Gavin only chuckles, giving me a wink as he follows his wife, carrying his little girl.
“Here’s to many more happy endings,” Heather adds.
“Yeah, I’d better get back and make some dinner.” Mav steps in the direction Haddy and her little family just went, doing finger guns. “See you bright and early, Sly.”
My eyes return to Maddie’s, and I give her one more squeeze. “We’ll practice walking Peepee again tomorrow after school. You’re going to walk her in the Pucks and Pups show, okay?”
She nods rapidly, whispering excitedly, “Okay!”
Our eyes meet, and we share a moment before I rise to follow my cousins.
“I’m coming with you.” I do a little wave to the room. “Thank you all for helping me find my dog.”
“Next time, we’ll check Ladybird’s cage first!” Maddie skips along beside me, holding my hand.
“Night, Heather,” I call over my shoulder.
Maddie stops to hold the door, and I look back once more to see Owen standing with his hand on his daughter’s shoulder, his eyes on me.
Maverick whippedup a batch of “kitchen sink” quesadillas when we got home, and as we munched, we chatted about Spanky and LB. He agreed thatSnooperdoodlewas far superior toBloodhoodle, or the much,muchworseBloodpoo, which he said made him barf in his mouth.
I told him with a smile, Haddy did the same thing!
He assiduously avoided any questions about whathappened with Owen, which I appreciated, but he also retired quickly to his suite letting me know he’d be sleeping with his AirPods in all night.
I shook my head, but I didn’t reply. Instead, I quickly cleaned up our plates, washed up the one dirty pan, and slowly climbed the stairs to my bedroom.
Now, the fresh scent of roses mixed with the earthy scent of hyacinths greets me from the hall, and my room is like a magical garden when I enter it.
I sit on my bed, looking around at all the gorgeous blooms highlighted by the soft yellow light of my cube lamp. I pick up my phone and take a quick photo, texting it to my cousin.
Gina
You really outdid yourself here.
Haddy
All I did was put them on the shelves. Owen did all the work.
Inhaling softly, I close my eyes, letting his grand gesture soothe the anger in my chest. I think about everything he said…I love you, Gina Grace. I can’t live without you. I’m a jealous motherfucker when it comes to you…
I’m lost in the memory of his sapphire blue eyes, full lips, dark hair, when my phone buzzes in my hand.
Haddy
Did you forgive him?
My thumbs twitch. I’m about to reply to her when another text lights up my phone.
Owen
Just catching up on my messages… Sorry for the delay—I was in a bad place and needed to get my head straight.
My heart beats faster, and I press my lips together. Lying back on my bed, I tap a quick reply.
Gina
I think you’ve apologized enough for one weekend.
