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I wasn’t to the top step when one of the double doors swung open, and Sarah came running out, followed by Belladonna hot on her heels, barking her greeting.
“OAKY!”Sarah squealed, throwing her arms around my neck.
I dropped my duffel bag beside me so I could wrap her up in a hug.I had missed her so much that it hurt.Closing my eyes, I enjoyed holding her.Belladonna fought for my attention, too, pushing her head between us, causing Sarah to laugh.
“We missed you!”she exclaimed.
“I missed you too,” I assured her, then reached down to hug the very enthusiastic Belladonna.
“I got the bedroom across from mine all ready for you.I even picked flowers and put them beside your bed,” she informed me proudly.
“That sounds perfect.Thank you,” I replied.
It was amazing how that sweet smile could ease all the other bad in my life.
Sarah reached for my hand.“Come on!I will show you where you are staying, and then we can go make cupcakes.Dad bought everything on the list I gave him.”
Wilder hadn’t been at the door to greet me, but then I hadn’t expected that.Truth was, I didn’t really want to see him.
Sarah had mentioned some older woman who watched her when he had to work.He hadn’t called me once to ask if I could come.If it wasn’t for the fact that Sarah had her own phone, I doubted he’d have let her contact me.Bastard.
But he was Sarah’s dad.So, I had to be nice to him.Make sure he let me come back or let her come see me.
Cleo had been true to her word, and not only had my dad informed me it was best if I didn’t come over for a while, but he was also now dodging my phone calls.I hadn’t seen or spoken to him in a month.
I missed Granny even more fiercely now than I had the months after her death.Back then, I had known she wanted to die.She’d not been the same after Granddad’s death.She had missed him so much, and when she passed away only three months after losing him, I had been happy for her.She was back with him again, and I knew that was what she’d wanted.
With my dad ignoring me and Sarah having moved away, I had been so lonely that dating again sounded like a good idea.My sitting at home, feeling sorry for myself, could only go on for so long.Dating Hamilton had helped some, but it was nothing compared to being here with Sarah.
I followed Sarah into the house and paused for a moment to take in the vaulted ceilings, white walls, and cleanliness.There were no personal effects in the entrance.It was almost as if the house were empty.Why hadn’t Wilder put up some photos or a painting?Maybe a mirror and added some plants?It would make the place feel warmer, more welcoming.
Sarah continued tugging my arm and leading me to the wide, winding staircase.I followed her up the stairs with Belladonna right by my side, as if making sure I didn’t leave.When we reached the upstairs, I looked down over the railing on the other side into an open room with a big fireplace, two leather sofas, and a recliner.The coffee table that sat in the center was the only other furnishing in the large room.Like the entrance, there was nothing on the walls.The mantel even sat empty.
“This way!”Sarah urged.
I was unhappy with the way things seemed so generic and untouched, and soon, I became downright annoyed.The hallways were all white walls with nothing on them.Where were the baby pictures of Sarah?The photos of her and Belladonna?Her school pictures?Something to say that they lived here.
Sarah stopped at a door and pushed it open, then grabbed my hand again and tugged me inside.“This room is yours!”she said proudly.
White walls, beige comforter on the king-size bed.One dresser and a mirror.The only color in the room was the flowers in the vase beside the bed that Sarah had picked for me.I dropped my duffel and forced a smile.
“This is lovely.But I want to see your room,” I told her, hoping there was color in there.That he didn’t have her living in a room with bare white walls.
Belladonna led the way, as if she knew exactly what I had just said.I didn’t doubt she did.I’d lived with her for two years.I knew how smart she was.Sarah giggled at her friend, and we followed the furry fluff into the room across the hallway.
Although the walls were white, drawings had been taped to them, adding color.The cotton-candy-pink comforter wasn’t new.It didn’t look old, but Sarah’s favorite color hadn’t been pink since she had been five.Right now, she loved all things teal blue, and pink made her crinkle her cute little nose in distaste.
I had five days to fix this, and I intended to.Starting with her room.She needed to feel like this was a home—herhome.
“It’s so big!”I said, not able to think of much to say about it.“And your drawings are beautiful.”
She shrugged.“Thanks.It’s okay.”Her eyes went to the pink bedding, and her nose did the crinkle.
Yep, we were fixing that ASAP.
“Where is your dad?”I asked, trying not to sound angry.
Sarah swung her gaze from the offending comforter to the door.“He was in his room, packing.It’s on the third floor with his office and library.”
