She couldn’t remember ever having a nice big bedroom like this all to herself. Maybe when Keith, her father, was still alive before the motorcycle accident, she wondered. Dana had shown her pictures of a bright yellow house with a picket fence where they had lived when Shelby was little. Her mother looked so young and happy in those pictures. Her dad, whom she had only vague memories of, was handsome, with dark, curly hair touching his shoulders. What would her life have been like if he had lived? She’d fantasized on that many times, but the reality was he had died.
Shelby dropped on to the bed and rolled on her side, the familiar furry blanket at her feet. Scarlett snuggled up under her arm and placed her head on Shelby’s shoulder. “You sweet girl,” Shelby said. “You and I are going to be great friends this summer.”
The dog’s tail thumped the bed in a rhythmic beat. “Woof, woof,” Scarlett barked, staring into Shelby’s eyes.
“What do you want, little one?” Shelby asked. “A snack? A walk?”
At the word “walk,” the dog stood up in bed with a very hopeful look on her face. Shelby figured Scarlett hadn’t had many walks lately, if at all. On the way up, Dana had mentioned that since Grandpa died, Alice was not getting out much, and that maybe Shelby could cheer her up. First of all, what was Dana, Alice’s own daughter, doing to help with that? Nothing. Was Shelby the appointed fix-all-the-adults person?
But now that she had seen the sadness in her grandmother’s eyes, Shelby really hoped she could help bring back her smile. Scarlett nudged her hand with another low bark. “Okay, okay. Perhaps we can manage a short walk before dinner,” Shelby said.
Scarlett jumped off the bed and stood waiting for Shelby to do the same.
“I guess I’m not going to be napping much today.” Shelby opened the bedroom door and the dog raced out toward the front door, where her leash was hung on a hook.
“That was a short nap,” her grandmother said. She looked half asleep herself in her recliner in the living room.
“Did we wake you?” Shelby asked.
Her grandmother shook her head. “Just dozing.”
Shelby looked over at Scarlett, who was waiting not so patiently at the door. “I think the dog would like to go for a walk. Why don’t you join us?”
Alice’s gaze dropped to her lap. “I’m afraid I’ve not taken her out much lately.” When she looked up, tears glistened in her eyes. “I just can’t seem to find the energy since Grandpa Stan died.”
“No worries. I’d love to walk her. My legs are stiff from the drive anyway.”
“Thank you, dear. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me too,” Shelby said and realized she meant it.
“I’ll get dinner started soon. It’ll be a bit late tonight, but ready when you get back. You’ve got time. The sun doesn’t set until after eight these days.”
Despite Scarlett’s squirming, Shelby clipped on the dog’s harness and waved to her grandmother as she left. A container of doggy bags was attached, so she was prepared.
Once down the porch steps, Shelby turned left on the path that led down toward the lake. Puffy, pink clouds hung in the sky, reflecting like cotton candy on the water. A few fishing boats were making their way back before dusk, but otherwise the lake and sandy area were calm and mostly empty of people. Rather than choose the path toward town, Shelby took the wooden staircase that led down to the beach area.
When they reached the sand, Scarlett tugged toward the water and Shelby let her take the lead. With no one in sight, Shelby removed the leash and let the dog chase the water line, splashing her little paws in and out. The dog needed to play. So did Shelby. She kicked off her shoes and chased the pup along the shallow water’s edge. “I’ve got you,” she said, pretending to catch Scarlett.
The dog raced away, barking playfully before losing her footing and somersaulting into the sand. She hastily righted herself and shook the wet sand off.
“You are too funny,” Shelby said. The sound of her own laugh surprised her; it had been a while.
Sadness will do that to you, she thought as she sat down on the sand to watch the sun begin to set. She’d seen her mother alternate between deep sadness and elation so many times, Shelby wondered if either side was real.