By the time we reach the inn, she's consumed half a floor mat and what I'm pretty sure was important paperwork.
The inn is dark, which makes sense.
Sage is at the hospital with her family.
According to my careful stalking of Harper's Instagram—judge me all you want—baby James arrived at 11:23 PM, healthy and loud.
"Okay," I tell Buttercup as I park."Here's the plan.We go inside, I do some work on Sage's computer, you...exist.Quietly.Can you do that?"
"Maaah."
"I'm taking that as yes."
Getting into the inn proves easier than expected.
Either Sage gave me the door code in a moment of trust, or I'm better at remembering random numbers than I thought.
Probably the former, which makes my chest tight with something that might be feelings.
The lobby is exactly as I remember.
Warm wood.That faint scent of lavender and history.
The fireplace cold but waiting.
Buttercup immediately heads for the registration desk like she's reporting for duty.
"No eating the guest registry," I warn.
She gives me a look that suggests I'm being unreasonable.
I head for Sage's office, laptop bag in hand, trying not to think about how this is technically breaking and entering.
I have a key.Sort of.
A code is like a key.
Digital age and all that.
Her office is chaos, but organized chaos.
Sticky notes everywhere.Each one a different crisis or dream.
"Fix gutters."
"Goat yoga Saturdays?"
"Remember you're enough."
That last one makes me pause.
"She's never believed that," I tell Buttercup, who's investigating the waste basket."Always thought she had to earn her place."
Buttercup extracts a crumpled paper and begins shredding it methodically.
"That's probably important," I note.
She continues shredding.
