Page 12 of A Very Merry Matchup
Probably good that I didn’t sleep any longer then. I want to be ready to sleep again tonight. The sooner I get back to a regular sleep schedule, the better.
“Need to go potty?” I ask Hamish. He’s whining and pawing at the door, so I’m guessing the answer is yes.
“All right, buddy. One second.” I text Lucy.Are you here?“Please be here,” I mutter as I step to the window. Maybe I’ll spot her car. I peek through the blinds. Maybe not.
The snow obviously didn’t slack any during my hour-long nap. It’s still coming down at a steady clip. Good thing we got here when we did.
Hamish continues pawing at the door. “I know, buddy. Hold on.”
Since Lucy’s not texting back, I try calling. “Are you here? I’m here. So you better be here,” I tell her voicemail a few seconds later. Then I tap on the screen, so I can pull up theapp and send a video message to both her and Ella. “Ignore my voice. I know I sound awful. But thankfully I’m feeling better and... Look where I am.”
I tap the camera so it’s facing away from me toward the room.
The green room, as Beau’s mom said, is green. The walls are a dark green, as are the curtains on the two windows—one facing the backyard, the other facing the neighbor’s house. The dresser with an attached mirror is more of a seafoam green, but the desk with a glass top that displays family pictures and newspaper clippings from Beau’s high school baseball days is painted a bright emerald.
I tap the camera back on me. “In case you didn’t pick up on all the subtle clues, I’m in the green room. Got here almost two hours ago. Hamish hasn’t broken or destroyed anything, so I think we’re off to a good start. Ella, if you’re able to make it for the New Year’s Eve engagement party, this room has a trundle bed, so you could bunk in with me. Just be aware that Hamish will try to steal your socks while you’re sleeping. And Lucy, I better see your face in the next ten seconds. I’m coming downstairs.”
I end the message and open the door before Hamish loses his mind. “Here comes the beast,” I whisper-yell in warning as Hamish tumbles down the stairs like a fifty-pound bowling ball.
Before I can follow, a flash of dark fur bolts from the bedroom opposite mine and darts past my feet in hot pursuit of Hamish. “What in the—”
“Is there another dog?”
I collide into a solid wall of muscle. The same solid wall of muscle I remember trying to ignore every time I fixed the EKG leads back in September.Beau.
“Whoa,” his deep voice says. “Sorry. I didn’t—wait...” Strong hands grip my shoulders and push me back a few inches. “Ivy?” Beau’s blue eyes widen.
“Hey, Beau,” I say, having to tip back my head to see him better. If he’s here, then Lucy must be, too. “Good seeing you again.”
Beau’s staring at me like I’ve risen from the dead. To be fair I sound like I have. Probably look like it too. “Where’s Lucy?” I try clearing my throat. “Downstairs?”
He shakes his head like he’s still seeing a ghost. Or maybe he just doesn’t hear me over all the barking, yapping, tumbling, and crashing taking place downstairs. I can’t tell if Hamish has made an instant friend or a new sworn enemy. Either way I better go check it out. I point down the stairs, because that seems more productive than trying to talk.
The stairs have a small landing that veers left toward more stairs leading to the kitchen or right toward a short staircase descending to the living room areas. I veer left.
Beau’s mom is just letting the dogs outside when I hit the bottom step.
“Well,” she says with a merry laugh. “That’s quite a greeting to come home to. Who’s Hamish’s little friend?”
I shrug. Easier than trying to croak out an answer I don’t know.
“How are you feeling, honey? Get a little rest?” She’s still wearing her coat, so she must’ve just gotten back from church. “I saw Beau’s car. Glad to see he made it in okay,” she says, unwrapping her scarf. “They say the snow’s not letting up anytime soon. Ready for some soup?”
I nod and step further into the kitchen, trying to see if I can spot Lucy through the doorway that leads to the dining room, or the other doorway that circles back to the living room area.
“We’ve got some hot tea if you think that will help your—Beau!” She clunks the soup lid back in place and rushes around the kitchen table to wrap her arms around him.
Beau returns his mom’s hug while still eyeing me with that weird look on his face. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was shocked to see me here. But... no. Lucy obviously told him I was coming. Shehadto have told him I was coming, because Beau’s Mom mentioned how Beau told her I was coming when she texted me back about the dog.
So why is Beau looking at me like he had no idea I was coming?
Something feels off. I need my phone. I start for the stairs, but Beau and his mom are blocking the way, his mom still hugging and giggling about what a wonderful Christmas this is already shaping out to be.
“Where’s Dad?” Beau asks, his eyes still locked on my face.
“Still at the church. You wouldn’t believe how hectic everything’s been since Phylis retired as office manager in the fall. We’re having trouble finding a replacement, and let’s just say everybody’s starting to realize all Phylis did behind the scenes that isn’t running so smoothly now. But anyway, that’s a conversation for a different time. I’d much rather have a conversation about you two,” she says, stepping back over to the soup and adjusting the burner.
Us two? Beau and I lock gazes. My hooded sweatshirt starts shrinking into a corset that wants to squeeze all the air out of my lungs.Us two?
