Page 99 of 15 Summers Later

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe blaring our life story to the entire world.”

He sighed. “I thought you might be more comfortable about her book by now, especially after seeing how much everyone seems to love it.”

“I’m not constantly angry about it but I don’t know how I ever can be completely comfortable that my sister has written a tell-all memoir,” she admitted. “The past is the past. It’s done. We can’t change it. What’s the point in dwelling on it?”

“If I thought Ava’s memoir was exploitative in any way, I might agree with you. It’s not, though. She did a great job of telling your story in a cohesive, fair way, with compassion and grace. Don’t you agree?”

Madi opened the rear door of her SUV so he could slide the box inside. She studiously avoided looking at him. “I wouldn’t know,” she answered.

He stared. “You still haven’t read it?”

She thought of the copy of the book Ava had sent her, tucked away in the bottom drawer of her bedside table.

“I endured every second of it,” she said quietly. “Why would I willingly choose to relive all the trauma and pain through the pages of Ava’s book?”

“You aren’t a little curious at what all the fuss has been about?”

She didn’t tell him all the times she had pulled the book out, started to read it, made it through a few pages, then had to close it again, hands shaking, as memories poured over her.

“No,” she lied. “I’m not.”

“Well, when you do get around to it, I think you’ll be surprised. It’s not as dark and ugly as you might think. There’s humor in it and plenty of gentle moments. It mostly shows the amazing resilience and strength of the human spirit.”

“Oh, is that what it shows?”

“I don’t think people would be responding toGhost Lakeas favorably if it only portrayed a grim, hopeless situation. It’s the fact that you two battled your way out of it that has touched people so much.”

She sighed. “Can we talk about something else?”

“Fair enough. How about I tell you how much the office isn’t going to be the same without you? I’ll miss seeing you.”

That was the dark cloud that prevented her from being wholly excited about the job change. He had been a daily part of her life for years and she wasn’t sure how she would adjust to only seeing him a few times a week.

“I’m not exactly moving to Iceland or something. We’ll still see each other often.”

“I know. But it won’t be quite the same.” He looked around. “I’ll miss pulling up to the building and seeing your vehicle already in the parking lot. Somehow the day always feels a bit brighter, knowing you’re inside.”

Their gazes met and she swallowed, immediately captured by the intensity of his words and his expression.

After a few seconds, that expression slid into chagrin. “Sorry. I probably shouldn’t have said that.”

“Why not?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper and her heartbeat suddenly loud in her ears. The memory of their kiss glowed through her, sparkly and bright.

I don’t work for you anymore. There’s no reason you can’t kiss me now.

He took a step forward and bent his head. Her breath caught and her pulse quickened. She leaned up for his kiss, but before his arms could wrap around her, they both heard the staff door from the vet clinic open.

She stepped away quickly as Evelyn came into view, carrying a piece of cake on a plate and a couple of the Mylar balloons, bobbing with dog faces on them.

“I didn’t want the cake to go to waste so I’m taking a couple pieces home to Jack. I hope that’s okay.”

“Totally fine,” Luke said. “Are the balloons for your husband, too?”

She made a face. “Those are for my grandson. He loves puppies and anything shiny, so these are perfect for him.”

She loaded them in her car, parked on the other side of Madi’s, then closed the door and faced them.

“Do you need any help at the adoption event tomorrow?” Evelyn asked.

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