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Jeremiah lifted a brow, and the corners of his mouth turned upward. “Pancakes?”
“Of course.”
As Jeremiah went into the kitchen, Luke sat down on the porch steps, leaning against a post. He had met so many friendly people in the town so far. Though usually a private person, he appreciated Ada’s generosity. Something like that would never happen in Chicago, where small talk and neighborly gestures were a rarity.
Closing his eyes, Luke took in a deep breath of the crisp morning air, letting it clear his mind. For a moment, he forgot about all the unpacking he still had to do. He simply enjoyed being present, soaking up all the small-town vibes of Hadley Cove.
7
Emma
When Emma left the store, a sudden burst of crackles and bangs caught her off guard.
Fireworks? Now?
Clearly, someone was ringing in the Fourth of July a day early.
Then it hit her.
Riley.
The loud explosions spurred Emma to floor it, pressing the gas pedal down as images of Riley’s anxious face filled her mind.
Upon reaching her driveway, she hurried, grabbing the bags from the back seat and hauling them to the front door. As she walked inside, she let out a long, slow exhale at the sight of Riley snoozing away in his dog bed. She dropped the bags on the floor, and he awoke and trotted over to inspect them, wagging his tail.
“Hey buddy. These aren’t for you.” Emma leaned down to scratch behind his ears, then picked up the bags and carried them to the kitchen. Riley stuck close to her heels, ever watchful for anything that might fall.
“Riley, you already had lunch.” She turned and looked down at him. “Don’t act like I don’t feed you.”
A whine rolled through the air, and Riley retreated to the living room as Emma busied herself in the kitchen. She pulled out all the ingredients to make her special blend of dog treats, filling mixing bowls on the countertops with pumpkin purée and coconut flour. Hours slipped away as she baked and packaged the treats, her mind occasionally drifting to memories of past Independence Day celebrations with Chad.
Back then, on the Fourth of July, they would cuddle on a blanket, sipping champagne and watching the sky light up. But since their divorce and her growing awareness of the impact fireworks had on wildlife and other animals, especially dogs like Riley, those memories had soured. The discomforting reality that more pets are reported lost on the Fourth of July than any other day weighed heavily on her mind. The fireworks that once represented happiness now only brought distress.
As evening settled in, she pulled out the sixth batch from the oven and was startled by a loud popping sound outside. Emma peeked through the window, her face tightening at the sight of red sparks bursting through the sky. With a wearied exhale, she cleaned up the countertops and put everything away, her movements more deliberate as thoughts of Chad played in her mind.
The echo of fireworks followed her as she left the kitchen and checked that the front and back doors were locked before heading to the bedroom. There, she found Riley whimpering, hiding under the bed. Emma dropped to her knees and coaxed him out with gentle words and encouragement. When he finally emerged, she cradled him in her arms, placing him on the bed and stroking his soft fur.
“You’re safe here with me, boy,” she whispered, holding him close. “I’m never gonna let anything hurt you.”
As she looked into Riley’s eyes, she realized their love for one other was pure—an uncomplicated affection, free from the deceptions that had marred her marriage.
“You and I, we’ve got each other.” She kissed him on his head. “And that’s all that matters.”
Emma settled into bed, snuggling Riley as his trembling slowly ceased. The persistent sound of fireworks, the booms and whistles, filled the air. Her eyes focused on the window, where occasional flashes of light appeared.
Why do we cling to things that we know cause harm?
The question wasn’t just about the fireworks. It was also a reflection of her relationship with Chad. How many times had she tolerated his harsh words and dismissive behavior? Why had she let him intimidate her, time and time again?
With the sound of the last fireworks dwindling into the night, Emma’s thoughts grew quiet, and she drifted into a peaceful sleep.
The following morning, Emma slept in, waking up later than usual, around eleven. As she rose from the bed, she noticed Riley hadn’t been there to greet her with his usual face licks. She stretched her arms, welcoming the salty scent of the ocean that had entered through the partially opened window. Gazing out at the sparkling sandy beach, a feeling of contentment washed over her as she prepared to start her day.
“Riley? Where are you, boy?” she called out in a singsong voice.
As she made her way through the cottage, the sound of water droplets drew Emma to the bathroom, where she found Riley lapping up water from the faucet.
“Silly boy.” She giggled as she crouched to pet him. “You’re such a goofball.”
