Page 44 of Finding Love

When she woke, Ryder was gone. A note lay on the pillow next to her.

Morning,

I didn’t want to wake you. I have to go into the office for a few hours but hope to be back sometime after lunch. If you need me, I’m only a call away.

-R

Brook read the note a few times before climbing out of bed. She noticed that Willy was gone and wondered if the little dog was downstairs already.

After pulling on a swimsuit, shorts, and a shirt, she went downstairs and found the little dog lying in a sunbeam by the back door.

After giving Willy some love and opening the door for him to go out, she turned to see Benjamin stepping into the kitchen holding a tray.

“Morning, ma’am.” He handed her a hot cup of coffee. “I’ll have breakfast ready for you soon.”

“Thank you. It’s nice outside, I think I’ll enjoy it out there,” she said. He nodded and then disappeared again.

Stepping out into the sunlight, she realized she had no idea what time it was. Almost every single day of her life, she’d woken long before sunrise or shortly after. Being a baker’s daughter, she’d never had the ability to sleep in, even after a late night. Her mother and aunt had agreed once she’d moved out on her own that she didn’t have to be at work when they arrived around four each morning, but the damage was done.

She pulled out her phone and held in a gasp when she realized it was almost noon. She’d never slept in so late.

She watched Willy rush happily around the yard before sitting at the table and enjoying her coffee and the breakfast Benjamin brought out to her. The blueberry pancakes were delicious. After, she enjoyed a dip in the pool, a phone call to her mother and cousin, then a few more laps in the pool. Even Willy jumped in and paddled around for a bit.

She’d never expected that a French bulldog would enjoy the water so much.

After they dried off in the sun, she went inside to collect her iPad, but ended up turning on the massive flat-screen television in the living room and watching the news.

There were a few reports on the attack the day before, but none mentioned the woman’s name and, so far, the police hadn’t caught the man.

Brook thought of calling down to the station to see if she could at least find out which hospital the woman was in, thinking that she could have flowers delivered. But then she realized there were no words of comfort that she could say on any card.

When Willy jumped up and snuggled on her lap, she switched the station over to an old television show and, after a few moments, felt herself drifting off.

The night before, she hadn’t dreamed. But that morning, with the sunlight warming her through the large windows and the sound of I Love Lucy playing on the TV, the nightmares finally found her.

Instead of a public parking lot during daylight, it was night, and she was on a dark, narrow pathway. Willy had run off, and she was desperately searching for the little dog. She kept calling out for him as she raced even further into the darkness.

When she heard a branch snap behind her, she jumped and the sound of her breathing and her heartbeat kept all other noises from reaching her ears. She was blind due to the darkness and now, thanks to the loud sound of her body reacting to fear, deaf to everything except her own horror.

Turning in circles, she held her hands out as if trying to block what was coming. She was shoved from behind by a big hand on her shoulder, where the man had held on to her, only now, he was pinning her to the ground.

Suddenly, her face was wet as a rough tongue ran over her cheeks and eyes.

She jerked awake and looked up into Willy’s worried eyes. The little dog had woken her from the dream.

She wrapped her arms around him and held on, trying to convince him that she was okay as tears rolled down her cheeks.

By the time Ryder returned home, she was back under control.