Page 32 of Since the Day We Kissed

She studied Ethan’s face. “Do you? If so, why? What’s really stopping you?”

Ethan laughed. “Well, for starters we’d be working side by side, and I—What do you say to someone after all these years? And maybe it’s too late for us, you know? Plus, I’ll be gone soon once I find this deed. And—”

“Too late for what? Too late to pick up where you left off?”

Ethan shook his head. “No, no. That ship’s long gone. At least I think it is, might be, I-I don’t know. Maybe we could be friends? Is that crazy?”

“It’s not crazy,” she said. “Let me ask you something else. That animal rescue you worked at back home—have you found anything else that gives you that same sense of purpose?”

“No.” Ethan slumped in his chair. “Nothing’s come close since.”

Dr. Hartman tapped her pen. “Maybe this is your chance to get back to something that fills your cup. I know Kara’s presence might complicate things, but getting back to animal work could be beneficial, or it might be too much too soon. But you’ll have to decide that for yourself.”

Ethan chewed his lip, thinking it over. “I’ll need some time to decide.”

“Take your time,” she said, leaning back. “And remember, if you decide to volunteer and need me in the middle of it all, I’m only a phone call away.”

Ethan nodded. “Thanks, Doc. That means a lot.”

She glanced at her computer screen. “Oh, before I forget—you’re due for a medication refill. Want me to send it to a pharmacy in Hadley Cove?”

Ethan winced. “Yeah, that’d be great, just not Walker’s though. Any other place works.”

“No problem. I’ll have my assistant call it in. You’ll get a text later.”

“Perfect, thanks.”

“We’ve covered a lot today. Anything else on your mind before we wrap up?”

A scratching sound drew Ethan’s attention to the doggy door. He smiled as Hero trotted in. “Nah, I think that’s it for now. See you next week?”

“Absolutely.”

With a soft click, Ethan shut his laptop and reached down to stroke Hero’s fur.

“What do you think, boy? Should I volunteer at the rescue?” Hero woofed softly, then padded over to his water bowl. He pawed at it a couple of times before giving it a nudge, sending it toppling over and splashing water across the floor.

Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. “Nice move, Hero. So, is that a yes, or are you just dodging the question?”

11

Kara

Sunday

Karadunkedthemopinto the bucket, the pungent smell of disinfectant rising with the splash of soapy water. Her muscles ached as she prompted the coarse bristles to scratch against the floor of another kennel.

Only eight more to go.

When she reached Benny’s door, she paused.

His cloudy eyes blinked slowly as she crouched and reached through the bars, scratching under his salt-and-pepper beard.

Kara smiled softly. “Good morning, beautiful boy.”

Standing back up, she rolled her shoulders to ease the stiffness. As she gripped the mop to continue, the door swung open, and Emma breezed in with a pink box of doughnuts in hand.

Kara blinked. “What are you doing here so early?”

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