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Haley
Having too many choices is overrated. You know, Costa Rica isn’t that far, sissy. You should come visit me soon.
Wren
Not sure when I’ll get vacation time. But I’d love that. On my way to Mom and Dad’s house in a few minutes. Miss you.
Haley
Miss you more. Give the ’rents kisses for me!
Wren
XOXO
Idon’t remember the last time we were all in the same room together. I think it might have been during the last of Haley’s many rehab stays. She asked us to come as part of her therapy. She spent a long time on themaking amendsstep. But that was the time it finally worked. Not the forgiveness part. My parents and I forgave her and accepted her years before that. We just wanted her to be okay. Something about that stint in the very expensive rehab facility on the California coast clicked with her, and it was her last one.
She says she hit rock bottom just before that, and that’s why she finally turned her life around. I’m not sure what that meant for her because she never shared it with me, but I got my sister back after that. It was a slow process, but she turned her life around. She finished her nursing degree and has traveled the world helping people ever since.
And here I am, back in Kroydon Hills.
God, I hope I made the right decision to come home. There’s something to be said about living where no one knows you. But the pull to come back here was too strong to ignore.
When I step outside later that morning, I’m greeted by a fresh layer of powdery white snow and a slobbery, excited bulldog. I bend down to pet him. “Well, hello there, Zeus.” He pushes his face into my hand, and I give him a good scratch as I look around for his equally slobbery owner.
“Where’s your human, buddy?” I don’t really expect him to answer me, but when his ears perk up and his head tilts to the side, I half think he might. A quick glance around my front yard doesn’t yield any signs of the sinfully sexy and ungodly annoying Kingston.
Thank God. It’s too damn early to deal with that man.
“But how’d you get outside then?” I muse.
After another tilt of the head, Zeus nudges me again, then takes a few steps in the direction of his house. When I don’t move, he turns his head toward me and lets out a lazy bark.
“Are you locked out, buddy?”Seriously? Am I having a damn conversation with a dog?
I take a few steps behind him and am rewarded with a wet nose against my leg before he trots next to me.
Oh, for goodness’ sake.
Fine. This is ridiculous.
I guess I’m walking him to his house.
Zeus pounces along in the dusting of snow covering the stone path that winds through the evergreen trees lining the properties. The stones eventually cut away from the trees, and the rest of Sawyer’s house comes into view. It’s all glass. Well, notallglass. But it seems to be more windows than wood.
It’s gorgeous.
Of course it is.
Zeus and I walk side by side up to the front door, and I ring the bell, then look at myself in the reflection of the glass-paneled double doors and adjust my wool hat. I may be thrilled to be back in Kroydon Hills, but I did not miss the snow or this freezing-cold weather when I was in California. Give me sunshine and seventy-degree days every day and you’ll have yourself a happy girl.
The chubby dog plops down at my feet, and drool drips onto the doormat.
He’s a cutie in his own sort of way.
After what feels like forever, I consider abandoning the dog here before finally giving in and ringing the damn doorbell a second time. I don’t have time for this. I’m supposed to be meeting my parents at their house and want to stop by the bakery first.
Just as I check my watch, Zeus’s sexy asshole of an owner comes into view through the door’s window.
