Page 22 of Happily Ever After

Essie had never heard her make that sound before, but then Maple had never had a reason to protect her before.

Was someone out there? For a moment, Essie lay still, listening, but she didn’t hear a thing.

Maple’s ears angled toward the side of the house. Her body position was alert. She let out the low growl again, quieter this time, and her tail stopped moving as her head lowered.

“What is it?” Essie whispered.

Maple didn’t look at her. She kept her gaze fixed toward the door.

Essie sat up slowly, pulling the blanket off. She rubbed her eyes and tried to get her bearings. The room was dim with the curtains pulled closed, but sunlight peeked between them where they met.

Then she heard it. Three quick taps on the door. It wasn’t an aggressive knock. Almost hesitant, actually.

Maple gave another low growl.

“It’s okay, girl.” But Essie didn’t really know if it was. She swung her feet to the floor and stood, listening again. Nothing. No voices. No more knocking. Just the quiet hum of the air.

She started toward the door only to stop when another knock came, the same quick three raps.

Essie hurried toward the front door, Maple close at her side. She stopped at the narrow sidelight and leaned slightly to catch a glimpse of whoever was out there. The frosted glass made it impossible to see more than a small figure standing in the shadows of the porch.

Essie had a feeling she knew who it was. She drew in a breath, then unlocked the door and opened it. “Sophie?”

The young woman turned, arms wrapped around herself. She had sunglasses on, hiding her eyes. Her hair didn’t look brushed, and she was wearing leggings with a big shirt that looked too warm for the weather. “Is my dad back from Italy yet?”

“No, I’m sorry, he’s not.” Essie stepped back. “Would you like to come in?”

Sophie swallowed. “Yeah, okay.”

She came inside and Essie closed the door behind her, then almost ran into Sophie because she hadn’t gone any further than a few steps.

Maple was sitting in front of her.

“You got a dog?” Sophie asked, almost accusingly.

“Yes. We just adopted her.”

Sophie pushed her sunglasses on top of her head and gave Essie a look. “We? How could my dad be a part of that while he’s in Italy?”

“Because we discussed it before it happened. That’s what married people do.” Essie was tired of Sophie always treating her like an outsider. She walked around Sophie and went into the kitchen to get herself a glass of water. “Your father was all for it. She’s good company for me. Especially with him traveling.”

And, based on Maple’s growling at Sophie’s arrival, Maple was also a pretty good judge of character.

Essie patted the side of her leg. “Maple, come here, girl.”

Maple obliged, trotting into the kitchen. Where she immediately sat and went back to watching Sophie.

“Do you know when my dad will be home?”

“As soon as things are under control at the new branch, I imagine.” Essie filled a glass with ice and water from the dispenser on the refrigerator door. “You could always call or text him and ask him yourself, you know.”

Sophie’s expression said that was a stupid idea. Or that Essie was stupid for suggesting it. Either way, Essie was in no mood to be Sophie’s punching bag today.

She sipped her water and leaned back against the counter. “What did you want to talk to him about?”

The look on Sophie’s face melted away. She swallowed. “Just some personal stuff.” She crossed her arms, then uncrossed them again just as quickly.

“Then I would really suggest you call him.”