“We jumped into the deep end with both feet,” she continues, “and I feel as if we need to swim back to the beginning and start again, you know?”
“I do.”
“Maybe give it a few days, and then perhaps we could go out to dinner or something? Date properly?”
I smile, filled with joy at the thought. “I’d like that.”
“We all have to find a way to work together and exist in the same world, don’t we? And I don’t want to hurt Jude any more than we already have.”
That stings a bit. I wish her desire to be with me would override any concern over her ex’s tender feelings.
Then I feel guilty and poke the chair with my toe. “You’re right, we have to think about him too.”
She chuckles at that. “I’m not putting him first, honey. I’m just saying I want to do this right.” She hesitates. “Part of me wants to get on my bike and cycle over to you and get in your bed and just stay there for the rest of my life. I want that more than anything right now. But I don’t want to be with you just because I need comfort.”
“I’d like to say that I’d be okay with that.”
She laughs. “I’m sure you would, but you deserve more. I don’t want you to feel like a rebound. I think…” She hesitates. “I might be wrong, and I don’t want to jump ahead, but I think we could have something very special. And because of that, I want to treat it properly. Does that make sense?”
Happiness spreads through me. “Absolutely.”
“I don’t regret what we did either. I want you to know that.”
I nod slowly, relieved and pleased. “Okay.”
“All right, I’m going to get some sleep. I dozed off this afternoon, and I’m still shattered. I’ll probably see you tomorrow sometime though.”
“All right sweetheart. You take care of yourself, and if you need me, you know where I am.”
“Thank you.” She hesitates. Then she says, “’Bye.”
Was she going to say ‘I love you’? I’d have repeated it, but I just say, “’Bye,” and end the call.
I pick up my wine glass and stretch out, exhaling.
She’s officially moved out. Her relationship is over. And she wants to start seeing me. The realization dawns slowly, spreading through me, filling every part of my body with elation. It’s not a guaranteed happily ever after. But it’s a start. She doesn’t regret what we did. And she said,I think we could have something very special. It’s the first glimmer of a sunrise; a new shoot pushing through the soil after a long winter. It’s a beginning, and right now it’s more than I probably deserve.
*
The next day, I work at the Community Wellbeing Center until one p.m., have some lunch, and then walk up to the Ark. As I pass the new PAWS site, I can see that Isaac’s there with a couple of vans and three other guys. The front door is open, and they’ve already started work inside. I go in and introduce myself to them, chat for a bit, then leave them to it and head up the hill to the Ark.
I cross the Quad, tempted to go into the clinic and see Beth, but she’s probably working, and I don’t want to disturb her. Instead, I go into the Forever Home, carrying the leash I bought the other day. Kaia, who runs the admin side of things, is behind her desk, and she smiles as I walk in and says, “Hey Archer! Come to get Queenie? I’ve got the paperwork. Are you ready to sign?”
“Sure.” I put my signature on the dotted line.
“She’s had all her vaccinations, flea, and worm tablets, and she’s been chipped,” she says. “She’s all ready to go.”
“Thanks.” Oddly excited, I walk into the barn.
I thought Cullen would be here, but instead Jude is standing on the green training mat with the Spoodle. I pause and watch him take a small treat out of his pocket as he tells her to sit, and she promptly drops her butt to the floor.
“Hello,” I say, smiling as I walk up to them. She’s been groomed so her coat is quite short, especially around her face, revealing her beautiful brown eyes. She’s a gorgeous little dog, and as she sees me, she runs over, fluffy tail wagging, to greet me. I drop to my haunches to fuss her up, loving her eager kisses.
“Hey,” Jude says. “She’s all ready.” He gestures at her neck. “I had that done for you.”
She’s wearing a pink collar with her council registration tag attached. When I look at the small disc dangling from the collar, I can see that it has the name Queenie on it, and my mobile number.
“Thank you.” I look up at him, genuinely touched that he bothered.
