As it happens, I do—and so does Miriam. “¿YFiona?” she questions. “You haven’t mentioned her once, and you’re not wearing that loved-up look on your face. ¿Qué pasó?”
“I messed up,” he says miserably, then tells her what happened.
“So fix it,” she says simply when he’s finished.
“You say that like it’s easy.”
“There’s nothing easier than love,” she says, smiling at Dane, who leans over and kisses the tip of her nose.
“I don’t know that she feels the same.”
Miriam rolls her eyes. “Fiona? She’s wild about you. You just need to apologize.”
“And not do it again,” Dane pipesin.
“Oh, I don’t think we need to worry about that,” says Miriam, examining Miguel. “If she gives him another chance—and I think she just might—something tells me he’ll fight for love this time.”
Forty-One
We spend the next day at the store. Miguel orders falafel sandwiches for everyone for lunch, just like he used to. And Riley sells even more novels than usual while Natalie helps Dane move the table full of books with serious businessmen on the covers to the back of the store to make room for more bare-chested men with lustrous locks. Meanwhile, Brenna’s been glued to the computer, getting everything set up for the grand reopening. As for me, I take four naps but still manage to mooch a bellyful of handouts.
It’s almost like old times…except, of course, Amelia’s not here.
“You two good to lock up?” Miguel asks Riley and Dane at the end of the day. They nod. “That’s our cue, dog,” he tells me. “You need to take some meds and get to sleep.”
I sure do. At home, he hovers like the best dog dad he is, and once he’s convinced that he hasn’t made a mistake having me out all day, he tucks me into my bed. I’m about to doze off when I hear him in the kitchen.
“Hi. It’s Miguel. Right, obviously you know that becauseyou have caller ID. So, you know that I, uh. Well, I tried calling a few times earlier on break, so I guess I’ll leave another voicemail. Harold, um, he had an accident right before the blackout and it turns out his heart’s failing. We’re home now. He’s okay, but as you can probably imagine, he’s pretty miserable, and…I’m just wondering if you might let Amelia Mae come visit him, sometime before fall? Harold’s especially attached to her, and I thought she might lift his spirits. The vet said he probably doesn’t have a lot of time left. No pressure, though. Oh, and again—I really am sorry about how I behaved, Fiona. You’re right, I have no idea what you went through, and you deserve better. Also—oops, I guess that means I’ve run out of time. Okay, bye. I guess you can’t hear that, either. Oh well. I really care about you, and I’d like us to be together, no matter how complicated that is. I wish I’d told you that when I had the chance.”
Well, I’ll be doggone. For my next trick, I am going to talk him into admitting he loves her. Unfortunately, I don’t expect Fiona to let Amelia Mae come back to Michigan; I’m not even sure I would, if I were her. But I would very much like to see her again.
I wonder if she missesme.
I know she does.
But the medicine Miguel put in my food is making me groggy, so I close my eyes and let it take me under.
—
“Harold, can you hear her? Harold, buddy, wake up.”
Huh? Where am I? The bright light streaming through theliving room windows means it’s no longer night. But…why is Miguel holding the phone receiver out in front ofme?
“Harry? Are you there?” says a voice, and I nearly pee myself in excitement when I realize it’s Amelia Mae.
“He hears you!” Miguel tells her.
“Thank goodness—oh, Harry!” she cries. “You poor thing, how terrible for you! Are you okay? Are you bored out of your gourd?”
I whimper a bit.
“Aww, Har,” she says. “I know, and I love you, too. We’re going to figure something out so we can see each other again.”
“Does your mom know you’re calling?” Miguel asks tentatively.
“Ofcourseshe doesn’t!” she scoffs. “I saw your name on her phone and helped myself to her voicemail before she had a chance to delete your messages.”
“She deleted my messages?” says Miguel. “Actually, never mind, that’s not the point. I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
