Page 14 of The Lake House

On my way home, my phone rings. It’s Liv, and I answer through the speaker of the car.

“Hey, Liv.”

“Girl, where have you been? I stopped by your house since I was outside gardening with Josie, but you weren’t there.”

I giggle. “I can’t picture you gardening.” Liv had never been one to enjoy the grass and dirt.

“Please don’t remind me. I have a seven-year-old who’s been hounding me to plant flowers in the front garden for months!”

I laugh. “That’s good. You could use a little dirt on your hands.”

“Nope. I wore gloves.”

“Of course you did.” I turn left at the corner and head down a block before stopping at a red light.

“So, where’d you go? Off to see Declan?” she casually throws in there.

“What? No! I went down to Abner’s… I started working today.”

She gasps. “Oh, you’re working for Anna and Greg? That’s great! I’m glad you got out a little bit.”

I smile. “Me, too. It was great.”

“Anyway, I was stopping by to see if you wanted to come over for dinner tonight,” she asks.

“Sure, Liv. That would be nice.”

“Cool. So come by in an hour.”

“Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”

After we hang up, I drive another three minutes before I arrive home. I don’t see her or Josie once I turn onto our block, but figure she’s probably inside cooking. Lord knows what she’s coming up with, knowing I’ll be there with them in just a little while.

I go inside and think about changing out of what I’m wearing. I look nice, but maybe a pair of jeans would be more suitable, not to mention comfortable.

I go through my closet and pull out one of the denim blue pairs. I walk toward my bed and place them on top. I pull off my sandals and take off my slacks, then throw them to my left into the laundry bin. Slipping on my jeans, I zip the zipper and button the top. I decide to go with my white sneakers, so I grab them out of the closet and put those on as well.

Once I’m done, I head back downstairs and decide to wait in the living room. I could literally head over to Liv’s now, but I don’t want her to think I’m rushing her. Well, she probably wouldn’t think that, but still. I’ll leave from here around a quarter to seven.

As I take a seat on the couch, I decide to check my cell phone. Of course, the first thing I want to do is try to find Declan on social media. I won’t lie. I’ve thought about it since I got home that night from the fair, but I promised myself I wouldn’t look into it. If I were to find him, it would make me think about him even more, and I couldn’t have that. He was already occupying enough of my mind.

But now I’m curious, and I want to see him. At least this way I can see his picture on his profile. I look on Facebook, but I can’t find him. I do, however, find a Facebook Page for Bell Construction. I knew he had his own company of some sort, but I’d never thought to look for it. I didn’t even know he was in construction. I don’t see pictures of him on there, more so his work and the things his company does.

My phone vibrates with a text notification.

Guess who?

It’s Liv. I giggle.

Coming yet, Giules?

I text back, letting her know that I’m leaving now and send it off to her. I grab my keys and head out the door.

* * *

“Hi, Auntie Giules!” Josie opens the door for me and throws herself at me. We embrace for a bit before I hear her mother’s voice from behind her.

“Well, let Auntie Giules come in.” Liv gently pulls her daughter away and then says to me, “How’s it going, girl?”

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