From the same table, in the same café, Sean stared out through the fogged up
window at the little shop where he had spent the last year of his life. His gaze
was just as unfocussed as it had been then; but this time his mind was clouded
with all that had happened to him during the past twelve months. The shop still
looked roughly the same, but he was nothing like the person he was then.

His gaze was suddenly drawn to the men loading cardboard boxes sealed with wide
masking tape into the little ‘moving’ van. Orlando walked into view checking the
neatly written instructions on each box and pointing into the truck giving the
moving men unnecessary instructions. A smile played briefly on Sean’s lips with
the thought, Every job needs a gaffer and Orlando makes a great supervisor, that
way he can be nosey without actually doing much. He sighed and watched the young
man smile and obviously flirt with the removalist carrying one of the larger 
containers. Why didn’t I fall for Orlando? Sean wondered looking at the cheeky
grin, Life could have been a hell of a lot easier … a lot less complicated. His 
fingers fiddled absently with the empty teacup on the table, turning it in slow
circles on the matching saucer. 

His temporary ‘sea change’ was over.

A delicately feminine hand covered his and asked, “Penny for your thoughts 
Sean?”

Sean’s hand stilled and he looked at the woman sitting across the table, he 
smiled and shook his head, “Just considering the fact that the year is over and
the decision is made,” Sean then added with a sheepish smile, “I was also 
watching Orlando and thinking that the last 12 months may have been easier if I
had fallen for him instead of Viggo.” 

He blushed at his words, but Maggie laughed and said, “Ah Sean, I love my son to
death, but I know he would haven driven you round the bend in no time.”

Sean’s grin widened, “Yeah, I think you’re right. There have been a few 
occasions where I could have happily throttled him.” He looked out the window 
again to witness Orlando scribbling notes on one of the boxes, his expression 
turned more serious, “Mind you, I am not sure what I would have done without
him.”

Maggie squeezed his hand briefly and asked gently, “So how are you now Sean?”

Sean continued to gaze out the window, how am I now? Interesting question. He 
finally came to a conclusion and turned to look at her, “You know Maggie … I 
would have to say I am good.” A grin spread across his face at this admission, 
“Yeah, I am good. This is my life now and I am happy with it.”

Maggie patted his hand and released it so she could take a sip of her tea. She 
let out a contented sigh and said with an air of understanding, “I knew my 
little shop would win you over. I could tell you needed it.”

Sean laughed, but couldn’t deny it, “It did that! I don’t know how you could 
give it up?”

Maggie looked over at the shop, her voice slightly sad as she said, “I’ve had my
time there Sean, I had a wonderful marriage and raised my son to be a beautiful
person; what more could I ask? Besides, it’s your turn now.”

“My turn,” Sean murmured half to himself. He looked across the road again to 
catch Orlando writing something with the thick black marker on the forearm of 
the removalist. Sean squinted slightly until he could make out what looked like
a series of numbers. “Looks like Orlando has a new friend,” Sean chuckled 
tilting his head towards the scene outside. Maggie shook her head and said with
obvious love, “That boy is incorrigible!” 

Another man walked out of the shop carrying what looked to be a small, but heavy
cardboard box. He stopped and said something to Orlando then broke into easy 
laughter; Sean couldn’t help smiling.

“I can’t get over the change in him,” Maggie remarked, also watching the relaxed
banter between Viggo and her son.

Sean couldn’t take his eyes off Viggo as he replied, “Yeah, in some ways he has
really moved forward since you saw him last.”

Maggie studied Sean’s face and asked quietly, “In some ways Sean?”

Sean watched Viggo climb into the van to load the box, the smile still on his 
lips, but only barely as he answered, “He has his good days and his bad days, 
today is a good one.” Sean sighed and added, “He is a lot stronger than he was,
a bit more confident … but you know, sometimes I’m sure he still thinks of 
himself as homeless.”

“How do you mean?” Maggie enquired gently.

Sean glanced down at his hands trying to formulate the words to explain a 
feeling rather than an event. Finally he shook his head and said, “I don’t know
Maggie, sometimes he just … pulls back, withdraws into himself. I keep waiting 
for the day he is going to leave for good.” Sean stopped, took a breath and 
continued in a quieter voice, “He earned a bit of money doing a job for me a 
while back and, after trying to give it back to me for food and stuff, he bought
a bloody backpack. He still keeps his things in his pack … and sometimes I find
half eaten food, you know biscuits and the like, stashed in there.”

“I would imagine that is only to be expected hon, he must have a lot to be 
worked through ... it’s going to take time and a lot of patience. I still 
remember the terrified, shabby man I lured into the shop so long ago … but he 
has you now Sean.”

Sean looked down at his teacup, he flushed slightly, heat suddenly welling in 
his chest at Maggie’s words, “We have each other, he has done just as much for 
me.”

Maggie touched Sean’s arm and whispered conspiratorially, “I always knew he was
a special one.”

A special one, Sean thought, very special … but could only grin and whisper 
back, “I know.”

Suddenly aware of someone standing next to him Sean turned to see the waitress 
hovering with a fresh pot of tea. She smiled, lifted the pot and asked, 
“Refill?” Both Maggie and Sean moved their hands to allow her access to the 
empty cups.

Maggie watched Sean thoughtfully as he stirred a spoon of sugar into his tea and
said, “Orlando told me about Viggo’s son.”

Sean sighed and rested the teaspoon on the side of the saucer, “Yeah, we are 
working to get him visitation rights. It took some convincing to get Viggo to 
even try.”

Maggie nodded encouraging Sean to continue. He leaned forward in his chair and 
rubbed his fingers briefly across his mouth, “We went through a very rough patch
for a while.”

“Has he spoken to his son at all?”

“Not yet, but hopefully soon … we are finalising the divorce papers and I have 
called in a few favours with some lawyer friends.”

“You are a good man Sean,” Maggie said leaning over, squeezed his hand again and
added, “How is Viggo coping with all of this?”

Sean grimaced slightly at the question, but appreciated the comforting touch of
her hand, “Not well. To be honest it is not that he thinks Henry will reject 
him, it’s more that he doesn’t think he deserves to be part of Henry’s life.”

Maggie frowned at Sean’s words, “Stick with him Sean … I know it can’t be easy.”
Sean nodded quietly; it hasn’t been easy.

She took a bite out of her ginger snap biscuit chewed thoughtfully for a moment
and then said, “Whatever you are doing seems to be working and what is it they
say; two steps forward …”

“One step back.” Sean finished the sentence with a roll of his eyes.

“Yes I know, I’ve always hated that old cliché too,” Maggie said with a wink, “I
believe that we should be able to dance through life and only change tempo now 
and then.”

Sean looked at her and grinned broadly, “I think I can see where Orlando gets 
his outlook on life.”

“I taught him well,” Maggie laughed wagging her biscuit at him, “Actually Sean,
I am surprised you are staying in the apartment when you have such a nice one up
town.”

“I gave up the lease on that. This is where I want to be; this is home.” Sean 
replied and then added in a mischievous tone, “Besides it’s not many places 
these days that have an old fashioned tub big enough for two!”

Maggie wiggled her eyebrows in a fashion Sean had seen Orlando do on many 
occasions and giggled, “Oh believe me Sean I know … I know!”

Sean gave her an incredulous look and burst into an enthusiastic round of
laughter, “You are a wicked woman Maggie Bloom!”

Mid laugh Sean returned his gaze to the moving van and saw Viggo standing across
the street looking at him through the misted glass. Viggo’s smile was wide and
open and it filled Sean with such an overwhelming joy that it momentarily took
his breath away; Yeah, today is a good day.

Maggie sat in quiet recognition of the look on Sean’s face understanding enough
not to make any comment. Sean suddenly cleared his throat and blushed making 
Maggie laugh gently and say, “It looks like they have loaded the last of my 
things in the van; a quick trip to get the rest out of storage and we are done.”
Her expression saddened slightly at the thought of this chapter in her life 
closing.

Sean nodded, “Take a few minutes Maggie, I’ll settle the bill and gather the 
troops.” 

“Thank you Sean,” Maggie smiled as he got up and walked over to the cash 
register. She would miss her life here, but knew what she had said to Sean was 
true; her time here was over, it was their time now. Maggie took another nibble
at her biscuit and watched Sean walk across the road and slip his arm around 
Viggo’s waist. The smile didn’t leave her lips as she thoughtfully chewed on 
both the biscuit and the notion; their time now…


THE END