“No.No, we’re not going to do that. We’re going to pull up our big-girl pants and... and make dinner.” Never mind that the thought of food made her stomach roil. “Or go for a walk on the beach.” The thought of being around other people was repelling.
But after hearing her favorite word, Rio squirmed to get down.
“Fine, we’ll go for a walk.”
That would occupy her mind at least. Keep her from staring out the window like a stalker while Sam loaded up his truck. She leashed the dog and headed out back. The temperature had cooled considerably as the sun sank low in the sky. They headed down to the shoreline and turned south. But all the things that usually cheered her—the scampering sandpipers, the ripple of the waves, and the friendly passersby—did nothing for her gloomy mood.
Sam was leaving and she’d never see him again. Sadie rejected the thought. It was silly, since she’d known it would end when she returned to New York. She just hadn’t expected to get so attached to Sam so quickly.
Five minutes later her thoughts were so maudlin she cutthe walk short and headed back to the house. Once inside she couldn’t resist a peek out the sidelight. He was still here, and she couldn’t just sit around waiting for the sound of his engine.
Needing to talk to someone, she dialed Caroline’s number. She hadn’t exactly confided in her bestie about her relationship with Sam since it had only been temporary at best. But the phone rang until it kicked over to voice mail. Sadie hung up as tears threatened again.
“Nope. We’re not feeling sorry for ourselves.”
Rio didn’t even look up from where she lay chewing on Mr.Mouse.
Sadie’s stomach released a deep rumble. As much as she didn’t feel like eating, she needed some real food in her stomach. Plus cooking would keep her away from the sidelight. She chopped an onion (legitimizing her tears), sautéed it, then whisked two eggs with a dash of milk. After adding the eggs to the onions, the mixture bubbled around the edges. The smells emanating from the skillet did nothing to stir her appetite.
Rio joined her in the kitchen, staring up from the floor with eyes that seemed sad. Her ears hung low and her tail sagged.
“I know, girl. I’m sad too. You know what we need? We need some happy music.” She pulled her phone from her pocket and started her playlist. A second later the upbeat tune “Uptown Funk” began. The pulsing beat usually made her want to dance, but the rhythm seemed to have drained right out of her.
Rio whined and plopped in the middle of the kitchen floor, laying her head on Mr.Mouse.
“We’re going to be okay. We have a lot of work to do over the next several weeks, and then we’ll be back in New York and you can see your friends again. I’ll bet Lulu misses you.” Carolineregularly brought her rescue dog over for a visit. “Do you miss Lulu?”
Rio gave a deep sigh and looked away.
Sadie wasn’t fooling her dog for one second with her upbeat tone. Sadness was probably oozing out her pores.
She thought of the long weeks of writing that lay ahead, the long weeks of sitting out on that empty deck, waiting for someone who’d never come home. Her chest hollowed out and she swallowed hard. “It’ll go fast. You’ll see.”
When the omelet was done she scraped it onto a plate and set it on the island. She was just pulling out the barstool when the doorbell rang.
Rio raced for the door and Sadie wasn’t far behind. Her heart threatened to burst from the confines of her rib cage. She pressed her palm there.Reinitin. You’regonnascare him off for good.But she didn’t slow her steps and paused only to grab Rio before twisting the handle.
“Surprise!”
Sadie blinked at the woman standing on her porch as her stomach bottomed out in disappointment. “Caroline. I just called you.”
“I know. But I wanted to surprise you.”
“And you did.” She forced a happy tone. “What are you doing here?”
“I have an unexpected three-day weekend and thought I’d make a quick trip to visit my best friend.”
“That’s great.” Sadie surveyed her side of the drive, empty but for her own car. “How’d you get here?”
“I flew and then Ubered. Are you going to let me in or what?” She laughed.
“Of course. Come in.” Sadie moved aside for her friend and peeked out in time to see Sam striding back toward his apartment. His truck’s passenger door stood open.
She closed her door and set Rio down.
“This place is so nice.” Caroline spun around, taking it all in. Then she headed for the back and stared out the door toward the ocean. “Wow, the pictures didn’t do it justice. My mom’s been holding out on me. Speaking of holding out”—she pointed a finger at Sadie—“yourneighbor.”
“Wh-what do you mean?”
