sounded like I was asking for myself. I wasn’t. I was convincing myself he’d never be the one to make the move.
I knew I should correct his assumption, but I couldn’t bring myself to spoil the mood. This was a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and I didn’t want it to end.
“Why is it so perfect for you?” I told myself that was at least a broad hint of where I was going with the question.
“The people,” he said. “It’s my family, sure. But it’s more than that. They’re not in a hurry. They’re not fighting to get ahead. They’re not in competition. They just want . . . the simple things, really: a Saturday night barbecue, a baseball game on the weekend, healthy kids, a meaningful job, a walk on the beach.”
“To come out for the summer festival.”
He smiled and nodded. “They do love the festival. Maybe because it’s all those things rolled into one.”
“I’m glad I’ll be here for it,” I said.
He looked surprised. “You’re staying that long?”
Somewhere along the way, I realized I’d made that decision. I wanted to stay. And, worse really, I didn’t want to leave.
“We know Max can’t get here early,” I said. “Becky’s babies are growing by the day. And Madeline needs me.”
Josh’s hand squeezed mine. He looked like he was about to say something more, but he didn’t. I put my other hand over his. Then I lifted his hand to my lips and gently kissed it.
My lips still grazing his skin, I echoed his earlier words, “I promised myself I wouldn’t do this.”
“But it’s done.”
“It’s done.” I’d let myself fall over the emotional cliff, and it was going to hurt.
He reached out and smoothed my hair. “We need to go to sleep.”
I nodded. He was right. We done enough damage for one evening.
*
I woke up to hear Josh’s voice at the top of the stairs.
“Butch?” he called out softly. “Butch?”
I felt something move against my feet.
Startled, I looked up to find Butch curled up on the end of my bed and my bedroom door pushed partway open.
“Are you up here, boy?” Josh asked. It was obvious he was trying not to disturb me or Madeline.
“He’s in here,” I called.
“You let him in?” Josh asked from down the hall.
“I guess the door wasn’t latched. He must have pushed it open.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. He’s just laying here. I’ll bring him down with me.” I checked my watch and discovered it was eight o’clock. “Have you heard any news on the road?”
“It’s open. We’re free.”
“Great,” I said. “I’ll be ready in a couple of minutes.”
“I’ll leave you to it.” His footsteps retreated down the stairs.
I looked at Butch. “Really? Up on my bed?”
He looked a little guilty, and I felt bad for my negative reaction. But I’d never in my life had an animal sleep on my bed. I couldn’t have imagined it. I sure couldn’t have imagined that I wouldn’t even notice. I had to say that, given his size, Butch had been very respectful of my space on the double bed.
“Time to get up,” I told him as I pulled back the covers and swung my legs over the edge of the bed.
The floor was cool on my feet, and I wrapped the robe more tightly around me as I headed for the bathroom.
Butch made to follow, but I left him outside in the hall. He was waiting there when I came out with my face washed and my hair fluffed out.
“Time for a car ride,” I told him.
He looked happy about that.
There wasn’t any need for breakfast, since the ride back to Rutter’s Point was only an hour and a half, and soon we were climbing into the cars.
Josh gave me his keys, and Butch hopped happily into the back seat of the SUV.
“There was zero chance he was coming with me,” Josh said.
Madeline opened the passenger door on the SUV.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Josh said to her. “We’re going to have a chat.”
“I need to talk to Laila,” Madeline said. “This is the perfect time.”
“I need to talk to you,” Josh said.
She waved away his objection. “You and I can talk any old time. This is lawyer stuff.” She climbed on in.
I looked at Josh, and he looked back at me. After a minute, he just shook his head in defeat and opened the door of the challenger.
“Well, this is nice,” Madeline said as I climbed inside.
“He’s worried about you,” I said, feeling the need to be on Josh’s side. I reached