Holding the roast beef out in front of herself, she crossed the street and stepped into the woods on the other side. “Bear! Come here, girl. I’ve got roast beef. I’ve seen you share a sandwich with Mark. I know you love meat. Come and get it.”
She walked along, waving the meat like a lure in front of her, looking everywhere for Bear. Where was she? Oh God, what if she’d actually lost Mark’s dog? On the same morning his business burned down. This was a nightmare!
“Come on, Bear. Come and get this yummy roast beef!”
Bear materialized out of the woods beside her, tail still wagging as she eyed the tasty treat in Jessica’s hand.
Relief flooded through Jessica’s system. “Oh, thank goodness. Come here, you.” She waited until the dog had leaned in to snatch the meat out of her hand before she whipped the rope out of her pocket and looped it around her neck.
Bear drew back, startled.
“Sorry, girl. Just making sure you don’t run off on me again.” She tied a slip knot in the rope, just tight enough to keep it from coming over her head. Once the rope was in place, she fed her the piece of roast beef, which the dog gobbled down hungrily. “Okay then. Let’s get you home before you cause any more trouble.”
She led the way back across the street, and Bear followed obediently now that her freedom had been revoked. “I’m buying you a real collar and leash later today, just so you know,” she told the dog as she loaded her into the car.
Bear panted from the backseat, looking as innocent as could be with those big, fluffy ears and wide brown eyes.
“Good thing you’re so cute.” Jessica started the car and headed for downtown. She wanted to get Bear dropped off quickly so that she might have time to stop by Off-the-Grid on her way to the spa and at least get a look for herself at how bad the damage was. She parked in Mark’s spot in front of the condo building and climbed the stairs to the second floor with Bear at her side. She knocked on Trent’s door.
He opened it a minute later, his black hair disheveled like he’d just rolled out of bed. “Oh, hey. Here you go.” He held out a silver key.
“Thanks, Trent.”
The teen glanced down at Bear, still wearing her makeshift leash, and grinned. “She run off on you too?”
“Yes! She did it to you too?” Jessica couldn’t help laughing.
Trent nodded. “She doesn’t listen for shit when Mark’s not around.”
“No, she doesn’t. Well, I’m going to buy her a leash. Thanks for the key.” She waved at Trent and then continued up the stairs to Mark’s third-floor condo. Her right knee was protesting by the time she’d reached the top, which sucked. She’d hoped her symptoms would all go away by the time she finished her antibiotics, even though the doctor had warned her they might not.
She pushed the key into the lock and let herself and Bear inside Mark’s condo. Once the door was closed behind her, she knelt and slipped the rope off her head. “All right, girl. You’re on your own until Mark gets home.”
Bear walked over to the dog bed in the corner, pawing at something lodged beneath it.
“Did you lose a ball under there?” Jessica walked over and lifted the edge of the bed.
Bear grabbed a chewed-up wad of paper from underneath, heading toward the kitchen with it in her mouth.
“And here I thought you always behaved. Now you’re chewing up Mark’s stuff too?” Jessica followed Bear and pulled the paper out of her mouth. It was crumpled into a tight ball, slobbery and covered with chew marks. Jessica laid it on the kitchen counter, smoothing it out beneath her fingers. It was a note, addressed to Mark, smudged and tattered now thanks to Bear. And Jessica really didn’t mean to snoop through his mail, but she didn’t look away fast enough, and then she couldn’t look away if she’d tried.
Mark,
I’m so sorry. I made a terrible mistake coming here. I thought I could fix things, but it was too late. I’m moving on. If there’s ever anything I can do for you, please call.
Mom
A phone number was written below. Jessica drew back, a sick feeling roiling in her stomach.Mom.But that wasn’t possible…
Mark’s parents died in a car crash when he was six. He’d shown her that photo in his wallet, the one of him with his mom and dad. He’d told her…
Oh God.
Was it a lie? No. No way. There had to be some other explanation.
Her head was spinning. Clutching the tattered note in her hand, she slid down to the floor and reached for her cell phone. She started to call Mark, but instead her fingers tapped in the number written on the paper.
It rang twice, and then a woman answered, sounding groggy. “Hello?”
