1
Madeleine Jackson watched the moving truck disappear around the corner before letting out a long breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
It was done.
The last box had been unloaded, the movers had been paid, and for the first time in what felt like weeks, she was completely alone.
She glanced up at the small white rental house in front of her. It wasn’t fancy, but it was exactly what she’d needed. Two bedrooms, a covered front porch with a porch swing, and a fenced backyard shaded by a massive oak tree. It was only a fifteen-minute drive from her parents’ house, close enough to spend every day sorting through their belongings, but far enough away that she wouldn’t have to wake up surrounded by memories.
That house held too many of them.
Too many reminders of two people who should still be alive.
A drunk driver had changed everything.
Madeleine swallowed the lump in her throat and forced herself to unlock the front door.
Boxes filled nearly every room. The couch sat crooked in the living room, the dining table leaned against a wall waiting to be assembled, and the kitchen looked like cardboard had exploded.
She should start unpacking.
Instead, all she wanted was a few minutes where no one expected anything from her.
She found her suitcase, dug out her navy blue bikini, changed quickly, then grabbed a towel and a bottle of sunscreen before making her way into the backyard.
The late afternoon Georgia sun was warm without being unbearable. She spread her towel across the grass beneath the shade of the oak tree and stretched out with a quiet sigh.
For the first time in days…
Nothing.
No funeral home.
No insurance company.
No attorney asking for another signature.
No distant relatives telling her how “strong” she was.
She closed her eyes.
Tomorrow Ethan would be driving down from Atlanta with three of their friends to help her begin cleaning out her parents’ house.
She wasn’t ready.
She doubted she’d ever be ready.
The breeze rustled the branches overhead, and for a moment she allowed herself to pretend none of this had happened.
Then,
“Billie, wait!”
“No, you wait!”
“I’m winning!”
Tiny footsteps thundered across the grass.
Madeleine frowned but didn’t open her eyes.
They sounded close.
Very close.
“So that’s where the butterfly went!”
Her eyes flew open.
Three children stood less than five feet away from her.
Everyone froze.
The oldest girl, maybe nine years old, stared with wide blue eyes.
A younger brunette clutched a butterfly net twice her size.
A little boy looked between them before grinning.
The oldest girl screamed.
Madeleine screamed louder.
The younger girl screamed because everyone else was screaming.
The little boy screamed simply because it seemed fun.
Madeleine scrambled upright, clutching her towel to her chest.
“Oh my God!”
The kids stumbled backward, nearly tripping over each other.
“Guys!”
A deep voice came from the neighboring yard.
Seconds later, a tall man jogged through the open gate separating the two properties.
He immediately took in the scene.
Three terrified children.
A startled woman wrapped in a towel.
His face turned bright red.
“I am so sorry,” he said immediately.
The little boy pointed dramatically.
“There was a lady!”
“I can see that, buddy.”
“We didn’t know someone lived here!” the older girl insisted.
“It was empty forever,” the younger one added.
Dean sighed.
“It was empty. It isn’t anymore.”
He looked back toward Madeleine.
“I’m really sorry. I’m Dean Hood.”
“Madeleine.”
“They’ve been treating your backyard like an extension of ours ever since the previous tenant moved out.”
Madeleine couldn’t help laughing.
“I think we all scared each other.”
Dean smiled.
“I’d say that’s accurate.”
The little boy stepped forward.
“I’m Sam.”
The older blonde smiled.
“I’m Billie.”
“And I’m Andie,” the younger girl added proudly.
“Nice to meet you,” Madeleine said, finally relaxing.
Dean folded his arms.
“Welcome to Brunswick.”
“Thanks.”
“You just move in today?”
“I did.”
He glanced toward the mountain of boxes visible through the back door.
“Looks like you’ve got your hands full.”
“A little.”
“If you’re free later, why don’t you come over for dinner? It’ll save you from digging through boxes looking for a frying pan.”
Madeleine hesitated.
She hadn’t expected to meet anyone today.
But something about Dean’s easy smile, and the hopeful looks on the kids’ faces, made it hard to say no.
“I’d like that.”
“Great.”
Dean smiled.
“Whenever you’re ready.”
She looked down at herself and laughed.
“Maybe after I put on some actual clothes.”
“Probably a good idea.”
The kids giggled.
“I’ll see you in a little while.”
Thirty minutes later, Madeleine crossed the yard wearing denim shorts, a white tank top, and sandals.
Billie answered the door before she had a chance to knock.
“Dad! She’s here!”
Dean appeared from the kitchen with a dish towel over one shoulder.
“Perfect timing.”
The smell of spaghetti filled the house.
“It’s nothing fancy,” he admitted. “Tuesday night special.”
“It smells amazing.”
The kids immediately pulled Madeleine toward the table, talking over one another.
“I have soccer tomorrow.”
“I lost my tooth last week.”
“Billie cheats at Monopoly.”
“I do not!”
Dean laughed.
“Every dinner is like this.”
“I like it.”
For the first time in weeks, Madeleine realized she meant those words.
Dinner passed easily.
The kids told stories from school while Dean attempted, and failed, to keep everyone from interrupting each other.
Eventually the conversation shifted.
“So,” Dean asked gently, “what brings you back to Brunswick?”
Madeleine’s smile faded.
She looked down at her plate.
“My parents.”
Dean waited.
“They…” She took a slow breath. “They were killed by a drunk driver a couple of weeks ago.”
Silence settled over the table.
Even the kids stopped talking.
Dean’s expression softened immediately.
“Madeleine… I’m so sorry.”
She nodded once.
“I’m their only child, so I’ve been handling everything.”
“The house?”
She nodded again.
“The bills, paperwork… all of it.”
“I can’t imagine.”
“Neither can I.”
Dean was quiet for a moment before speaking.
“If you need anything, even if it’s something small, you don’t have to hesitate.”
She looked up.
“I appreciate that.”
“I mean it.”
There was something reassuring about the way he said it.
No pity.
No rehearsed sympathy.
Just sincerity.
“My boyfriend and a few friends are driving down tomorrow,” she said. “They’re helping me start cleaning out my parents’ house.”
Dean nodded.
“That’s good.”
“So hopefully we can get through most of it this weekend.”
“I hope it makes things a little easier.”
“I do too.”
The conversation shifted back to lighter topics, mostly thanks to Sam proudly announcing he’d eaten three meatballs.
An hour later, Madeleine stood on the front porch.
“Thank you,” she said.
“For dinner?”
“For everything.”
Dean smiled.
“You know where we are.”
She looked toward the little rental next door.
“I do.”
As she walked home beneath the glow of the porch lights, the quiet returned.
Tomorrow would be difficult.
Probably one of the hardest days of her life.
But tonight…
Tonight, she wasn’t quite as alone as she’d felt that morning.
