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Luke chuckled and turned back to Jeremiah. “Well, I guess we have dinner plans for Tuesday.” He handed over the bags from the diner. “Can you take this in the kitchen? I got breakfast for us in town, although it looks like we’ll have a bit more than we bargained for.”
Jeremiah’s eyebrows raised with curiosity as he took the bags from him. “Pancakes?” he asked.
Luke’s lips curved into a smile. “Of course.”
As Jeremiah disappeared into the kitchen, Luke sat down on the porch steps and leaned back against a post. He couldn’t help but think about all the friendly people he had met in the town so far. Although Luke always had been a private person, he appreciated Ada’s kind gesture and how something like that would never happen in Chicago, where people rarely made small talk.
Closing his eyes, he took in a deep breath of the crisp morning air, letting it clear his mind. For a moment, he forgot about all the unpacking he still had to do and just enjoyed the moment, soaking up all the small-town vibes of Hadley Cove.
Chapter 7
Emma
The early afternoon sun shined brightly overhead and the sky cast a brilliant blue hue, free of clouds as Emma left the store. On the drive home, she heard a few crackles and bangs in the distance, signaling the start of early fireworks. This caused her to drive faster than usual, wanting to be there for Riley to calm his anxiety. When she pulled up to her driveway, she hurried, grabbing the bags from the back seat and hauled them over to the front door.
As she walked inside, she exhaled, letting out a breath of relief at the sight of Riley snoozing away in his dog bed. When she dropped the bags on the floor, he stood up, stretched, and trotted over to inspect them, wagging his tail excitedly.
“Hey buddy. These aren’t for you.” Emma leaned down to scratch behind Riley’s ears, then picked up the bags and carried them to the kitchen. Riley was close on her heels, making sure he didn’t miss anything that might fall.
“Riley, you already ate lunch.” She turned and looked down at him. “Don’t act like I don’t feed you.”
A whine rolled through the air and Riley retreated to the living room while Emma got busy in the kitchen. She pulled out all the ingredients to make her special blend of dog treats. Mixing bowls full of pumpkin puree and coconut flour littered the countertops. The afternoon had turned into evening, each minute slipping away like sand through her fingers, as she baked and packaged the treats. When she pulled out the sixth batch from the oven, she heard a loud popping sound outside and peeked through the window just in time to see a spray of red sparks burst through the sky. The fireworks had started.
Emma yawned as she cleaned up the countertops and put everything away. She was exhausted and ready for bed. She locked both the front and back doors before making her way to the bedroom, and changing into her pajamas. Riley hopped up on the foot of the bed, making himself comfortable. The fireworks continued to go off, but Emma fell asleep after only a few minutes.
The following morning, Emma slept in, waking up later than usual, around 11:00. As she sat up in bed and looked around, she noticed that Riley wasn’t there to greet her with his usual face licks. She realized it was past the time for his breakfast and morning walk.
As she rose from the bed, Emma stretched her arms, the salty scent of the ocean wafting in through the partially opened window. She gazed out at the picturesque view of the sandy beach, sparkling under the warm summer sun. A sense of calm and contentment filled her as she prepared to start her day.
“Riley? Where are you, boy?” Emma called out in a singsong voice, searching for her faithful companion. As she made her way through the cozy cottage, she heard the sound of water droplets echoing in the bathroom. She peeked in to find Riley lapping up water from the faucet.
“Silly boy,” she giggled as she crouched down to pet his soft fur. “You’re such a goofball.”
After tending to Riley’s needs and starting the coffee maker, Emma quickly jumped into the shower, feeling invigorated by the warm water cascading over her. She dressed herself in a pair of blue shorts and a red and white striped top, her attempt at patriotic flair for the day. She finished by tying her auburn hair up into a bun before heading to the back door to take Riley on a walk.
He eagerly wagged his tail by her side, as she secured his leash on him. Just then, Emma’s phone began to buzz. Pulling it out of her back pocket, she saw Lisa’s name flashing on the screen.
“Hey girl,” Emma answered with a smile.
“Hey! Happy Fourth!”
“Same to you,” Emma said. “How are you doing?”
“I’m good. I’m just checking to see if you’re going to Phil’s before heading down to the beach this afternoon.”
Emma’s eyes beamed with excitement. “Of course, I’m going to Phil’s. How could I miss that?”
“Well, I just wanted to make sure. I’m gonna be there soon, and then maybe we can meet a couple of hot, shirtless guys at the beach later on. What do you think?”
“Maybe,” Emma said, letting out a nervous laugh, the sound a fragile symphony of hope and trepidation. Her heart skipped a beat as she entertained the idea of meeting someone new. But like a shadow creeping over her joy, the memory of her painful divorce quickly dimmed her enthusiasm.
She knew all too well the sting of a broken heart, and she was determined not to let history repeat itself. She had been down that road before, and the scars still throbbed with pain. Her once unwavering trust had been shattered, and the pieces would not be easily mended.
Lisa’s tone turned serious. “Emma, I just want to see you happy again. I figured if you met someone new it could help.”
Emma’s mind drifted back to the heartache she had endured. She shook her head, her voice strained. “I appreciate you looking out for me, but I don’t think I’m really ready for all of that. It feels too soon. I’ve only been divorced for three months.”
She stepped outside, Riley following close behind. Emma held the phone and leash in her hand, letting the door close behind her as she made a mental note to fix the stubborn handle.
