“Says everyone except Gran. Hell, even Elsa said you can’t fall in love with someone you just met.”
“You’re referencing animated characters again.”
“Hello? Fairy tale?”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“Whatever. You love my face.”
“At the moment, I want to high-five your face,” Denise told her.
Bree stuck her tongue out. Denise returned the gesture before leading the way back out of the barn.
“Kimber! Kaden! Be careful with the dogs,” Denise yelled. Her young cousins laughed and ran around the large pen with three of the rescue dogs.
“Okay, Aunt Denise!” Kimber shouted.
Bree smiled at their antics. “So, this is different than your usual advice.”
Denise continued to watch the kids run around with the dogs. “What is?”
“This suddengive love a chancemindset. Not your usual stance on the subject.”
Denise shrugged. “I just don’t think you should talk yourself out of something that might be worth giving a shot.”
Bree knew her best friend better than that. She was avoiding. For all of Denise’s light-hearted banter and teasing, something was bothering her. An edge, a rawness, lying just below the surface. One that worried Bree.
“Denise. What’s going on?”
Denise crossed her arms and looked at her feet as she leaned against the barn. “Sarah isn’t going to make it,” she whispered.
“Oh honey, I’m sorry.” Bree copied Denise’s stance, but rested her head on Denise’s shoulder. “How long?” she asked.
Denise’s swallow was audible. Her breath caught as she inhaled. “Three months. Six at most if she continues treatment, but she doesn’t want to. She’s done with it. She wants to spend time with Kimber and Kaden. Enjoy it as much as possible, rather than spend days in bed or throwing up.” She shook her head, staving off her tears.
“I’m here, you know that, right?”
Denise nudged Bree’s head up off her shoulder and gave her a small smile. “You have enough going on right now.”
“Never enough when you need me.”
“Thanks.”
Kaden tripped and rolled. He laughed as two of the dogs licked his face. Pushing them away from his face, he jumped up and ran across the grass. “When do you need to take them home?”
“I told Sarah I’d have them back before six.”
“You wanna come over after you drop them off? Chinese take-out and a movie?”
“Sounds good.”
“You know these are emotions, right?” Bree teased.
“That probably explains why I feel the urge to carpet bomb an insurgent camp.”
The intro for Boogey Shoes sounded from the side of her purse. Dancing in place, Bree pulled it out and smiled at Jase’s name on the caller ID. She stepped out of the line to answer.
“Hey, are you back?”
