, Maude knew better than to pretend that kind of ending didn’t leave a mark.
No matter how calm he seemed, how functional, how ready he looked on the surface, Maude knew better than to confuse stability with healing. She’d lived long enough to recognize that distinction. Had learned it the hard way.
She’d already seen it in him.
Okay, so he showed up, listened, offered help, did all the things a good man should do for the woman in his life.
But was that readiness or simply kindness?
She couldn’t tell. And she didn’t want to rush him into something he hadn’t fully processed, no matter how tempting it felt to lean into what was developing between them.
Maude rested her head lightly against the headrest, letting the hum of the car fill the space in her head where the questions were trying to take over.
Falling for Ollie again felt natural. Easy. Like they were always meant to be.
It was what happened next that might be hard.