Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Maude heard the golf cart before she saw it.
The soft electric whir carried through the windows she’d temporarily opened to let out the scent of Robbie’s aftershave.
Why he even needed aftershave when he was just working in his flex space, she had no idea. Probably just habit.
The sound of the cart was followed by a light tap on her door that she instantly recognized. Ollie, arriving to pick her up.
She got up from her recliner, where she’d been checking email on her laptop.
She glanced toward the loft out of habit, even though Robbie had already left.
She’d heard him up early. The smell of the coffee he’d made had gotten her up, too.
Just in time to see him head out the door with his coffee travel mug, excited about another day of work.
That was nice to see.
“See you later, Pixel.” She grabbed her bag, checked that her phone was in her purse, and stepped outside.
Ollie sat behind the wheel of the golf cart, sunglasses on, one arm resting casually against the back of the seats. He smiled the second he saw her.
“Morning,” he said. “You ready?”
She climbed in beside him, smoothing her sundress as she settled. “I guess so. Even though you’re being suspiciously vague.”
He pulled away from the curb, his lopsided smile on full display. “Trust me.”
“That’s never comforting,” she teased, though she let herself relax as the cart rolled along the roads of the Colony. The day was getting warmer by the second, the air heavy with the smell of freshly cut grass and someone’s plumeria in full bloom.
A few people waved as they passed. Someone walked a dog. Another couple lounged on their porch with coffee cups, having a lazy Sunday. Maude enjoyed those, but time with Ollie was even better.
“Robbie still in bed?” Ollie asked.
“Nope, he was up before me,” Maude replied. “Which tells you how excited he is. He practically skipped out the door.”
“That’s good,” Ollie said. “Means he’s taking it seriously.”
“He definitely is,” she said. “The flex space is great, Ollie. Clean. Quiet. Plenty of space. He’s already got his workbench set up exactly how he wants it and is working on some samples for the arts and crafts fair.
” She paused. “I think for the first time in a while, he truly believes this could work.”
Ollie nodded, cornering smoothly. “That’s excellent. I hope it does work.”
“So do I,” Maude said. “I’m really proud of him. Even when he leaves sawdust on my kitchen floor.”
He laughed. “Occupational hazard, I suppose.”
They drove for another minute before Maude started to get a clue about where they were headed.
She was pretty sure they were headed toward a place she’d only driven past. A wide, low fountain came into view.
It sat before a long, pale stone building flanked by swaths of bamboo, royal palms, and other gorgeous tropical landscaping.
“Oh,” she said slowly. “Ollie.”
He pulled the cart to a stop in front of the Colony’s spa entrance, next to a tent sign that read Valet. “I figured a day of relaxation might be just what you need now that you have a roommate.”
“A whole day?” she asked, eyeing the place. “We don’t even have plans.”
“Yes, we do,” he said, climbing out and offering her his hand. “And I really hope you like them.”
“I think I already do.”
He handed the keys to the valet, got a ticket in return, and escorted her through the doors.
Inside, the spa smelled like eucalyptus and honey, probably from the beeswax candles dotted around the space. Soft music created a gentle background, and the air was noticeably cooler. A woman behind the reception desk greeted them by name, which Maude suspected was not a coincidence.
“Welcome in, Dr. Keen, Ms. Harrigan,” she said. “Everything’s ready.”
Maude looked at Ollie. “You really did plan this.”
“I did,” he admitted. “Couples massages, then facials, followed by lunch on the terrace afterward. Nothing strenuous. Just a day of relaxation, like I said.”
She studied him for a moment. “Did I seem stressed?”
“No,” he said carefully. “But you’ve had a lot going on. You’ve helped me. And you’ve been helping Blaise. And Ned. And now you have your brother living in your house. And you’re volunteering at the hospital. You’re doing a lot for other people.”
It did sound like a lot when he listed it out that way.
He shrugged. “I thought you deserved this.”
Her throat tightened a little. “Thank you for this. And for noticing.”
“I will always notice you, Maudie,” he said.
They were led down a quiet hallway and into separate changing rooms. As Maude slipped into the robe the spa provided, she caught herself smiling at her reflection. She already looked relaxed.
When they met up again in the relaxation room, Ollie handed her a cup of cucumber water.
“So,” he said, settling into a chair beside her. “Are things really all right with Robbie living there?”
She took a sip. “Yeah, they are. It’s better than I expected. He seems different here. Calmer. Focused. He’s not spiraling anymore, so that’s good.” She shrugged. “I think having a plan helps.”
“And you’re all right? Still getting your work done?” he asked.
She considered that. “I’m…adjusting. Sharing a space isn’t something I’d planned on. But it’s the right thing to do. And it’s what he needs. For now.”
Ollie nodded, but she could see concern in his eyes. She understood. He cared about her, so he wanted what was best for her. And he undoubtedly felt a little protective of her. She was all right with that.
The rest of the morning unfolded slowly in a combination of warm massage oil, hot stones, and skilled hands working on knots she hadn’t known were there. She slipped into a state of quiet where her mind finally stopped running ahead to the next thing.
It was bliss. She hadn’t realized how much she’d needed this. Ollie got big points for setting the whole thing up. Big points.
By the time they sat down for lunch—big salads and iced tea under a shaded terrace with tropical fans moving the air—she felt lighter than she had in days.
Ollie raised his glass. “To time together.”
Maude clinked hers against his. “And to good surprises.”
He smiled. “I was hoping you’d think that.”
“How does my skin look?” She turned her head, showing him her cheeks.
“You’re glowing.”
She grinned, knowing very well that was because of him, not the facial.
After lunch, they wandered the spa grounds for a few minutes, neither of them in any particular hurry. A water feature burbled softly nearby, and Maude felt herself relax even more. Like she’d finally accepted this was a good thing. Even her mind seemed to be staying calm.
The ride back in the golf cart was quieter than the ride there, mostly because they were both blissed out. They held hands, though, which kept a smile on her face.
When Ollie pulled up in front of her place, he turned the cart off but didn’t reach for the key right away. Maude stayed seated, very aware of how close he was. And a little thankful Robbie wasn’t home yet.
“That was a truly amazing day,” she said finally. “Thank you.”
He glanced at her. “You don’t have to thank me for that. You pretty much earned it with the help you gave me with my divorce stuff.”
“Um, you paid me for that,” she said. “And you already called in a favor for me with that flex space.”
He smiled a little at that, then leaned closer. “It was a really good day. Too bad we have to go back to work tomorrow.”
She laughed softly. “Yeah, too bad. Although I really like volunteering at the hospital.”
“I love that you’re doing that,” he said. “And not just because it means we get to have lunch together.”
She was still smiling. “That’s not a bad perk, though.”
They climbed out of the cart at the same time. Ollie walked her to the door, stopping just short of the porch steps. He hesitated before reaching up and brushing his thumb along her jaw.
“I know we’re taking this slow,” he said. “And I’m good with that. But I didn’t want to leave without doing this.”
He leaned in and kissed her, his mouth gentle but deliberate and definitely unhurried. Not a goodbye so much as a see you soon. Maude leaned into it, hands on his chest. The kiss seemed like the perfect ending to a perfect day.
When they pulled apart, she smiled. “That was nice.”
“Yeah, it was,” he said. “I’ll see you tomorrow, huh?”
She nodded, smiling. “Yep.”
She watched him drive off, listening as the quiet hum of the cart faded away. Then she went inside and, somehow, it didn’t matter that she was sharing her house.
She’d probably feel differently about that the next time she saw sawdust on the floor, but for now, she was too happy to care.