Page 134 of Spindrift

Aseagull swooped low over their heads and shrieked, throwing her off. Emilia’slips quirked in a faint smile. That smile gave her the courage to continue.

“Igot so good at telling myself I was going to lose you that it scared the shitout of me when you decided to stay.”

“Morgan—”

“Iran into Kate today.”

Emilia’sface froze.

“Shesaid you hadn’t sold the house. I was so sure you would leave after I was adick.”

“Myworld doesn’t revolve around you, you know.”

“Ifucked up so badly with her, Emilia. I didn’t see her hurting. I didn’t seeanything.” She was talking too quickly now, her words rushing together. “Whatif I was doing the same thing with you? And if you stayed—”

Shecouldn’t say the rest.

“IfI stayed?”

“Whatif you changed your mind? About me.”

Thereit was: the fear that had been eating at her for months. The worry that Emiliawould leave her either way, no matter what she did, and the bleak comfort inthe certainty of heartbreak.

“Imight,” said Emilia. She took off her sunglasses and held them loosely in herhand. “And you might, too.”

“No.”

“Ispread my father’s ashes today.”

Morgan’sheart stuttered. She should have been there for her. She should never have lefther to grieve alone.

“Peopleleave, Morgan. People leave, and sometimes we never get them back.”

“God,Emilia—” She took the hand that held the sunglasses and brushed her thumbacross Emilia’s wrist. Emilia’s expression hardened.

“I’mwilling to take that risk. But if you’re not, then that’s on you, not me.”

Morganfelt each word like shrapnel. She wanted to hold them inside her forever, thepain proof that she’d been wonderfully, beautifully wrong. Suddenly, wordsweren’t enough. She’d used up all the ones she had anyway, and so she did theonly thing she could think of. Morgan Donovan fell to her knees and stared upat a stunned Emilia.

“Pleasestay with me,” she said. “I need you.”

Emilia’seyes searched her face, and the wind tousled her hair as it blew off theSeptember ocean. Her hands found Morgan’s chin, holding her steady, and thenshe knelt to face her. The wood of the dock bit into Morgan’s knees as Emiliarested her forehead against hers with a sob of breath that was more answer thananything she could have said, until she spoke, and then Morgan broke around herlike a wave.

“I’llstay with you forever.”

Epilogue

Emiliadropped her bag on the table and stared around her kitchen. Morgan’s sweaterhung over the back of one of the kitchen table chairs, and she touched itlightly with two fingers. Her house. Her kitchen. Her girlfriend.

Morganwouldn’t be home for another hour or two, and Emilia unbuttoned her shirt asshe stretched. Late September light flooded the kitchen, and the golds and redsof the trees beyond the windows stained the glass. Nell nudged her with herlong snout.

“Yes,yes, I will feed you, monster.”

Shescooped food into Nell’s bowl and put the kettle on to make herself a cup oftea. August’s heat had departed with the month, and the house retained themorning’s chill even late into the evening. She shed her button-up and tuggedMorgan’s sweater over her head. The scent of horse, shampoo, and the underlyingintoxicating scent of Morgan’s skin wrapped around her.

Friday.The end of her first week at Briar Hill Veterinary Clinic. She warmed her handsover the kettle and let herself feel the stream of joy pour out of her likesteam. This work was so different from her old job. Yes, she had euthanized twopatients, but they’d been older, and it had been a matter of quality of liferather than overcrowding. There would always be difficult decisions anddifficult clients—she was not that naïve—but there would also be continuity ofcare, joy, and satisfaction.

Thekettle’s whistle shrieked, and she poured the hot water into her cup, breathingin the fragrant mint. Tea, Nell, and a detective novel she’d borrowed fromLillian moved with her to the porch to watch from her favorite Adirondack chairthe birds flit over the meadow.

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