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Determined to save their relationship, Emma begged Chad to go to counseling with her. While their situation seemed to improve after they started sessions, she eventually discovered lipstick stains on his shirt collar and the scent of a woman’s perfume on his clothes. Despite the tears and heartbreak, Emma held on to the hope that counseling would help him change his ways—but he continued to see other women.
Her very last attempt to salvage their marriage was on their most recent wedding anniversary. She’d taken a day off to whip up a lavish feast for Chad, featuring all his favorites. Emma had spent hours in the kitchen, chopping vegetables and stirring pots, determined to make this day special, to remind him of the love they once shared.
As the day wore on and the clock ticked closer to Chad’s expected arrival, Emma stood waiting in her brand-new dress and heels, checking her phone for a call or a text to let her know he was on his way. But as the hours went by, the silence grew louder, suffocating her with each passing minute.
The sudden chime of the doorbell snapped Emma out of her anxiety-fueled stupor. She rushed to answer it, hoping to see Chad’s face on the other side. Instead, there was a man wearing a uniform, who handed her an envelope and left without a word.
As Emma read its contents, her chest felt heavy, forcing the air from her lungs. The sudden rush of blood from her head triggered a dizzy spell, blurring her vision. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the couch. Tremors ran through her hands as she fumbled for her phone, dialing Lisa’s number.
Lisa dropped everything and drove over right away. Emma sobbed and crumbled into her friend’s embrace, letting the envelope and the divorce papers inside fall onto the floor.
Together, they cleaned up the meal that Emma had prepared with such love and care. Every cleaned dish, every wiped counter seemed to erase a piece of the life she thought she had, leaving an emptiness within her, a void where love and trust had once been that now echoed with betrayal.
What made the situation even more devastating was that Chad hadn’t been the only man in her life to betray her.
The first had been her own father, Paul.
Emma’s thoughts trailed back to her twelve-year-old self, when she was left in her father’s care after her mother’s passing in a tragic car accident. Paul had begun drinking to cope with the loss, and what had started as an occasional indulgence soon spiraled out of control.
Under alcohol’s grip, Paul fell behind on the mortgage payments, eventually losing their home. In a moment of desperation, he dropped Emma off with her grandparents and left town. Many nights she had cried, hoping and praying he’d come back for her, but he never did. The most daunting part for her was grieving someone who was still alive, and in her mind, she had killed him to protect what was left of her shattered heart.
Just then, Riley started barking at a few seagulls up ahead. He yanked on the leash, snapping Emma out of her glum thoughts.
“Riley! Don’t scare the birds. They didn’t do anything to you.”
Riley looked back at Emma and let out another bark, but eventually gave up his quest. Emma turned and headed back down to the beach toward the cottage when her phone began to vibrate. Her face lit up when she saw the caller ID—Kara, the founder of Second Chance Rescue.
“Hey Kara. What’s up?”
“Hey Em. It’s going well, especially for you.”
“Is that so? Tell me more.”
“Well, we’ve completely sold out of the dog treats you brought in last week. I’ll need more as soon as the Independence Day festival is over. People love your Barking Orders brand. You’ve even grown a little following at the rescue. I’ve already had three people ask today when we’re gonna be back in stock!”
Her obscure brand of dog treats, which she had launched last year, was finally gaining traction.
Emma felt much better than she had a minute ago. “My goodness, Kara! I had no idea they’d be so popular. And I can have another batch ready for you soon. Thanks again for carrying them. I know it’s not like the usual stuff y’all have.”
“Oh, it’s nothing, girl. It’s time for the pet owners around here to try something different. How’s everything else going?”
Approaching the cottage’s back door, Emma fished out her key. “Oh, it’s fine. I’m fine. Just...getting the house together.”
“You can tell me anything, Em. No one expects you to be doing okay right now. Listen, I’m gonna come over soon with some ice cream so we can celebrate your housewarming, and the success of your hot new brand. How’s that sound?”
Emma let Riley inside the cottage and closed the door behind her. “Sounds like a plan. I could use a girls’ night. But I need to know one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Is the ice cream vegan?”
“Of course.” Kara laughed over the phone. “Do you think I don’t know you at all?”
4
Luke
As Luke neared the Georgia state line, a renewed sense of purpose filled him, and he steered his Range Rover toward a rest stop. Hadley Cove wasn’t far now, and with it, the hope of a brighter future for him and his son. The long drive had taken its toll on his body, and he couldn’t wait to stretch his legs. Pushing open the door, he took in a rush of fresh air as Jeremiah clambered out of the passenger seat. “Here.” Luke pulled out a few dollars and handed them to Jeremiah. “See if the vending machine has anything good.”
