Page 37 of Undone

Noah - July

LITTLE BIT BETTER - CALEB HEARN AND ROSIE

Walker sat at my feet,his eyes following me in the mirror. He lifted his head with a small whine, the kind he made when he knew I was about to head out. It was as if he understood that the quiet evening we’d shared was about to end, and he wasn’t too thrilled about it. I fidgeted with my hair, trying to coax it into a low bun that wouldn’t unravel halfway through the evening.

Tonight was my first dinner with the James family. Dotty’s stories about the unshakable commitment to Sunday dinners, no matter how crazy the week got, left me feeling both honored and a little nervous about being included. A family so dedicated to spending time together? That was a bit odd to me—nothing like my family’s dynamic.

My mother was a force to be reckoned with. A top lawyer in Washington State, she commanded respect and had an unyielding drive for success. But her high expectations were relentless. While I admired her strength and determination, it often felt like I was constantly falling short, unable to measure up to the bar she set. Her approval seemed out of reach, and that was a tough pill to swallow at times. And my father was the glue that kept our family together, always stepping in to mediate our conflicts and smooth over the tension.

That’s why I was looking forward to tonight—hoping for a glimpse of what it might feel like to be part of a family that truly enjoys each other’s company.

Dotty insisted I come tonight even though I hesitated; I couldn’t bring myself to refuse. After months of being apart from my best friend, it was the least I could do.

As I walked up to the front door of the ranch house, I took a breath, trying to push past the nerves. I could hear faint laughter from inside. Before I could reach for the doorbell, Dotty swung it open, greeting me with a wide smile.

“Noah! Come in, come in!” she said, pulling me into a hug. I sighed in relief.

Stepping inside, the ranch house felt how Dotty always made me feel—comfortable, accepted, and at peace.

She led me toward the dining room, and my eyes immediately landed on a little girl with blonde hair and bright, curious eyes, chatting with Colt. Dotty noticed my gaze and flashed me a grin.

“You’ve met everyone else, but that’s Gracie,” she said. “She’s going into first grade, so she’ll be in your class.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that.”

“Don’t worry. She’ll love you,” Dotty reassured me.

As I approached, Gracie looked up, beaming at me. “Hi! I’m Gracie. My Aunt Dotty told me that you are her best friend, so that means we will be best friends too,” she said with a confident nod.

I smiled, crouching down to her level. “Hi, Gracie. I’m Noah—or I guess Miss Reid, since it looks like you are going to be in my class.”

“Really? That’s awesome!” Gracie exclaimed, bouncing slightly on her feet. “Do you think I can call you Noah, though?”

“How about if we aren’t at school, you can call me Noah.” I smiled at her.

“Yay! I love school. My favorite book is about a unicorn that travels through time, and I’m really good at drawing them!”

“That sounds amazing!” I replied. “I’d love to see one of your drawings sometime.”

“Maybe I can draw us as animals!” She eyed me, squinting. “I think we’d definitely be unicorns,” she giggled, clearly thrilled with her idea.

“I’d be honored to be a unicorn with you,” I said, charmed by her enthusiasm and creativity.

“Do you like any other animals?” I asked.

“Oh, yes! I love elephants and horses. They’re so smart and very beautiful,” she said, her eyes wide with excitement. “Do you have a favorite animal?”

“I think I’d have to say dogs,” I replied. “They’re smart and love a good cuddle. My dog, Walker, is a silly guy and always cheers me up.” I pulled out my phone and showed her a photo of Walker curled up next to me.

“He’s so cute!” Gracie said, turning to her dad across the room. “Daddy, can I meet Walker sometime?”

Dorian looked away from his conversation with Colt and Trent and chuckled. “I’m sure we could arrange that, as long as it’s okay with Miss Reid,” he said, and I glared at him.

I looked at Gracie, ignoring Dorian’s intense stare. “I’d be happy to introduce you to Walker. Your dad was the one who helped when I found him.”

“My daddy is a vet and helps animals!” Gracie said proudly.

“He did?” Dotty asked, her confusion evident as she chimed in from across the room.

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