A Ghoulish Midlife (Witching After Forty #1) - Lia Davis Page 0,6
he made when he ate something he loved. It was a good thing I’d picked up tuna for myself. I laughed at the cat and left him to his meal. “I’m heading back to my office.”
If I didn’t tell him where I was going, he’d walk around the house meowing as loud as he could, even though he could just follow my scent.
Crazy cat.
As I walked past the front door, someone pounded on it loud enough to wake the dead in the next town over. Geesh! “It’s the police. Open up!” I cursed after I collected my heart off the floor and put it back in my chest. I might have screamed a little.
Marching over to the door, I jerked it open about to bless out whoever was trying to break down the door. I stopped short when I saw my best friend standing on the other side. His brown hair was in its usual unruly mess, which looked amazing on him. Dark blue eyes sparkled as he smiled at me.
As I took in his deputy uniform, I burst out laughing. I was correct that the knock sounded like it came from the police. “You didn’t need to knock like you had a warrant for my arrest.”
Sam Thompson, my best friend since the first grade, chuckled. “How do you know I don’t?”
“I know. I’ve been too depressed to get into trouble.” I meant it to be funny, but it came out pathetic.
Shaking his head, Sam’s smile fell, and he stepped closer like he was going to hug me. I stepped back. I couldn't. I’d finally got my emotions under wraps. If I hugged him, the flood gates would open up. Instead I held out my hand. “It’s great seeing you again.”
He took another step, forcing me backwards. “Sam, don’t you dare.”
He leaped forward, grabbing my arm and pulling me into him, hugging me tight. The feel of his arms around me cued the water works. Warm and secure. Sam was a great hugger. So had been Clay. I gripped his shirt and buried my face into the center of his chest. “Jerk.”
“It’s good to have you home.” I heard the door click shut.
After a few minutes, I wrapped my arms around his back. “I miss him.”
Sam sighed and framed my face as he leaned back. “I know.”
“And I miss Aunt Winnie.” I hiccupped a sob, only making him tighten his hold on me. Sam was the brother I never had. Always had been. We had this instant connection from the moment we saw each other in the first grade. “None of this was in the game plan.”
He rested his cheek to the top of my head and just held me and let me soak his uniform shirt. I wasn’t sure how long we stood there. In true Sam fashion, he didn’t tell me things that everyone else had told me. That it would be okay. Life goes on. Sam didn’t say any of those things. He just held me and let me pour out all the emotions that have been bottled up inside me.
When my tears finally stopped, I stepped out of Sam’s embrace and wiped my tears from my face. “Not to mention, Wallie left me, too.” I was a mess. It was all too much. Winnie’s death triggered the grief from losing Clay, then Wallie going to school added to my loneliness.
I stared at the huge wet spot in Sam’s shirt and frowned. “I’m sure the washer and dryer work. Maybe.”
When I reached to touch his shirt, he took my hands and held them in his warm grasp. “I have a clean one in the car.”
Of course, he did. That was Sam. Taking a deep breath, I waved him toward the kitchen. “Want coffee?”
“Sure. Olivia said she saw you at the store earlier today. Since I was in the neighborhood, I thought I’d check in with you. You know, since you called and let your bestie know you were here.” His low chuckle made me smile.
“Just in the neighborhood, huh. You always keep clean shirts in your patrol car?”
He flashed his infamous smile that always got him out of trouble. Or into trouble, depending on his mood.
After starting the coffee, I took out two cups and turned to study him. “That little guy of yours is way cuter in person.”
Sam’s face lit up. “He gets it from me.” He winked then added, “He’s a handful.”
“They usually are at that age.”
Sam glanced down at the large Maine coon stretched