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“Why? Are you interested in adopting yet?” I asked as I unlocked my door. I wasn’t above exploiting Minty’s compassion to secure a home for one of my furry friends.
“Hmm...I might be.”
“You’re just saying that because I’m psycho right now.”
“No, I’ve been thinking about it!” she protested with her tinkling laugh.
I told Minty all about the furry friends I’d had with me that day and by the time I finished they were walking through the door. I dropped the phone and Junie barreled into me, wrapping her little arms tightly around my waist.
“Junie,” I whispered, “I have to pee and you’re going to squeeze it out of me.”
She released me immediately but grabbed my hand to lead me to the bathroom.
“Right, let’s go.”
Minty already stood in the bathroom doorway.
“All clear, beautiful. C’mon.”
She held out her hand to me and gently tugged me into the bathroom. She had pulled back the curtain and I immediately saw that my fears were unfounded.
I slumped in relief.
“Every year the same damn thing,” I grumbled. Only this year was worse than most. Except for that first year. I shuddered at the memory.
“I’m going to make hot chocolate.” Minty squeezed my hand and left.
“You want me to stay in here with you?” Junie asked.
“Yes.”
Junie perched on the side of the tub beside me while I peed and then I drank hot chocolate with Minty while Junie drove back to the office to exchange her car for Minty’s and grab her clothes. She was staying for the week this time.
During the day, Minty and Junie covered the office hours, but I still went to the shelter on my scheduled days. In the evening, one or both ate dinner with me at my place. Junie stayed with me at night and slept beside me in my bed, shaking me from my nightmare when the guttural, choked sounds escaping my throat, sounds that echoed the tears in my dream, woke her.
I had yet to see Barrett at work since that day I yelled at him, and it had been almost two weeks since I’d seen him at Rhys and Bex’s place. I realized from the crater of loss in my soul that I’d given into the hope for something more with him.
I was working at the shelter the day before the anniversary of the day I became forever numb. I stayed all morning, doing nothing, just hoping, and waiting for Barrett to show up. It had been three and a half weeks since I yelled at him. Three and a half weeks of not talking was a long time and I knew in that moment that I had lost him.
It was eleven-thirty, and I could no longer take the anticipation. At least if I went home, I could pretend he came by, and I just hadn’t been there. I tucked the little velvet bag back into my purse, packed up my things and dropped by Kerry’s office to let her know I was heading out.
“Willa, what the hell? Are you okay?”
I had no idea what she was talking about. “I’m not feeling all that well. I need to head home.”
Her eyes were wide. “Yeah, sure, no problem. Call me if you need anything, okay?”
“Will do,” I said, except, I wouldn’t.
Barrett
He had waited long enough and given her more than enough space. Space wasn’t helping. He’d seen her sneaking glances at him at Rhys’s place. He knew she was hurting about something. God knew Mara was in no condition to help her, and he wasn’t about to stand by while she struggled.
He walked into the shelter at a quarter after one and headed straight for her office. It was empty.
“Barrett?” Kerry stuck her head in and asked, “you looking for Willa?”
“Yes, is she around here somewhere?”
