Page 9 of Long Story Short

I let out a resigned sigh as I continue to stare at the two chairs placed next to each other. I can’t help but wonder who sat in those chairs before I bought the house. I don’t know much about the previous owners, but suddenly, I imagine a couple in love, sitting and enjoying the view. I imagine what it’d be like to bring a bottle of wine out here and share it with someone else while watching the sunset, or a cup of coffee while we watch the morning sun wash over the pond, and the ocean even farther in the distance.

Never once have I really ever cared to imagine my life with somebody else, but something about today and this house has me picturing what it’d be like to have someone here with me.

I close my eyes as I bring my pointer finger and thumb to pinch the bridge of my nose. I don’t know why I’m suddenly so fixated on this. Maybe it’s the house. Maybe I’m tired. Maybe it’s spending so much time today with Winnie and Archer and watching how happy they are that has these thoughts popping into my mind.

Or maybe it’s the fact that my dad won’t stop calling me, and all I can imagine is how he’s all alone. No wife. Kids who dislike him—rightfully so. And maybe it’s the realization that if I keep burying myself in work instead of living my life, I could end up just like him.

He’s all alone now. Despite how much he immersed himself in his job, he not only lost himself and his family but also everything he ever worked for.

A shiver runs down my spine as I imagine that becoming my life. I don’t want to work so hard that I lose who I am. I don’t want to end up alone. And maybe it’s Winnie’s insistence on us not overworking ourselves this summer that has me opening my eyes to just how much I’ve done nothing but that in recent years.

I walk across my yard toward the set of chairs, making a silent oath to myself that I’ll make this summer be different. As I take a seat in one of the chairs facing the pond, I make a promise to myself that I won’t become like my father. I won’t lose myself in work. I won’t lose myself at all. I’ll be better at seeking out experiences that have nothing to do with work.

I’ll spend time with friends.

Get out of my comfort zone.

SIX

JOSIE

“Mouse,” I call, walking through the hallway of my family’s Hamptons home. We got in yesterday, and while I thought Mouse was good with the location change, him hiding from me tells me that might not actually be the case.

“Mouse!” I yell out, trying to figure out where he could be. I’ve looked all over the large house, and I can’t find him anywhere.

I groan. I need to get some writing in this morning. I received the notes from my editor, and I’m ready to get started on making the changes, but I can’t focus on my manuscript without knowing where my cat is. His self-preservation skills are lacking, and I can’t focus on new words if I’m wondering if he’s found himself in trouble somewhere.

“Stupid, stubborn cat,” I mutter under my breath. He should be happy here. The house is even more gorgeous than I remembered. There are tons of extra rooms and places for him to explore. I even made sure to fly with some of his favorite toys, and I’ve been giving him extra treats to help appease him, but he still isn’t listening to me and coming when I call his name.

I pull my robe tighter around my body as I walk into the living room and look around. I’m scanning the room for Mouse when my eyes land on the open window.

“Shit,” I mutter, my eyes fluttering shut. It was a little warm in the house when we arrived yesterday, so I opened the window above the kitchen sink to let some fresh air in. I forgot to close it before going to bed last night. Mouse loves to sneak outside when we travel because he learned the hard way in Manhattan that the outdoors aren’t as good as he thought them to be.

I groan. Mouse could be anywhere outside. He loves to go exploring, but since he’s an indoor cat, his survival skills aren’t the greatest. If he got out—which I’m sure he did—there’s no telling where he could be.

I make sure the knot around my waist for my robe is tight as I push my feet into my shoes. I open the back door and step outside. If I weren’t looking for my missing cat, I might take the time to appreciate how beautiful it is this morning. There’s an orange glow over the trees and pool as the sun rises in the sky. Unfortunately for me, I don’t have the time to appreciate the view because I need to find my cat and get started on work.

“Mouse!” I huff, scanning the pool to make sure my cat hadn’t ended up inside it. Luckily, based on the other times he’s escaped, even outside, he avoids water at all costs, and I don’t see him anywhere near the pool. I look across the yard to the pond that sits behind the house. I let my gaze track over the space around the water, not finding any trace of Mouse at the pond either.

I step into the yard and keep looking around. He’s got to be around here somewhere. Typically, he never stops meowing. He’s always trying to boss me around somehow, but of course, when I actually want him to answer me, he’s silent.

“Mouse!” I whisper-yell. It’s early, so I’m trying not to be too loud. I don’t want to wake up anybody in the house next door to mine. When I got in yesterday, it looked like there was a car in the driveway, but I didn’t see any people over there. The car’s now gone, but that doesn’t mean that nobody’s home. There could be people sleeping inside, and the last thing I want to do is upset the neighbors on my first full day here.

I don’t know how long I’m searching through the yard when I finally hear a meow from a distance.

My head shoots up as I look in the direction of the sound. It sounded like it came from the neighbor’s house.

“Mouse?” I say, making sure I don’t call out for him too loudly.

Meow.

The good news is, I can hear him. The bad news is, he’s definitely somewhere at the neighbor’s.

“This freaking cat,” I whisper as I make my way through the side of the yard toward the home next door. I should be working right now, but instead, I’m trespassing into the yard of a complete stranger to get my cat that’s gone rogue.

I stifle a groan as I make my way through their yard. I feel guilty coming to their side, but I also need to get my cat. My eyes scan the space around me, hoping I can get in and get out without being noticed. I still can’t see Mouse, but another meow lets me know I’m heading in the right direction.

“You’re in big trouble when I find you,” I scold as I make my way to the sound of his voice. Unfortunately for me, it sounds like it’s coming from the back porch.