Page 10 of Since the Day We Wished

Kara let go of her and stood up. “I’m leaving the rest of the goodies for you.”

Emma walked her over to the door, opening it for her. “Next time we’ll do it at your place, and I’ll bring the snacks.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

“Goodnight, Kara. Get home safe.”

Kara waved as she climbed into her car. Emma stood at the door, watching Kara drive off, her skin tingling with the humidity of a summer night in South Georgia, while the distant chorus of cicadas serenaded the twilight.

Once she was back inside, Emma started clearing the mess they had made on the table and took out the trash. After tidying up, she noticed the time, surprised at how quickly the hours had slipped by. As she prepared to turn in for the night, she glanced over at the dog bed, finding it empty.

“Riley?”

Emma’s heart raced as she scanned the small cottage’s living area, then headed into the only bedroom, searching for him. Her concern turned to relief when she found Riley hiding under the bed in the corner of the room.

“There you are. Come on boy, it’s night night time.”

As she changed into her pajamas, Riley hopped onto the bed, finding his favorite spot near the pillows. She turned off the lights, and the two of them lay down together, with the sound of gentle waves outside her bedroom window lulling her to sleep.

The next morning, Emma woke up to Riley’s wet tongue sliding across her cheek. She giggled and reached up to scratch behind his ears.

“Well, good morning to you too!”

He let out a whine and wagged his tail.

“Okay, okay. I’m getting up,” she said, sitting up and stretching her arms.

Emma fed Riley his breakfast and then slipped into the shower. Once dressed, she made her way to the small office nook in her living room, flipping open her laptop. An unread email caught her eye—it was from a supermarket in the nearby town of Bridwell Bay. As the words registered, her eyes widened. Bayview Foods had placed the largest order she had ever received for her homemade dog treat business.

A thrill coursed through her veins, and she let out a gasp. “Well, today just got interesting.”

Riley ambled into the living room and put his head on Emma’s lap, signaling he was ready for his morning walk. “Okay boy. It’s gonna have to be a quick one. Momma’s got a lot to do today.”

After sending a quick thank-you reply and closing her laptop, she made her way toward the backdoor, Riley jumping and pawing at her legs. “Hold on, mister!” she laughed, fumbling for his leash. “Let me get this on you first.”

The moment the door opened, Riley dashed out, dragging Emma behind him.

When they returned, she was panting, a smile still playing on her face. “Where’d all this energy come from?” she asked Riley, more a statement than a question, as he darted through the cottage. In the kitchen, she reached for a glass of water, and Riley trotted in, tongue lolling. “Wore yourself out, huh? I bet you’re thirsty too, after all those zoomies,” she said, pouring fresh water into his bowl.

Guilt gnawed at Emma as she thought about leaving Riley alone, especially with the Fourth of July approaching and the possibility of early firework displays. She knew he hated the loud noises.

“Okay, buddy, I need to head out for a bit.” She bent down, ruffling his fur and planted a gentle kiss on his head. “You be a good boy, okay?”

With a last affectionate glance, she grabbed her purse and headed out the front door.

Chapter 6

Luke

July 3

Luke approached the window, peeling back the curtains to reveal the soft, warm sunlight of a new dawn. He stood motionless, enchanted by the morning songs of the birds and the glimmering reflections in a tranquil pond nearby. Slowly, he turned to his brand-new king-size bed, making it with deliberate care, each fold a step toward a new chapter in his life.

Before the move, Luke had bought new furniture, deciding to part with the bed he and Kate once shared. It had been gut-wrenching for him to let go of the things from their life together. Holding onto them wasn’t any easier though as they were burning reminders of the lingering grief he felt in her absence. Although guilt tugged at his heartstrings for getting rid of the physical remains of their love, he knew Kate would have wanted him to find happiness again and move forward for the sake of their son.

Glancing over at his nightstand, he was surprised to see it was only 7:00. Jeremiah wouldn’t be up for a while...probably hours, especially since school hadn’t started yet. Kate would always cook a big breakfast for their son whenever he was down in the dumps, and it seemed to work most of the time. He remembered the day he had watched Jeremiah put away nine whole pancakes in one sitting. That fond memory sparked an idea in Luke. He decided he would surprise Jeremiah and pick up one of those breakfasts with pancakes, hash browns, and freshly squeezed orange juice.

After putting on a wrinkled shirt and worn jeans, he ambled downstairs into the kitchen and opened the fridge. The only thing in it was a box of leftover pizza from the night before. Kate would have never let the fridge get this empty, Luke thought.

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