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help, but it was driving Maddie crazy not knowing what they had planned.
    “Don’t worry, I’ll be sure you have the perfect outfit picked out. No matter what excuse you use, I’m not going to tell you, so don’t bother trying to get it out of me.”
    “Fine.” Maddie sighed but smiled to herself. “Can you help me with a different wardrobe question? I need to pick out a dress for an event on Wednesday. It’s a black-tie dinner reception with a lot of doctors, surgeons, et cetera. What type of dress do you think I should be wearing? Short or long? Conservative or fun?”
    “Well, it depends. What is the event for? Is it just dinner, a charity event, an awards dinner or what?”
    “Well,” Maddie thought about it, “I don’t know.”
    “What do you mean you don’t know? Is it for work? You must be able to find out some of the details.”
    Maddie hesitated.
Crap.
She was not prepared to tell anyone she was going on a date. She knew Molly would not judge her, but other people might. “Lola’s doctor, Todd, asked me to attend a dinner reception with him on Wednesday night. It’s downtown Chicago, so he asked if I’d like to go.”
    “Whoa, back up, Maddie! So, he asked you out on a date?” Molly asked excitedly.
    “I know. It’s too soon, but something about Todd felt right. I don’t want to rush into anything, but I can’t hang out at home by myself forever, right?”
    “All that matters is what you feel. If you want to go out with this guy, you should. Please don’t worry about what other people might think. This is about you and only you, but just so you know, I’m excited for you!”
    Maddie told her the whole story about Todd, and they narrowed it down to a couple of choices. After Maddie spoke to Todd and got a few more details she would make the final decision.
    “Thanks, Mol. I always appreciate your help. I have to finish up a few things before I head to the airport.”
    “Sounds good. Call me after your date on Wednesday. I don’t care what time it is, I want to hear how everything goes.”
    “I’m not going to call you that night, it could be a late evening and I have to work on Thursday. Besides, I’ll see you Thursday night, so it’s not like you’ll have to wait long.”
    “Fine, but I want every detail, so you better remember everything. You know me!”
    Maddie did know Molly—she would ask a million questions, so Maddie would have to remember every detail from the first word Todd spoke to what she ate for dessert.
    Maddie put her suitcase by the door and finished packing up her workbag. She watered her plants, turned the air down and was heading out the door before turning back to set the alarm. She’d become more conscientious about it now that she lived alone again.
    The car was waiting by the time she got downstairs and the driver quickly loaded her bags while she got into the backseat. She sighed as she leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes wearily. She’d been home for only seven hours and was not looking forward to travelling alone.
    • • •
    O ’Hare was crowded as usual. Cars circled the airport to pass time until their loved ones arrived. As her car pulled up to her terminal, Maddie watched people saying goodbye.
    Two kids hugged their dad. They stood while he headed to the doors. He turned one more time to wave goodbye. Their faces lit up when he turned back and their arms started pumping back and forth even faster.
    A couple around her age kissed goodbye. When they started to part ways, the guy reached out and pulled her in for one more kiss. He finally dropped her hand as she turned to walk. His eyes showed he hated to see her go, but he gave her a smile as she turned one last time before entering the sliding doors. Maddie longed for that feeling again, having someone miss her while she was gone and someone to look forward to seeing when she returned.
    Maddie had packed light, so she did not have to check her luggage. She walked up to an express