Page 12 of Since the Day We Wished

Grinning, Luke took the bags from him. “Thanks, Phil. I’m sure I’ll be back again.”

As he headed outside and over to the Range Rover, he noticed more decorations had gone up around town. The colorful banners swayed in the wind, and the shops looked even more inviting than usual. If he didn’t have so much to do back at the house, he would have considered coming back into town later to join the festivities.

After the short drive back, he pulled into the driveway and was surprised to see a lady standing on the front porch talking to Jeremiah. He grabbed the takeout bags and walked over to see what was going on.

“Good morning!” Ada turned around and smiled at Luke as he approached.

“Hey Ada. How are you today?”

“I’m fine, darling. I was just bringing over some banana bread. Wanted to make sure you boys had something to eat.” She smiled, showing off the dish.

“Thank you. You didn’t have to.”

“Oh, it’s nothing really. I love to bake. There’s no dairy or nuts in case y’all are allergic. Jeremiah was telling me you still have lots of unpacking to do. I’m good at organizing if you need some help.”

Luke caught Jeremiah's eye, noticing him shaking his head subtly out of Ada's view. “That’s kind of you to offer, really. But I think we can manage.”

“Well, if you change your mind, you know where to find me. You boys should come over for dinner sometime soon. Frank and I would love to have y’all.”

“Maybe we will,” Luke said, knowing he had no intention of doing so.

Ada took a couple of steps forward, cornering Luke. “I’ll whip up something special for y’all. We can do it next week. Can’t do Monday because Frank has poker night with his buddies.”

Before Luke could respond, Ada walked off the porch. “So, I guess that means I’ll see y’all Tuesday evening at my place. I’ll let Frank know as soon as I get back. Ta ta!”

Luke laughed. “Looks like we’re booked for Tuesday dinner.” He handed the bags to Jeremiah. “Got us breakfast from town. Probably enough for tomorrow too.”

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 thought about all the friendly people he had met in the town so far. Though usually a private person, he appreciated Ada’s generosity and how 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.

Chapter 7

Emma

Fireworks erupted in the distance as Emma left the store, their sudden crackles and bangs cutting through the calm of the afternoon. Clearly, someone was ringing in the Fourth of July a day ahead of schedule. The loud explosions guided Emma's foot to the gas pedal, pressing down with urgency, as images of Riley's anxious face filled her mind. When she pulled up to her driveway, she hurried, grabbing the bags from the back seat, and hauling them to the front door.

As she walked inside, she exhaled, letting out a breath of relief at the sight of Riley snoozing away in his dog bed. When she dropped the bags on the floor, he stood up 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 ate 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 puree 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, watching the sky light up, and downing champagne. 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 most pets were reported lost on the Fourth of July 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 whining, 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.”

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