It turned out that the ocean did sound just a little different than he thought it did. But after over twenty years of only hearing it on TV, Roman had to figure he couldn’t blame himself too badly for his surprise as he stepped out onto the beach. The tide was out and the waves […]

There were customers in Iris’s shop again. Once she’d finished the repairs and reopened, it had been so quiet for so long that she was afraid the damage was done. To the point where she’d been considering whether it was worth selling everything and trying again somewhere else. She had options, even if it didn’t […]

Cleo hadn’t even thought about how things were different now when she accepted the invite to play at Club Apex on Friday night. All she’d been focused on was how she didn’t have to work that night and had the new album, so it’d be nice to play live again. And with the support she’d […]

It was busy at the clinic today. No emergencies (as of yet), but between the scheduled physicals, unwell visits, and last minute appointments being squeezed into every moment of the day, Dr. Degas had barely had a chance to sip water since she’d arrived. The idea of even eating lunch hadn’t occurred to her until […]

Noah was doing homework in his childhood bedroom. On some level, he knew he wasn’t supposed to be here, but that feeling went away pretty quickly as he tried to focus on the essay he was writing. Something about a book whose title was escaping him. But that didn’t matter because he needed to get […]

“Hey, Andrew, can I talk to you for a minute?” Andrew was walking from the bus stop toward his flat when Noah called. And the happy glow that had settled in as he answered now flickered into concern at Noah’s serious tone. This wasn’t working out. Whatever this was, not that they’d really set any […]

Noah broke about twenty-four hours after Andrew left New Winslow again. Another night of waiting for his father in the cemetery, knowing he wasn’t coming and knowing it was Noah’s fault, and he’d finally snapped. And now, three days later, he still hadn’t bothered to stop drinking. And he hadn’t called Andrew either.  Noah knew […]

Even though he’d promised he’d be there this morning, Olivia still wasn’t entirely sure Noah would actually be at the meeting with Jude. It was a long ride back from Boston and they were meeting midmorning, so he’d have to leave there pretty early to make it on time. It wasn’t the end of the […]

Andrew was torn between wanting to bring Noah out in Boston and staying right here in the flat with him all night. He knew it was impossible, but he did have a (somewhat guilty and yet again selfish, he knew that) fantasy that once he showed Noah around, then maybe he would come to love […]

“I’m trying to think if it’s even worth discussing the place over in New Salem tomorrow,” Olivia was saying as she spooned vegetables onto their plates at her kitchen counter. “I don’t know if we even have a shot at it. And it’s pricey.” Noah nodded as he poured a glass of milk for Mia, […]