Page 9 of A New Chapter in Rosewood Beach

“I’m doing okay.” Dean smiled appreciatively at Terrence. “It’s getting easier to stay rested. Noelle is really helping me with that.”

“She’s a great girl,” Terrence said warmly. “She cares about you very much.”

Dean nodded. “I didn’t expect to get diagnosed with early-onset osteoarthritis or fall in love with my physical therapist, but I’m really glad the second part happened.” He laughed.

“I don’t think most of us expect to fall in love when it happens,” Terrence said, a touch wistfully. The two men were quiet for a moment and then Terrence cleared his throat. “I ran into your mother the other day at the store. She was trying to pick out tablecloth colors for Julia’s wedding, and I helped her out a little.”

“Yeah? That’s awesome. Mom will tease Julia about being indecisive about wedding things, but I guess she’s indecisive too.” He laughed. “Julia’s lucky to have a mom like ours helping her out. She loves helping to plan the wedding, and whenever Julia is too busy to take care of all the little details, Mom volunteers to do some of it. It works out great for both of them.”

“Your mother is a kind woman.” Terrence felt his heart stir as he said the words, but if his tone sounded overly puppy-like, Dean didn’t seem to notice.

“She really is. She’s also been making meals for Alexis almost all the time. Even though the baby hasn’t been born yet, she wants to make sure that Alexis and Grayson don’t feel stressed right now. And heaven knows, Alexis has been eating like a bear getting ready to hibernate.” He laughed, and Terrence chuckled with him.

“It sounds as though your mother isn’t just kind, she’s also very busy. How does she find the time to do all that and also run The Lighthouse Grill?”

“I hear you. She blows my mind. It’s easier for her now that Julia is also doing a lot of the managerial work, and it’s not like she needs to be there every day. But it seems like most days she is there, and then still finds time to cook for Alexis, help Julia with preparing for the wedding, give Samantha homework assistance over the phone, check in on me and bring me snacks, and stop by Hazel’s work with books for her to read during her down time. I think she’s

super woman or something.”

Terrence whistled, his admiration for Vivian growing even further. “That really is something. It shows how much she cares about you all.”

Dean nodded. “We care about her too. We just bought her a present, to thank her for everything she does for us. We all pitched in and bought her a spa day for her, at a place in Providence.” He grinned. “She said it was too much, but she looked really happy about it. And it isn’t too much. She absolutely deserves it.”

“I agree.” Terrence loved the idea of Vivian getting a day to treat herself. “That’s great that you kids did that for her. I wouldhave agreed that she deserved it even before finding out how much she helps so many people out all the time.”

“She’s a mom, that’s for sure.” Dean grinned and then he noticed the time when he glanced at the digital clock hanging on the wall. “Let me just grab your car keys for you—they’re still in the office. Then you’ll be all set. I’m sorry it took an hour longer than I’d originally told you it would.”

Terrence scoffed and waved his hand through the air amiably. “Not a problem at all. It was still done in a very efficient manner.”

Dean grinned. “You’re a lot more easy-going than you used to be, Terrence.”

Terrence chuckled, accepting the good-natured remark gracefully, and not feeling offended in the slightest. “You’re probably right.”

He is,he thought as Dean disappeared into the office, thinking of fond memories of when he’d first started to feel more laid-back about details and schedules.And I do believe that a certain attractive widow definitely has something to do with that.

As soon as he’d had the thought, he reprimanded himself gently. He shouldn’t let himself feel so attracted to Vivian, since the two of them were just friends.

Dean reappeared, holding Terrence’s keys. He handed them to Terrence with a playful flourish, and Terrence laughed.

Vivian certainly raised some great kids,he thought.She must be so happy to see them all doing so well.

“I’m sure your mother is very proud of you, Dean,” he said as he pocketed the keys. “She must be thrilled to see all you kids thriving personally and professionally.”

Dean offered a bittersweet smile. “Thanks, Terrence. I appreciate that. In truth, I’m starting to get spread a bit thin, but I have a couple of guys coming in tonight for interviews, so I’llhave to see how that goes. We’re hoping to hire a new mechanic to take on some of the extra work.”

“That sounds promising.” Terrence clapped Dean on the back reassuringly. “I hope it all works out beautifully. Maybe one of these guys will be just what you need.”

“Maybe.” Dean’s tone made it sound as though he didn’t quite believe it, but he smiled anyway.

“Best of luck. I’ll have to stop by The Lighthouse Grill sometime to ask your family about it and hear how it went.”

“Do you need an excuse to stop by the pub?” Dean chuckled.

Well, I guess not, but I keep trying to come up with excuses to go there so that I can see Vivian,Terrence thought, wondering if the tips of his ears were starting to turn a bit pink.

Dean and Terrence exchanged friendly goodbyes, and then Terrence went out to the parking lot, where his newly-repaired car was waiting for him. He turned the key in the ignition, thinking about how nice it had been to catch up with Dean and hoping that everything worked out well for the young man.

CHAPTER SEVEN

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