Page 7 of Everlasting Promises

I crouch next to him so I’m on his level. “Any ideas how you could have responded instead of lashing out?” I ask gently.

“Yeah.” He sighs. “Shoulda taken a breath and kept my mouth shut, like you’ve taught me. It wasn’t worth it, and now, because I’ve had a suspension, I can’t go to school camp. Sucks.”

I squeeze his shoulder. “Definitely sucks, man. But we’ve talked about consequences. The school has to follow through, or everyone will do whatever they want.”

He blows out a hot breath and his shoulders drop when he looks up at me with remorse swimming in his gaze. “Yeah, I know.”

Carrying a book beneath her arm, Eva wanders in next, and the entire welcome process begins again until each of the nine kids have arrived. My chest puffs out with pride; we have a full house today. The kids choose their companion for the next couple of hours, and we head out into the yard so they can play and run. As anticipated, Eva and Michael choose to stay inside with the kittens, and I know Tori will hang out and chat with them when she can.

“All right, gather ’round with your pups.” I collect the slicker brushes Tori left out for us. “Tori needs us to help her by giving these guys a brush. Remember to be gentle.” I demonstrate with Rex, though the kids don’t really need it; they’ve done it enough times before.

The kids watch closely, then turn to their companion and practice what I’ve shown them while I move around the group. “Brett, your friend seems to like the attention you’re giving his tummy.”

He glances up at me with wide eyes and a broad grin. “I know, right? He’s so friendly. I wish we didn’t live in an apartment. I’d love to take him home with me.”

“I bet he’d love to come home with you. Maybe when you have a home of your own one day, you can have a dog.”

He nods enthusiastically. “I’m definitely planning on that. I’m gonna get a good job and a house with a yard, so I can have a dog of my own.”

I grin. Brett used to have trouble thinking about what his life might look like in the future. He didn’t care that the path he was on was so destructive. It makes me happy to hear him talking about his future in a positive light. “That’s a brilliant plan. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help make that happen.”

At the end of our two-hour session, we put the dogs back into their kennels. The kids and I thank Tori, and I walk out to the front of the shelter and wait with them until they’re collectedby their parents. When it’s just Rex and me, he looks up at me, tilting his head as his tongue lolls out the side of his mouth. I squat down and kiss his snout as I rub him behind his ears. “You did good, buddy. Let’s go home and eat some lunch.”

He kisses me, and we climb into my truck to head home. Happiness for a job well done fills me, and I grin. I’ve watched these kids grow over the last couple of years, and if the worst they get is a suspension now and then, I’m happy with the results of our time together, and consider it time well spent.

4

HOPE

“C’mon, Hope,”Lucy whines. “Come out with us. You might actually have fun. And if Sebastian’s friend is half as hot as he is, you’ll thank me later,” she says, glancing over her shoulder and wiggling her eyebrows up and down. “Maybe you’ll even get lucky.”

Tension builds across my shoulders, and my smile grows more and more forced the longer she nags me to go out with them. “I don’t want to get lucky. I’m happy where I am right now.” I slide the key out of the lock and double-check that the door’s secure.

She sighs and rolls her eyes. “You’re not happy. You’re scraping by through life. Mr. Right’s not just gonna turn up on your doorstep, you know.”

My stomach twists and folds in on itself. She says the words so flippantly, but I already had my Mr. Right. If I can’t have him, I don’t want anyone else.

I had my one true love with my soulmate—my one and only chance at happiness.

As hard as it’s been to accept that, at thirty-four, I’ve had my great love and lost it, I know I need to make peace with it somehow. I need to find happiness within myself, not depend on someone else. And some days I do. Even for weeks at a time,ifI’m doing well.

Savannah wraps her arm around my shoulder. “At least come out. Evan’s with the in-laws for the weekend, and you should hang out with your girls. No pressure to talk to anyone of the opposite sex. I promise.” She squeezes me close. “I’ll personally keep all men away from you.” She releases me and flings her arms and legs out in some type of wacky karate move, causing laughter to bubble up and escape, and her purse drops to the pavement. The contents scatter everywhere—typical Savannah style.

The three of us rush to collect everything and stash it back inside. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to go out with the girls. They’re always asking me, and I always say no. Maybe it would help lift my spirits and get me out of this funk I can’t seem to shake. I look at my colleagues and friends as they watch me with hopeful expressions.

I need to start living again. Maybe I should try to have some fun.

“Okay. I’ll come.” They jump up and down, squealing in delight, and I hold up my hands, freezing them on the spot. “On one condition.” I hold up one finger and they nod. “I’m honestly not looking to date. I’m not ready, and at this point, I don’t think I’ll ever be ready, so please promise me you won’t pressure me to do something I don’t want to do.”

Their eyes go all soft and some of their excitement drains away. They reach forward, each taking one of my hands. “Promise.”

I nod sharply, as if convincing myself I’ve made the right decision. “Okay. But the second either of you breaks yourpromise, I’m out. I mean it.” I’ll drive myself there so I can escape if I need to.

“We’ve got you, Hope.” Lucy squeezes my hand. “I’m just happy you’ve finally agreed to come out with us.”

Savannah tugs me into her. “We’ll take care of you. Promise.”

I checkmyself in the mirror while a mixture of dread and a touch of excitement roll around in my stomach. I press my hand against it and try to push away the urge to text Lucy and cancel. I study my reflection. My eyes lost their sparkle the day the military police showed up at my door to tell me that my husband wasn’t ever coming home, and the light that used to gleam there has never returned. My eyes glisten as I trace over the rest of my face, noting the fine lines between my brows.

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