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appreciation to the man who saved his wife from a horrible fate.
    He knew he had to tell Lara about Abby contacting him. It was important to keep everything out in the open, no matter how uncomfortable it would be at first. Even so, he had hoped he would never have to rehash the old girlfriend story from his high school years.
    He listened intently as Lara started the conversation while he finished prepping the lobster pie. She announced, “Well, the highlight of my day was hiring Hawk to work for Stone and Associates. He will run his crew out of the bungalow and I’m taking Eliot’s old office.
    Ben almost fell over when she told him she had relegated the bungalow to Hawk. She had only just moved her business in there and already she was moving out? He gave her a sidelong glance of utter disbelief.
    “I’m a bit surprised to be honest with you…” Ben uttered trying to stifle his emotion. “I thought you loved the place.” He swallowed hard. His shock yielded quickly to fury, but he stuffed it away.
    She glanced at him and he read the exhaustion on her face. She uttered, “I do love it, Ben, but Hawk needs space. It’s a business decision. The firm will give him clients and it will be a fifty percent proposition.”
    Ben worked on preparing dinner pretending not to notice what she just said… business …that’s all it was to her. The bungalow was a gift from him to her. It was in her name and she could do anything she wanted with it, he reasoned. Still, it hurt to think it meant so little to her she had given it away to Hawk.
    Hawk arrived right on time. He wore a faded denim shirt and chinos and smelled like Dial soap.
    Lara brought him to the table. “Hey, if you don’t mind, I’m going to toss on something comfortable. I’ll be right back.”
    “How’s the project coming along?” he asked referring to the garden at Clearwater Farm. Ben was now sitting across the table from Hawk
    “Great.” Hawk replied.
    Ben studied Hawk’s face. He seemed to be a man of few words. “Lara told me you’ll be joining Stone and Associates. Congratulations.” Ben said with enthusiasm.
    Hawk smiled, “Thanks.”
     
    ~ Lara ~
    Slipping into a pair of yoga pants and a faded green T-shirt, Lara arrived back at the table waiting for Ben’s delicious dinner to emerge from the oven. She sighed, “Oh, I just love lobster. I’m glad you chose that meal, Hawk!” Lara watched as Ben checked the oven.
    Hawk spoke softly, “Lobster’s my favorite. I don’t know how Ben guessed that.”
    “It was an easy guess. I think everyone in Maine loves it.” Ben glanced over his shoulder.
    “So, how do you feel about going on an appointment tomorrow with me?” Lara engaged Hawk in a business discussion.
    Hawk was quiet for a moment and said, “Sure. Let me know where and when and I’ll be there. How should I dress?”
    Lara mused, ‘You know that suit you had on this morning ~ wear that.” She noticed the hint of a smile on his lips.
    “Okay. Anything else I should know?” he murmured.
    Lara winked at him, “Just let things flow. Let the client do the talking after you introduce yourself. Take lots of notes. You are good at that already. Just do the same things you did with me. I think you’ll do fine.”
    Ben pulled the lobster pie out of the oven and placed a big bowl of freshly chopped salad on the table. “Dinner is served” he announced. The dinner lasted no longer than an hour and Hawk thanked Ben for the best lobster he ever had. They tried to convince him to stay for dessert and coffee, but Hawk said he wanted to hit the sack early.
    Lara walked him to the porch and whispered, “See you tomorrow.” And, Hawk was gone.
    Her eyes lingered on Ben as he piled the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. When he was done, Lara touched his arm, “Thank you for doing that for Hawk.”
    Ben’s gaze was serious, “I owe that guy much more than a lobster dinner. He’s the shy and quiet type, isn’t he?”
    “He’s