In spite of his fatigue, James woke up early the following morning. Unwilling to wake Olivia, he left her a note:

“Good morning, sleepyhead. You looked so peaceful when you were sleeping. I didn’t want to ruin the tranquility on your beautiful face.

I’m visiting my folks in Brooklyn. I haven’t seen them in a while. I’ll be back before you know it.

I love you,

James”

Olivia was about to make some coffee, but, upon checking her cell phone, she discovered that Helen had sent her a text message:

“Morning, honey. Can’t wait to hear all the spicy details. Come over to my place. 84 Weston St. The view from my back porch is incredible.”

Her new friend’s invitation gave her one more reason to smile. Delighted by the idea of spending the morning with her, Olivia left James’ cabin and visited Helen’s house. She found her in her driveway, taking a bag of groceries out of her pickup truck.

“What a lovely day,” Olivia said with a toothy grin on her face as she approached Helen.

“Not just because of the sunshine, right?” Helen teased, as they kissed each other on the cheek. “Come on in.”

“Yeah,” Olivia laughed. “Don’t you have to be at work?”

“No. Today is my last day off,” Helen answered. “I might as well enjoy it. What about you?”

“Don’t remind me.” Olivia waved her hand in front of her face. “I hate the late shift.”

“Follow me.” Helen winked at her, picking up a teapot from the kitchen counter and two, red mugs. “I want to know everything.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Olivia declared with a mischievous smile on her face. “It gets a little too…”

“Hot?” Helen finished her sentence, as they stepped onto her back porch.

“I was going to say ‘personal’, but, you can say that, too.” Olivia chuckled, gazing out to the horizon. Her friend wasn’t lying about the view. Panther Mountain Peak was climbing into small clouds, surrounded by other, shorter hills. “It’s so pretty.” She pointed up ahead.

“I told you,” Helen said, pouring some tea into her mug. “I’m still waiting for those details.”

“It was very emotional,” Olivia responded, using an emphatic tone, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “But again, I didn’t expect anything less. I mean, it’s James we’re talking about here. Sensitive, romantic, loving…”

“That’s not the James I know.” Helen voiced her opinion, offering her friend a mug of tea. “Or at least he wasn’t like that, until a few days ago. I saw him outside, playing the guitar as usual. I’d only been in his cabin once. I brought him a bag of groceries he’d forgotten. He just mumbled ‘thanks’ and slammed the door in my face. This time though, he actually talked to me. I got full sentences. I thought: ‘Okay, something’s wrong here. What happened to him?’ I got my answer the next night. He looked broken … vulnerable … like something had been eating him up inside.”

“Is that why you kissed him?” Olivia asked.

“Guilty as charged.” Helen admitted, raising her hand in the air. “But like I said, he was broken. I’ve been in a similar situation before. A guy I used to like had just been dumped by his girlfriend. You know what I realized?”

“What?”

“That the only woman who can fix a man is the one who broke him.” Helen used a serious tone. “I like James a lot. Okay, I’ve been attracted to him for a while now, but it’s just physical. And if we started anything, I’d be just a rebound. I didn’t want that for myself, not to mention it wouldn’t last long.”

“Well said.” Olivia gave her an appraising nod. “But I can’t help but wonder. Why did you help me out? You barely know me.”

“No offense, honey,” Helen smirked. “But I was trying to help him, not you. You’re alright, you’re really fun, but seeing him like that just broke my heart. I felt like I had to do something.”

“Thanks a lot for being honest with me,” said Olivia while giving her a sweet smile. “Thanks for being supportive. I haven’t had much of that lately.”

“Are you talking about Red?” Helen asked with a cunning smile on her face.

“Exactly,” Olivia grumbled. “Gina just couldn’t understand what I was going through. She kept saying I was overreacting. I can’t blame her, though. She’s never been in love.”

“Oh, my God…” Helen whispered, “Really?”

“Nope,” Olivia continued. “She’s been unlucky, I guess.”

“More like ‘too brainy’ if you ask me,” Helen disagreed. “A girl needs to follow her heart from time to time.”

“Thanks for the tea, Helen,” Olivia said, rising from her seat. “Thanks for everything. I’d still be in New York, crying my eyes out if it hadn’t been for you.”

“No problem.” Helen chirped. “Before you go, I want you to promise me something.”

“Shoot.”

“You guys look great together. You’re compatible, and you have chemistry. It’s a pretty hard thing to find these days. You gave each other a second chance. Don’t waste it. The last thing I want to see is that big, handsome man look like a beaten dog again. Hold on to him. Make him happy. Please?” Helen tilted her head.

“You didn’t have to ask me that, sweetheart.” Olivia made her voice sound sweeter. “I’d do it, anyway. I promise.”