Page 33 of We Can Stay
I clear my throat. “How is your dog?”
“Great.” She brightens, setting down her needles. “I mean, he destroyed the couch, but...great, otherwise,” she laughs. “Can you give something to Flick when you see her tonight?”
Wow. News spreads fast in Pine Island. “You already heard that we’re having a date tonight?” I laugh. “She must have texted you right after I got off the phone with her.”
Her smile dims the smallest amount. “Oh no. I just assumed you’re seeing her. The gift bag...” She gestures at it. “And you’re practically floating on air. Plus, you know how it is here—someone sneezes on Oak Street and by the time they reach Main, everyone’s offering them tissue.”
I wait for more—maybe for her to explain what’s bothering her, but instead, she turns away. “Let me go grab it. Be right back.”
She slips into the back room and emerges a moment later with a small brown shipping box. “Thank you.”
“Of course. Have a good night.” I take a step back, then stop. “Sorry I didn’t buy anything.”
She guffaws. “You can come in here without buying anything. It’s okay.”
“It’s just that knitting isn’t really my thing.”
“Are you sure about that?” She raises an eyebrow.
I think about the embroidery floss videos I’ve been watching late at night, trying to understand Flick’s world better. “No. I’m not sure about it.”
“To be revisited...” She laughs and waves at me as I push the door open.
I haven’t taken three steps down the sidewalk when my phone rings. It’s not Flick but Doris Turner, one of my contacts at the town council in New Hampshire, where I’m hoping to start the animal rescue.
“Hi, Doris,” I quickly answer. “How are you?”
“I’m okay, Sebastian, but my horse isn’t. I don’t know what’s wrong with her. Her eating habits have been strange, and she’s doing some weird things. Any chance you can come by and take a look at her this afternoon?”
I bite the tip of my tongue, stopping myself before I refer Doris to another vet. One who is less swamped than me and can probably do a house call today.
But I can’t afford that. If I want to get my animal sanctuary off the ground, Doris is a person I need to be doing favors for. Because of how big an operation the sanctuary will be, I need approval from the town council. Which means I need Doris’s vote when the time comes.
So, I find myself saying, “Sure. I’ll head that way now.”
As I hang up, I take a sharp breath. The clinic will be okay without me for a couple more hours, and hopefully, this won’t get me too behind. While in the past, I would have just stayed late to get work done, things are different now. I’m leaning into all the help I have from the others at the clinic, and no way am I canceling on Flick tonight.
I also won’t be relocating our date to a smelly horse stable. Or to a sheep stable to catch a newborn lamb—I don’t care how well that worked out for my brother.
Three hours later, I smell like a barn, but at least I’ve avoided bringing Flick to one. The scent of hay and horse sweat clings to my clothes despite my attempts to air out during the drive back. Stepping onto her doormat—a cheerful “Welcome” surrounded by painted daisies—I ring the bell and tense, suddenly second-guessing myself.
What am I doing? I should have gone home and showered first, even though that would have made me late. Or at least changed into the extra clothes I keep at the clinic. Or?—
There’s no more time for second-guessing. The door opens, and there she is, wearing a flowy dress in soft peach that makes her skin glow. Her hair is in some sort of partial updo, wispy pieces hanging loose and framing her face like she’s just stepped out of one of those romantic paintings my mother loves.
“You look beautiful,” I say on a quick exhale. And God, she does. I don’t know how her beauty is even real, it’s so exceptional.
“Hello to you, too.” She bites her lip and gives me a flirty look. “And thank you for the compliment. You?—”
“Smell like a horse stable, I know. I’m so sorry. I can go home and shower. I just—I had to go see this horse, and then I ran over here because I wanted to see you?—”
Flick grabs my shirt and tugs me to her. “Do. Not. Go. Home.”
Heat blooms through me, and I slip my arm around her waist. “Oh yeah? What about the smell?”
“I love horses. I grew up riding them.” She kicks the door open farther so we can walk into her condo. “And even if you truly smelled bad, I don’t think I would care. I couldn’t wait for you to come over.”
“Really? Tell me more.” I put her gift bag on the floor so I can get both arms around her.
