Next stop is my room. My dirty clothes are in a basket at the foot of my bed, and I drop Alexandra’s on top. I rummage through the boxes against the wall for a flashlight. I may have grown up in the country but I don’t want to encounter any of the wildlife.
With the flashlight and basket in hand, I head toward the front door. I’ll start at the front of the house and work my way around. I open the door, but don’t bother closing it. What if Alice comes back while I’m in the back? I don’t want her getting scared again and running in the opposite direction.
Miles didn’t say how far out to put the laundry. I set one piece down close to the house, walk out about five feet and set another one. Then another few feet and set down a third piece. I want Alice to have multiple pieces of our scent. Anything to make it easier for her to find her way home.
I continue this pattern all the way around the house. There’s no way in hell I’m going to leave a section unguarded. If Alice doesn’t come back, my daughter will be heartbroken. The thought of someone finding her and keeping her for themselves creeps into the back of my mind. She’s a pittie and I know people use the breed for nefarious reasons, but she’s such a sweetheart. All I can do is hope the people in Asheville now aren’t assholes. A lot could have changed since I lived here. Let’s face it, keeping a dog without trying to find the owner is a pretty shitty thing to do.
With the basket empty, I go back inside, closing the door behind me. A quick search around the house deflates any hope Alice came home while I was outside. I hope Miles and Alexandra are having better luck.
The only left to do is wait, as useless as it feels. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I take a seat on the sofa. Maybe I can find a picture of Alice to put on social media. Not that I have very many friends from here on my list. I kind of wrote Asheville off when I moved away. I don’t miss the irony in running back home when I need a fresh start. Anything to get me away from all of my ex-husband’s friends and family.
I finally find a good picture of Alice to post and open up my social media app. As I’m uploading, the front door bangs open and I hear stomping.
“She’s not out there,” Alexandra sobs. “What if something awful happened to her?”
As much as I want to tell my sweet girl her pup will be fine, I don’t. False hope isn’t something I’ve ever given her. “All we can do is hope someone found her and will contact us.”
“Why did we have to move? It’s been one thing after another.” She stomps off to her room.
My brother runs a hand through his hair. “Is this a normal occurrence?”
Shrugging, I scoot over on the sofa to make room for Miles. “It depends on the day. She hasn’t taken this move easily.”
“I can tell.” He sits down beside me, phone in his hand scrolling. “Is it because she won’t see her dad?”
“Not really. She won’t see her friends, and according to her it’s the end of the world. But she doesn’t understand all the other reasons. You remember how it was being a teenager.”
He’s already shaking his head. “Not really. I’ve partied a lot since then.”
Of course that would be his response. He’s definitely not the responsible sibling in the family. Well, he wasn’t back then. Now he’s pretty successful.
“What are you doing?” I watch his fingers move fast over his phone screen.
“Posting this picture of Alice on my social media. Alex sent me a photo. I was going to ask you do it, but the last time I checked, I was the only friend you had in the area.”
“Thank you.” I lean my head on his shoulder. “I had the same thought. Also, sorry this how you’re bringing in the new year.”
“No worries. You know I’d do anything for you and my niece. Y’all are my favorite people in the world. Peter is probably a close second.”
The sound of his name warms me inside and out. I remember following Miles and him around everywhere when we were kids. Not just because I didn’t want to be left out, but also because I may have wanted to be as close to him as possible.
“Wow, we managed to beat out women for a top spot. I’m impressed.”
“You should be.” He grins. “Not that I have much time for dating. We’ve been pretty busy at the ranch.”
“Can I make one request?”
My brother eyes me warily be nodding. He’s never liked when I make requests of him. It usually meant taking me wherever he went because I didn’t want to be home.
“Since we’re back in town and Alexandra isn’t used to your playboy ways, can you maybe not bring them around her unless it’s something serious?”
“Callie, she’s a teenager.” He rolls his eyes. It’s pretty much his automatic response anytime I say something he thinks is ridiculous. “She probably knows her uncle dates.”
“I know, but she needs some stability right now. She hates that we moved and I don’t want to do anything else that may upset her.” For once I’d love for my big brother to understand where I’m coming from. It’s hard because he doesn’t have kids, but he should want to protect her because he’s, her uncle.
He doesn’t say anything for a few moments and then he leans back against the cushions. “Okay.”
“Really? Just like that?”
