Page 16 of Since the Day We Wished

If only she had a second chance to go back and do it over, she would’ve made sure to shut the door.

Chapter 8

Luke

The faint echoes of last night's fireworks still seemed to linger as Luke awoke. While most of Hadley Cove had been reveling in the Fourth of July celebrations, he had been knee-deep in unpacking. Stretching away the fatigue, he sat up, eager to get an early start on settling into their new home. Though he had made progress yesterday, a mountain of boxes still awaited him. After getting dressed, he headed down to the kitchen to make breakfast.

The empty banana bread dish by the sink caught his eye. All gone. Jeremiah must've enjoyed it, Luke mused. He washed the dish and put on his shoes, deciding to return it to Ada’s house across the street. As he reached the front door, he heard a strange noise coming from outside.

What’s that?

The scratching sound continued, growing louder and more insistent. When Luke opened the door, his eyes widened at the sight of a golden retriever sitting on the welcome mat.

“Hey, buddy.” The dog barked and wagged his tail. Kneeling, Luke scratched behind his ears and took a moment to inspect the collar. “Where’s your tag at, boy?

Before he could investigate any further, the dog shot past him into the house,padding into the kitchen with an air of familiarity. Luke laughed as he followed him, wondering if he had been there before and had strayed from a nearby home.

“You must be hungry. Let’s see what we’ve got for you.” Luke prepared a makeshift meal from leftovers and filled a bowl with water. He set them down, observing as the dog devoured the offering.

After eating, the dog settled down on a quilt that had been spread out near the fireplace and dozed off. Luke gazed at him for a moment and smiled, struck by the nostalgia of Moose, his childhood dog.

“Where’d he come from?” Jeremiah’s voice interrupted Luke’s thoughts.

“I’m not sure. He was on the porch this morning, and he seemed friendly enough, so I let him inside. Sort of.”

Jeremiah nodded and continued into the kitchen, with Luke following closely behind.

“Are you hungry? We could grab a bite in town.”

Jeremiah reached into the fridge, pulling out a half-empty bottle of water. “Not really.”

“Well, do you think you could pick up some groceries? I’ve got a list. You can use my card.”

“Do I have to?” Jeremiah looked up from his phone. “I’ve got better things to do.”

“Son, can you help me out here, please? I need to find this dog’s owner.”

Jeremiah hesitated for a moment, then snatched the list and card from Luke’s hand, heading out the door without a word.

Luke sighed, rubbing his forehead."Teenagers.

Pulling out his phone, he made a post about the dog on the Hadley Cove Facebook page.The idea of checking for a chip at the vet hadn't occurred to him, and he certainly didn’t want to surrender him to the shelter. For now, he'd care for the dog until he found the owner. After all, the four-legged company was a refreshing change.

After posting, Luke delved back into unpacking. As he sifted through the boxes, one in particular caught his attention, causing him to pause in reverence. With his hands and heart, he cradled it, feeling the history it contained. Inside was an old photo album, capturing moments with Kate from their high school days.

As Luke carefully opened it, a rush of emotions swept over him, turning the pages with a mix of joy and melancholy. It was a treasure trove of memories, a window into a time long gone, but still so vivid in his mind. His fingers traced the edges of the pages, and he could almost hear Kate’s laughter echoing in his ears.

With a smile, Luke stared at the photo from their first date at the bowling alley, where he had let Kate win, just to see her smile. He still remembered the mischievous glint in her eyes when they reviewed the final score, and how she had doubled over when he spilled ketchup-soaked fries on his jeans. Over twenty years had passed since those days.

Then, as he turned the page, a well-worn piece of paper slipped out. It was a letter Kate had written. Her last words to him. Though he had read it a thousand times, each felt like the first.

My Dearest Luke,

I know that by the time you read this, I’ll no longer be with you.

I want you to know that I’m at peace and that I have no regrets. I have lived a life full of love, and that is because of you. You’ve brought so much light into my life, and for that, I’ll always be grateful.

As for Jeremiah, I left you a few letters to give to him at a later time: one for after I pass, one after his graduation, and one on his wedding day. Encourage our son to pursue his dreams, whatever they may be. He’ll do great things. I just know it.

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