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Angie just grinned at her and put some eggs on the plate. Flora dutifully ate the eggs and drank the red sports drink that Angie put in front of her.
“See, happy plate. Can I go back to bed now?”
“Yep,” Angie said.
After cleaning up the dishes, Angie and Apollo went to the creek on the mountain. She stripped and splashed around in the water. Her mind automatically returned to the first time she brought Noah to the creek. She hadn’t laughed that much in ages.
“He’s gone and you have to get over him,” Angie told herself. “Constantly thinking about him won’t make you feel better or bring him back. It was good while it lasted and you have good memories.”
She had finished dressing and was about to leave when a small grey wolf meandered over to the creek.
“Jade. Fancy seeing you out here,” Angie said.
The wolf shifted. “Mom offered to take care of the baby while I got some exercise. Looks like you and Apollo are having fun.”
“Always.”
“Noah went back to the shifter world.”
“I know. I told him to go. He probably wouldn’t have gone home so soon, but I told him that he had to go before I started to care about him even more than I already did. There was no future for us so it was best if he left.”
“I’m so sorry.” Jade ran her hand down Angie’s arm comfortingly.
“Did I do the right thing?” Angie’s voice had a little hiccup in it.
“What does your heart and your gut tell you?”
“I did what I had to do to protect myself.”
“Then you did the right thing. I know you’re hurting right now, and I’m sorry. I wish I could help make it better. But I’m here if you need to yell, scream, or rant.”
“Thanks,” Angie said. “I guess I better get back. I left Flora in bed with a tequila hangover.”
“Those are the worst,” Jade groaned.
She and Flora spent the afternoon at the sanctuary, making sure that all the animals got some love. There had been a couple new family members added.
“They are acclimating well,” Lana said. “We found good homes for a couple of the cats and one of the senior dogs.”
“Glad to hear it, although I bet the animals probably didn’t want to leave. This is a paradise for animals. They have a lot of room to be free, food, water, pets, and treats,” Angie said.
“If I was a dog I would want to come here,” Flora said.
“We could get you one of those tiny houses and set it next to the farmhouse. You could move in there,” Angie offered.
“Don’t tempt me,” Flora said.
The two friends had dinner together and then Flora said, “I need to get home. I have to work tomorrow. Are you okay?”
“Right as rain.”
“If you need me, call me,” Flora said. “I could call in tomorrow.”
“Only if your head and stomach say you should,” Angie replied. “No one calls in sick because their friend has a broken heart.”
“I would.”
“Go home. Take a shower. Go to bed. I love you,” Angie said, hugging Flora.
