AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She’s got a lovely character. Playful but calm,” Sarah agreed. “And she liked you,” she added, looking at Jackson. “Have you owned many dogs before?”
He shook his head. “I fostered a dog recently, but I’ve never had one before that.”
“Really? You’re a natural. You seem so at home here.” Sarah smiled. “It’s good you’ve had some experience, though. It makes things much easier.” She put her clipboard down on the reception desk. “So what do you think? Are you interested in her?”
“Yeah,” he found himself saying. “I’m definitely interested.”
Lydia looked up at
him, a ghost of a smile playing at her lips.
“That’s wonderful,” Sarah said. “The next step would be for you to come back for a second visit. This way you can spend more time with her, and take her for a walk in our grounds. Just to be certain you know what you’re letting yourself in to.”
“After that, if you want to adopt her, we’ll need to run a security check on you. And we’d bring Bella for a visit to your home. That’s our way to make sure she’d be happy there, and that it’s safe for her. And it gives us a chance to talk through everything you’ll need to get to make her feel at home.” Sarah smiled. “How does that sound?”
It felt a little like being run over by a soft, furry steamroller. Pleasant, but life changing. “That sounds good.” He smiled at Lydia, who squeezed his hand. It was crazy, because this morning all he had ahead of him was Lydia leaving and the silence in his house. And now in one easy move, his future was shifting and changing all over again.
Thanks to Lydia.
She’d changed him in every way. In the space of less than two weeks, he’d gone from being a workaholic to somebody who’d fallen in love with two dogs.
And for the woman who’d introduced them to him.
Damn, he was going to miss her. His chest tightened at the thought of her leaving.
One more night. That’s all they had left. Life would go on without her, he knew that. Making an appointment to see Bella again the following week was testament to that fact. But it wasn’t the life that his soul was searching for.
He knew that for certain.
26
Lydia placed the final piece of clothing into her suitcase and zipped it up, hauling it off the guest bed and onto the floor. She’d pack her overnight bag in the morning. She still had things she needed tonight. But in fifteen hours she’d be heading back to the airport and onward to Spain, leaving Angel Sands behind her like a sweet, distant memory.
Leaving Jackson behind, too. She tried to ignore the pang that caused in her chest, because tonight was supposed to be fun. Autumn and Griff and all their friends had thrown themselves into organizing a huge party on the beach, and she was determined to enjoy it for their sake.
“Are you ready?” Autumn asked, popping her head around the guest bedroom door. “The babysitter’s here and Skyler’s fast asleep thanks to the bath you gave her. We should head down to the beach.”
Griff had left an hour earlier to help Lucas and their friends set up while Autumn and Lydia waited for the babysitter. If she stood very quietly, Lydia swore she could hear the steady beat of the music coming up from the shore.
“I’m ready,” she said, taking another glance at her case. “And all packed up.”
Autumn stepped forward and hugged her tight, pressing her lips to Lydia’s cheek. “I’m going to miss you so much. It feels like you just got here.”
“I’m not leaving until tomorrow,” Lydia said, though she felt her throat tighten at the thought of leaving her sister. They never spent enough time together. With her job taking her around the world, and Autumn settling with her family here in Angel Sands, they were lucky to spend more than twice a year in each other’s company.
“I know,” Autumn said, her voice quiet. “But tomorrow morning’s going to be crazy. I assume you’re staying at Jackson’s tonight, so you’ll have to hurry back here and we’ll drive you to the airport first thing.”
“Is it okay if Jackson comes to the airport, too?”
Autumn smiled. “Of course it is. That’s so sweet. He really likes you.”
Lydia couldn’t get the tightness out of her chest. It had been there since Jackson had dropped her off at Autumn and Griff’s house earlier that evening. It was all feeling real now. Her leaving, his staying. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to make it through the evening without crying.
Or begging him to come with her.
“It’s a shame you have to be away for so long,” Autumn said as they headed out of the house and toward her car. “Have you and Jackson talked about when you’ll see each other again?”
Lydia shook her head. “It isn’t like that. We both know our lifestyles are incompatible. He’s here and I’m not.” It sounded so simple when she said it.
