~James~

Did Mr. Hansen really just welcome me into his family? I sigh as I look at the two turtles sunbathing on the fallen log in the water. They look content resting next to one another, and it reminds me of how little that resembles Melanie and me lately.

Sometimes I feel like she's not on the same page as me in our relationship. I mean, I can't believe she cared more about winning last night than spending the evening playing pool with me – her boyfriend – and her friends and family.

I sigh as I hear footsteps join me on the dock. I look over my shoulder to see Kevin and Melanie's cousin, Sean.

"Hey, future brother-in-law," Kevin chuckles.

I see Sean roll his eyes. "Want a granola bar?" he asks me.

"Hey, sure. Thanks," I reply as Sean hands me a granola bar from his pocket.

They sit next to me at the edge of the dock, unwrapping their granola bars. I join them and instantly the combination of chocolate and peanut butter fills my mouth.

"So, I hear you got a job," Kevin says.

I nod and swallow. "Yeah, doing sales at Winfried & Co. in downtown Boston."

"Oh, they're a good company, I hear," Sean says.

"Yeah, what do you do?" I ask.

"I'm the ski manager of Stratton Mountain Resort here in Vermont. Been doing it a couple of years now," Sean answers.

"And I'm an electrical engineer for the state," Kevin adds.

"For Vermont?" I ask.

He nods.

"How is living with Marisa and working a full-time job?" I ask Kevin.

He shrugs his shoulders. "It has its perks, but we made the mistake of getting a one-bedroom, so when one of us needs some space from the other, we're sometimes forced to leave the apartment. If we had gotten a two-bedroom, we'd have the space for some time apart, but I guess hindsight is twenty-twenty."

"I could never live with someone in a one-bedroom. Then again, I live in a loft right now, so I really couldn't live with anyone else without going crazy," Sean adds.

We all laugh.

"Hey!" Kevin says behind us to Marisa and all the others joining us on the dock.

I notice Melanie isn't with them. Where is she?

"What're you guys chatting about?" Marisa asks.

"Just getting to know James a bit better," Sean says.

"Who wants to go swimming? I'm already sweating," Charlie, Bianca's oldest cousin, asks the group.

"Definitely me," Kevin says.

"Good morning, Mellie!" Bianca says.

I turn around and see Melanie scowling as she trudges through the brush toward us. What's got her so wound up?

I stand up to kiss her good morning. She pecks my lips, and I try to lean in and deepen the kiss, hoping it'll put her in a better mood, but she quickly pulls away and crosses her arms over her chest.

"Join us for a swim, Mel!" Marisa says.

"I showered this morning," she mumbles.

"So?" Charlie asks.

"Well, I'm going for a hike. Who wants to join?" Sean asks.

She then perks up and says, "Sure."

Well, it looks like she doesn't want to be bothered right now, so I'm just going to stay here and swim with the others. As Kevin said, some time apart is good for a couple. Graham and Kara join Melanie and Sean on their hike.

After some time playing chicken in the shallow part of the lake and racing each other using different swim strokes, we all climb out of the lake, our fingers and toes well past pruned.

"Who's hungry?" Charlie asks.

"Me!" Kevin and I say simultaneously.

Bianca is the first to get out of the water. She throws on the tee shirt dress she left on the dock earlier and jogs out to the brush where Melanie, Sean, Graham, and Kara return from their hike.

"Let's see what Grandma Hansen has to eat for lunch today," Marisa says.

I slip on my sandals and head toward the cabin with the rest of the group.

~~~