Sky’s grin widened as she switched ears.
“Your father’s being difficult,” her mother said. “But what’s new? See you soon.”
“I’ll see you soon, Mom.”
She hung up and turned to her mirror, inspecting the dress, then her makeup and hair. She’d put up her hair to show off the twisted spaghetti straps at the back.
Good. She looked good.
Good enough for Becket to take a second look?
The thought came out of nowhere, making her nose wrinkle. God, why would she care if that dog-hating, tree-butchering neighbor took a second look at her?
She didn’t. She absolutely did not. And even if he did take a second look, she wouldn’t know, because she wouldn’t be looking athim. Unless it was to plan his impending death.
After throwing her lip gloss and phone into her purse, she locked her house and headed toward her car.
She told herself not to look at the tree again, but damn if her gaze didn’t go straight to it.
It looked so bare.
Damn Becket.
She’d worked a half day today at the doggy daycare, and being a Saturday, it hadn’t been busy. Although…there’d been one new dog. A Border Terrier named Marty. Her fingers tightened around the steering wheel as she drove, thinking back to that morning. The second he’d trotted into the daycare, her entire body had frozen—because he’d looked so much like her Charlie. His strong jaw. His short, shiny coat.
A familiar ache twisted inside her chest.
Some days, she almost forgot he was gone. Some days, she still woke up expecting to see him next to her. Or hear him barking when she got home.
Tears pushed at her eyes, but she forced them back.
This is for you, Charlie.
And it was true. Every fundraiser lifted some of that unbearably heavy weight on her chest, like she was somehow making up for what had happened to him. And even though she wasn’t sure she’d ever feel ready to have another dog, running the doggy daycare allowed her to still get her daily fill.
The parking lot at the events center was almost empty. Good. Guests hadn’t started arriving yet.
Inside, there was a wide grand foyer with a huge staircase in the center, but she headed for a function room to the left.
When Sky stepped into the room, she couldn’t hold back her gasp. Beautiful. The lights were dimmed, making the chandelier sparkle above the large dance floor. There was a bar at the back and a band setting up at the front. Cocktail tables were scattered around the space, covered with black cloths and decorative glass animal centerpieces.
She smiled at the balloon arrangement with “The Humane Society” lit up in the center.
“Perfect,” she whispered.
“It really is.”
She spun to find Clara Hayes beside her. She wore a floor-length sky-blue dress and stood with a woman who had the most dazzling emerald-green eyes.
They’d actually gone to the same high school, but because Clara had been younger than her, they’d never spoken. Now she saw Clara regularly for acupuncture, and they’d become fast friends.
“Hi, you’re early!” Like half an hour early.
Clara cringed. “Sorry. A bad habit of mine. I hate to be late so sometimes get to places absurdly early.” She turned to the woman beside her. “This is my cousin, Indie.”
Sky smiled at the woman. “Hi, Indie. I’m Sky Williams. It’s nice to meet you.”
Indie dipped her head. “You too. This place looks great.”
