by Sarah Adams
There is a silent panic I’ve never felt before welling up in my heart.
Jake mumbles a few mmhmm’s and then says, “I’ll be right over.” He hangs up, and his shoulders relax. “She’s fine. She didn’t have a seizure, but she wants to come home.”
I sigh, feeling deep relief. What is this feeling? I’m worried about how my heart seems to be tying itself to not only Jake, but his daughter. “Whew. That’s good.”
He gives me an apologetic smile, and I already know what he’s going to say, so I hold up my hand. “Don’t apologize. I was going to decline your offer to stay, anyway.”
He gives me a look that says he doesn’t believe me one bit. “Yeah, okay.”
“I was! Jacob Broaden, I am a Southern woman of great moral principle. If you think I can be easily seduced by your pretty blue eyes, you’ll be sorely disappointed.”
He laughs and wraps an arm around me, pulling me up close to him. “Come with me to get Sam. I can drop you off at your apartment after.”
“You sure?”
He smiles and nods slowly before releasing me. He helps me gather all of my things, and Charlie, and the extra food bag that looks suspiciously less like “an extra steak” and a lot more like a full bag of groceries. I should turn him down, but…I don’t want to. I think I even see the box of tampons I opened earlier on the top, and I smile to myself.
Chapter Twenty-Five
JAKE
Evie and I pull up outside of Jenna’s house, and the door immediately flies open. Out comes Sam and Daisy, waving to Jenna’s parents who are decked out in stupid matching robes and slippers. They have their initials monogrammed on them (the robes and slippers), and they are giving Sam a pitying look as she barrels toward my truck.
I open the door and get out to help Sam and Daisy in and then wave back at Will and his wife, Beth.
Beth calls out, “So sorry you had to come all the way here in the middle of the night, Jake.” Okay, well, it’s ten o’clock, so not exactly the middle now is it, Mrs. Exaggeration? “We tried to get her to stay, but she wasn’t having it.” Beth’s voice annoys me for some reason. I think it’s because she’s looking at Sam like she thought it was a bad idea to invite her in the first place. It’s a pitying I-told-you-so look. As if my daughter is the first young girl in the history of girls to want to leave a sleepover early.
“No problem, Beth. I was glad to come get her.”
“Oh,” she says suddenly, tilting her head to get a better look through my window. “Sorry, I just noticed you have a friend with you.” She’s squinting hard, trying to get a good look at Evie, and I just wave and shut my truck door so the tinted windows will hide Evie’s face.
Beth is queen of the rumor mill at Sam’s school. She’s on the board and is also the cheer coach. That woman doesn’t like for anything to happen without her express knowledge and permission. I can see her chomping at the bit to catch a glimpse of my young, hot date so she can text everyone in her circle of moms that I now have hussies (that would be her word, not mine) sleeping over at my house, and no one should trust their daughters in my care anymore.
“Night! Thanks again,” I say, opening the truck door and slipping in quickly before Beth gets a peek at my mysterious woman inside. I think I’d make a good bodyguard if this architect thing doesn’t work out, because Beth isn’t awarded even the tiniest glimpse of Evie.
The moment I turn the key and start the engine, Evie leans over to me and says quietly, “Stupid robes, right?”
I wish I could kiss her right now, but I don’t know how Sam would feel about that. “You don’t like the matchy-matchy couple style?”
She grimaces and shakes her head before turning her whole body around in her seat to face Sam like she always does. It’s not safe in the least, but it’s sweet, so I allow it. “How’s it going, darlin’? Everything okay?”
I was literally opening my mouth to ask that very question. Why do I like it so much that she beat me to it? I shut my mouth and look in the rearview mirror to catch Sam’s answer, but her downcast expression worries me.
“I’m sorry, Evie. I tried. I really thought it would be fun. But…I just couldn’t stop feeling scared and wanting to go home.”
“Oh, Sam. Why are you apologizing to me for that?”
She shrugs. “Because I know that that’s why I have Daisy—to make me feel more comfortable and keep going on with my normal life like you do with Charlie. But even though I had her by me, and I knew she’d do her job, I just still kept feeling scared that I would have a seizure while I was sleeping. I just felt nervous and wanted to go home.” She pauses and looks at me now. “I’m sorry I put up such a big fight to go, Daddy.”
Her words pierce me. She thinks I’m going to be disappointed that she came home?
No way. I think she’s brave as heck for even fighting to go in the first place. Once again, I’m about to say all of this when I notice Evie unclick her seatbelt and start climbing over the center console to get in the backseat with Sam. For a split second, her butt is in the air beside me, and I have to remember to concentrate on the road.
She settles in beside Sam and wraps an arm around her shoulders. The sight shakes me, and I feel speechless now.
“Listen to me, darlin’, and remember this for the rest of your life: it’s always okay to go home. Anytime you feel uncomfortable or scared, never worry about what anyone else is going to think if you call your daddy and have him come get you. Your house is a safe place, and you love being there, and that’s something to be proud of, not embarrassed about.”
A car honks at me, and I realize I’ve nearly just sat through a whole green light as I’m listening to Evie give my daughter the best speech I’ve ever heard. I kind of just want to roll down my window and wave the jerk behind me to go on by. Can’t he see that I’m having a moment here?
“You’re not disappointed in me?” Sam asks Evie, not me.
It also strikes me that Sam is not even questioning why Evie is in the car. It’s like she knew she would be. Like she’s a part of our life now. How do I feel about that?
Evie squeezes Sam. “Never. I’m so stinkin’ proud of you for even giving it a try. Do you know that it took me a whole six months with Charlie before I felt brave enough to go anywhere without a friend with me? But there was nothing wrong with that either. We all find our bravery at different times, and that’s perfectly fine.”
Sam smiles and settles her head on Evie’s shoulder. “Thanks, Evie.”
“Anytime, sweetie.” She kisses the top of Sam’s head and brushes her hair away from her face.
The sight is tearing me up inside. In my little rectangular mirror, I see the most perfect picture of a woman that doesn’t have to be here, caring for my little girl who adores her, and their service dogs on either side of them.
Evie connects with Sam in a way that I will never be able to. This should upset me, but for some reason, it relieves me. Maybe I won’t have to do everything on my own after all. Maybe Sam will get to have a mother that cares for her like she deserves.
And dang it.
Those thoughts do not sound casual. They sound a lot like commitment.
Chapter Twenty-Six
EVIE
The morning after the best date of my life, I’m trying hard to focus while training a handful of our volunteers how to teach the newest batch of puppies to walk with loose leashes. But I can’t keep my brain from wandering off back to last night and how it felt to sit on Jake’s counter and kiss him.
“Evie, is this okay?” asks a volunteer.
“Yeah, it’s fine,” I reply, still in a daze until I realize that the pup is practically dragging the woman across the lawn to chase a butterfly. I snap into action, gaining both the puppy’s and the volunteer’s attention, and I quickly run back over the instructions on how to get the puppies to mind their manners on the leash.
We go on and on like this for a time, and I can’t seem to keep myself from checking my phone every c
ouple of minutes to see if Jake has texted me. Wow. I’m pathetic. I’ve gone from an independent woman to a needy girlfriend overnight. Actually, I’m not even his girlfriend. Just a needy girl with a Texas-sized crush on the guy she’s seeing.
Finally, the workday is over, and I’m on my way home. I feel so let down from not hearing from Jake that I think my arms are actually dragging on the ground as I walk. There’s sad music playing in my head, and I’m just about to break out in a melancholy ballad and let my hands drag across a field of wheat when I hear my phone ringing in my purse.
I pause on the sidewalk right outside of a bakery and grab my phone out of my purse. I don’t even look at the caller ID because I’m certain that it’s Jake. I think we have that special telekinesis that couples get when they’ve been together a long time. Technically, we’ve only been together for the span of one date (which was last night), but we connected on such a deep level that I don’t think we need the same amount of time that other people do to develop couple superpowers.
“Helllloooo.” My flirtatious tone is dialed up to ten.
“Evelyn Grace, why do you sound like an inappropriate phone operator of some sort?” Ugh. Mama. Apparently, Jake and I do need a little more time for those superpowers to kick in.
“How would you even know what one of those ladies sounds like, Mama?”
She’s quiet for a second, and I take that opportunity to give myself a tally in the book of Evie vs. Melony I started a few years ago. My therapist says it’s not healthy, but what does she really know, anyways?
Mama apparently doesn’t have a good rebuttal for that question, so she decides not to answer it. “I’m sure you’re busy petting puppies, so I’ll make this quick.” I think she has a tally book too and is probably adding a tick to her column right now, but she would be wrong. That one didn’t even hurt, because ha ha, the joke’s on her, I already did my puppy petting this morning, and it was a lovely way to spend my time as well as an important part of socializing the new pups.
I decide to sit on the bench outside of the bakery to finish this chat instead of continuing my walk home, because I have a feeling that I’m going to need some carb therapy after I hang up. “Very kind of you to consider my time,” I say and lean over to pet Charlie’s head.
“I’ll cut right to the chase. I want you to come to the house for dinner tomorrow night.”
“Umm thanks, but no thanks.”
“If you would have let me finish, you would have heard why I want you to come to dinner.”
I wince and shut my eyes because I can smell a Melony Jones special coming down the line. A fancy dinner that costs more than my whole week's worth of groceries, dessert that melts in my mouth, and a big ol’ helping of manipulation on the side.
“I would like for you to come to dinner because your daddy and I have decided to make a sizable donation to your little dog business.” Yep. There it is.
“Actually, our dogs are pretty large,” I say, but Mama doesn’t snicker because I don’t think she knows how to laugh at a joke. Jake would have laughed. I let out a long sigh and decide to be serious to get this over with faster. “A donation would be great. Feel free to make one at the benefit.”
A family is walking by me, and I can see that they so badly want to stop and pet Charlie. Most people are pretty good about not storming up to pet him without permission. But occasionally, I get a few who don’t understand that he is a working dog and will get right down on the ground and start loving on him without my consent. It’s hard. Not only because it usually makes me have to stop whatever I’m doing, but because it distracts Charlie when I need him to be his most alert. But I try to give everyone as much grace as possible since I know it’s difficult to ignore a dog as adorable and fluffy as Charlie.
But I’d be lying if I said I’m not relieved, though, when the family passes by me without stopping.
“Well, of course, we will make a donation at the benefit, but we would also like to make a special donation separate from the fundraiser.” Oh, Mama. I wish so badly she would stop trying to pull these puppet strings all day. I’m tired of dancing for her.
I’m halfway tempted to turn down her offer, but I can’t. We’re desperate for the money. More money means more dogs we can give away to those who need them. I would feel terrible knowing that I had to turn someone away who couldn’t afford the high-ticket price of our dogs because I was too insecure to have dinner with my parents. “And I’m guessing there is no way you would consider just mailing us a check?”
Mama makes a scoffing sound. “You know, Evelyn, you are starting to sound rather ungrateful for my offer. Maybe we won’t give an additional donation since it sounds as if you’re not in great need after all.”
I sigh so loudly I’m sure it sounds like a windstorm on Mama’s end. Looks like I’m going to be dancing tomorrow night. “All right, all right, I’ll be there. What time?”
I can practically hear the wrinkles creasing around my mama’s mouth as her lips form a smug smile. “Dinner is at 7:00. And please, for heaven’s sake, be punctual. We will have a few other important guests at dinner who I’m sure would be more than happy to pull out their checkbooks if you make a good impression. So, come wearing that winning smile I taught you back in your pageant days and a dress with a hemline that hits below the knee.” There is no doubt in my mind that this is all one big trap. I wish I knew what it was so I could be prepared before I get caught in it.
“I’ll be sure and pick up my nun costume from the dry cleaner.”
“Evelyn Grace, don’t you da—”
I hang up, and my phone immediately starts ringing again.
“I wasn’t serious. I don’t even own a nun costume,” I say, standing up and starting to walk home. I don’t feel like eating my feelings anymore. My stomach is twisting uncomfortably now that I know I have to go to my parents’ house for dinner.
“That’s too bad. I bet you’d make a sexy nun.”
It’s Jake!
“Ha! We do have telekinesis.”
“What?”
“Nothing. What’s up?” I realize I’m practically skipping down the sidewalk now. That’s what the sound of Jake’s voice does to me: turns me into a skipper.
“I was just calling to see if you have plans tomorrow night. And before you say anything, I know I’m supposed to wait 48 hours before asking you out on a second date, but this is Sam’s fault. She wants you to come over and watch a movie with us. It has nothing to do with me wanting to spend more time with you.”
I stop skipping and groan because now I’m doubly upset that my mama has manipulated me into going to dinner. “I wish I could, but I have dinner plans tomorrow night.”
“Oh. A hot date?” he asks in a playful tone, but I can tell he’s only half joking. My heart swells a little that he’s jealous of me going on a date with another man.
“Far from it. I’m being forced to go to a dinner party at my parents’ house because they are evil overlords who have too much money.”
“Gotcha. Okay, so do you want some company then? I can have June come stay with Sam.” He’s offering to go with me? I didn’t even really give him a valid reason, and he’s willing to go with me anyway?
“It’s going to be torture.”
“Will you be there?”
I laugh. “Yeah.”
“Then it’ll be worth it.”
Yep. I’m a goner. I am no match for this man. He makes me feel wanted and valued in a way that I didn’t even know existed. As scary as it is, I’m starting to picture a future with Jake. One where, after forty years of marriage, he still pinches my butt in the kitchen.
Charlie looks up and sees my dreamy expression and shakes his head at me. I think he really is getting jealous now.
“All right then, yes. I’d love for you to come with me.”
We continue to talk for my whole walk home, and before I know it, I’m lying on my couch and twirling my hair around my finger while Jake tells me about his d
ay. Yes, he’s made me a hair twirler too. Don’t worry, I’m fully aware of how annoying I am to be around now.
Finally, he asks for details about what he should wear tomorrow night and what time we need to be leaving my house to get to my parents’ place. I tell him 6:30, to which he replies, “Great. I’ll be there at 6:15 so I can mess up your lipstick a little before we go.”
I’m having so much fun in this flirty bubble with Jake that, at first, I don’t even realize that Charlie has suddenly stood up and come to sit in front of me, staring. It’s not a normal stare. It’s a direct look that he only ever uses when he needs my attention most. My chuckle dies out, and dread takes its place. I know this look. I’ve seen it many times.
“Hang on, Jake,” I say, and I think he can hear the worry in my voice, because he starts asking if everything is okay. I ignore him and focus on Charlie who is now whining, and I know it’s not because he needs to go potty.
Annoyed that I’m not acting on his signals, Charlie takes his alerting to the next level. He takes the hem of my dress into his mouth and starts tugging me. I blow out a breath through my mouth, because now I’m certain that Charlie is alerting me of an oncoming seizure.
I know what he’s telling me to do. “All right, buddy, I’m coming,” I say to Charlie, and I follow our usual procedure and get down on a clear spot on the floor. I probably could lie on the couch or my bed, but I’m always worried that I’ll convulse myself out of the bed and hit my head on the floor. Living on my own, I like to be more careful than necessary when it comes to my seizures. So, I lie on my back and take a deep breath. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve gone through this, though, it never gets less scary.
“Jake.”
“What’s wrong, Evie?”
“Charlie just alerted me. I’m going to have a seizure.” My voice shakes even though I’m trying so hard to put on a brave face. I’m going to be okay. Charlie will watch out for me. Once I lose consciousness and begin convulsing, I know that Charlie will move me onto my side to keep me safe. He’ll go push the button on the wall that calls Jo and then come back to stay with me and lick my face to bring me back into consciousness faster. Even now, he’s going to the fridge and using the tug rope to pull it open and retrieve a water bottle for me for after the seizure.
