Page 18 of A Winter Thaw

Michelle’s eyes darted to where Audrey was looking, and she gasped as well when she saw that Puddle had started gnawing on her mother’s hairbrush.

“No, buddy,” Michelle said, scooping the puppy up into her arms again. “That’s not for you. Sorry, Mom.”

Audrey laughed. “No worries. I’m just glad it was the hairbrush and not another one of my shoes.”

“You’re a little devil, aren’t you, Puddle?” Elaine said, in a tone that sounded like she was telling Puddle that she was the most perfect dog on the planet.

“Theo called her a killer the other day,” Michelle said, laughing at the memory. “I thought it was funny. She’s such a roly poly little fluff ball.”

“When were you hanging out with Theo?” Audrey asked slyly.

Michelle felt herself coloring. “I wasn’t. I just ran into him at the store the other day. Puddle was chewing on a mat there.”

“Oh, okay.” Audrey smiled, and Michelle noted that her eyes still looked impish.

“Do you really feel like you’re up for handling this furry little rascal on your own?” Elaine asked. “You can say no if this is all too much for you, Michelle. I can definitely stay home from the trip and help you out if need be.”

Michelle shook her head, smiling, and Puddle licked her face. “I’m more than capable of handling everything by myself, don’t you worry. I want you two to go and have the best time. I’ve definitely got this. Don’t I, Puddle?”

Puddle wriggled so hard that Michelle had to let her drop to the floor. Audrey and Elaine laughed and returned to their packing. Michelle sat down in the armchair next to the window and let Puddle lie on her feet.

Besides, even if I don’t think I can handle this, I have to, she thought. I already boasted to Theo that I’m going to have everything well under control. There’s absolutely no way I’m going to admit defeat.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Let me take your suitcase, sweetheart.”

Audrey turned to Evan and smiled. “You’re so sweet, but I’ve got it. It’s not hard to roll, I promise—I know it looks like I’ve got a whole elephant in here, but it’s pulling along like it’s weightless.” She gestured to her big colorful suitcase with a laugh.

Around them, the hustle and bustle of the airport filled the air with the sounds of chimes dinging, people chatting and calling out, and the distant hum of planes taking off. Audrey had always loved airports—she found them to be thrilling, almost like a portal to worlds unknown. She loved the prospect of getting on a plane and flying through the air, and she also simply enjoyed the unique sights and smells of an airport.

I think there’s a kind of excitement that only happens when a whole bunch of people are in the same place together, she thought. Maybe that’s why some people love cities—they want to feel this kind of excitement all the time. I don’t ever want to live in a city again, but it is fun to pay a visit to this feeling of momentum.

Audrey, Evan, Elaine, Shep, and Michelle were all at the airport together. Initially, the plan had been for Michelle to drop Audrey and Elaine off, but Shep and Evan had wanted to come along as well, to see their women off to Boston. They were hurrying toward the check-in counter, talking and laughing as they went. Puddle, who was toddling along at Audrey’s feet, stopped to snuffle a pillar.

“We don’t have time for that, Sherlock,” Michelle teased. “The case is going to have to wait for another time.”

Puddle looked up at Michelle with a decidedly disappointed expression, and everyone laughed.

“I’m sure by the time we get back, Michelle will have that dog speaking English and knowing how to balance plates on her nose.” Elaine chuckled. “She’s really well-behaved.”

“Most of the time,” Michelle said, tugging Puddle away from a crumpled hamburger wrapper that was lying on the floor next to a trash bin.

“You’ll do great,” Shep said in his quiet, gruff voice, and Audrey smiled as she watched Michelle grin. Shep hardly ever said anything unless he felt it was really necessary, so his words meant more than they would have coming from someone else.

I feel like we’re all getting closer to Shep as he and Mom continue to date, she thought. He’s really a sweet guy under that grumpy exterior.

“All right,” Evan said when they reached the check-in counter. “Are you sure you have everything? Your laptop? Toothbrush?”

“Cell phone chargers?” Shep chimed in, looking at Elaine nervously as if she might fall apart the second she left his sight. “And you both have your IDs?”

“Yes.” Elaine laughed and patted his cheek. “It’s not like we’ve never flown before. But thank you for making sure.”

Audrey grinned, feeling a surge of nervousness and excitement. Her stomach was filled with butterflies of expectation, and she could hardly wait to get on the plane. At the same time, she hated the thought of leaving Evan and Michelle behind, even for a few days.

They got their bags checked and headed toward the security gate where their carry-on bags would be checked. Since Michelle, Shep, and Evan weren’t going to go through security with them, they started to say their goodbyes in a huddle near a pillar. Sunlight drifted down from windows placed high in the enormous walls of the airport, and Audrey watched the way it made Michelle’s dark hair glint with a hint of gold.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” she said, hugging her daughter tightly.