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The next morning Sara refused to stay at home and pull the blankets over her head. She forced herself to get a shower, style her hair, and put on some makeup. It made her feel a tiny bit better.
She didn’t have an appetite, so she skipped breakfast. She grabbed a book and moved to the deck, hoping the sunshine would improve her mood.
The Watsons had picked up Oreo the prior evening, so he wasn’t around to distract her, and she didn’t have to go to the inn, because she was on vacation. Why did she think it was a good idea to plan some time off?
The sunshine warmed her, and eventually, she found herself getting lost in the words on the page. Before she knew it, she had finished the book she’d started the other day. It was time for a new book or two or three. Was it possible to have too many books? Sara didn’t think so as she walked past her wall of built-in bookcases, which held all of her keepers—the books she could read over and over again.
She headed out the door on a mission. She’d spent many hours in the Seaside Bookshop. She loved the place, but tried not to go right after her payday or else she’d spend a small fortune. Today wasn’t payday, so she was safe.
She took her time walking through Bluestar. She stopped repeatedly to thank people for helping with the search for Oreo and updating them on his discovery and his return to the Watsons.
It was quite a while until she reached the bookshop. In fact, it was lunchtime. Sara stepped up to the bookshop just as Melinda flipped the sign to read:Back in 30 minutes. Melinda stepped out the door and immediately spotted Sara. She held up a finger for Sara to wait just a moment.
Once the door was locked, Melinda joined her on the sidewalk. “Hi. I was just headed to lunch.”
“Mind if I join you?”
“Not at all. I was just going to suggest it.” After talking with so many people in town, Sara found her appetite was slowly coming back.
“I was just about to head over to the Lighthouse.”
“Sounds good.”
Melinda fell into step with her. “I heard you had quite a night with Oreo.”
She nodded. “I was starting to think we’d never find him. He actually showed up at my place. I was so happy to see him. He was all dirty and hungry. He eventually fell asleep on the couch until the Watsons came to pick him up.”
“I bet it was really hard to give him back.”
“It was the hardest thing. All I wanted to do was keep him safe. How in the world does he keep escaping? It’s like he’s taken tips from Dash.” When Melinda gave her a confused look, she said, “You know, Sam Bell’s little pygmy goat.”
“Oh yeah. The goat that visits town every few months.”
“And yet Sam and Aster have done everything to keep Dash in his pen, but he always finds an escape.”
“But did Oreo ever escape from your place?” Melinda arched a brow.
“No. He didn’t.”
“Maybe the only reason he keeps running away is because he’s trying to find his home. Sounds like he had a good one with you.”
“I liked to think so, but he belongs with the Watsons.”
“Did you talk to them about it?”
Sara shook her head. “I wanted to, but it just didn’t seem right.”
They continued on to the Lighthouse Café, all the while making small talk. The restaurant was crowded, but they timed it just right and got the next available booth. They slid into their seats, and within a couple of minutes the server took their drink order.
“What are you going to eat?” Melinda stared down at the menu.
“I don’t know.” She browsed the menu but couldn’t make up her mind. Eventually, she opted to get a chef salad, the same order as Melinda.
Every time the door to the restaurant opened, she would glance up, hoping it would be Kent. When it wasn’t him, a sense of disappointment would come over her. It wasn’t like they had anything left to say to each other, but that didn’t keep her from wishing there was a way for them to be happy together.
“Instead of waiting and hoping you see him, why don’t you call him?” Melinda’s voice drew her from her thoughts.
Heat warmed Sara’s cheeks. “What are you talking about?”
