The moment she was alone, the knot in Sadie’s chest tightened ever so slightly. Between Gigi’s questions and cancer, and Jake’s return, her predictable life had gone haywire. Knowing she shouldn’t care about his presence and actually following through with that notion were two completely different obstacles in her mind.
She put a drop of white angelica oil in her palms and inhaled the Earl Grey scent of bergamot, the bright floral of ylang ylang, and the rich earthiness of sacred sandalwood, for protection and positivity. She needed every last tattered shred she could get.
Glancing at the clock, she saw she had a few hours until he’d arrive. The thing was, Jake didn’t owe her anything. Not really. Sure, he’d promised her forever, but those were the whimsical vows of youth, tainted with berry-stained fingers and the truth-telling properties of chrysanthemum.
At least, Sadie assumed that’s what they had been for him. For her, of course, it was the catalyst that set her life on its course. But maybe, perhaps, they could be cordial.
It would make life easier, anyway. Clearly, she was going to be seeing him all over town. And she didn’t have to let him in. She could fortify her walls.
Her head heavy with that thought, she started on the orange balsamic marinade for the chicken she’d be grilling later, the bright citrus scent making her think of summer. The sound of the “idiot box” filtered in from the living room and just as she started to grate the zest of the orange, a knock sounded on the front door.
“I’ll get it,” she hollered to Gigi, wiping her hands on her apron. She hadn’t changed out of the short-sleeved red wrap dress she’d worn to church, and noticed that a few specks of olive oil had managed to splatter themselves on the skirt. Par for the course. Her brain usually worked faster than her hands and often resulted in toothpaste on her shirt, coffee grinds all over the counter, and things falling off the shelf from where she’d stuffed them away too hastily.
“Jake!” Sadie cried in surprise when she opened the door. “You’re, um, you’re early,” she said, not opening the door all the way and glancing to the living room where Bambi had made himself comfortable on the couch.
“I thought maybe I could help with dinner since you said I didn’t need to bring anything. Even though I brought these, anyway,” he said, holding up two bottles of wine. “Pinot gris, because I know you don’t like reds, and a zinfandel, in case you’re feeling brave and want to try something new.”
Sadie just stood there staring at him, trying to figure out what to say, when she heard the tiniest whimper come from the living room.
“Are you gonna let me in?” he called out.
“I—oh yes! Just, um—hang on one second.” And she shut the door in his face. “Bambi!” she hissed. “Come here, boy.”
“What are you doing with that dog?” Gigi demanded at full volume.
“Shh!” Sadie waved her hands in a wild attempt to shush Gigi. “I’m putting him in my room. Jake’s here, and I, um—I don’t know how he’ll react around strangers.”
“Jake or the dog?” Gigi asked with narrowed eyes.
Sadie didn’t answer as she bounded up the stairs, Bambi following after her.
“Good boy,” she said, giving him a quick scratch behind the ears. “I’ll sort this out, I promise,” she told him. She told her heart to stop pounding, but as usual it didn’t listen. It’s just about the dog, she told herself, refusing the urge to look in a mirror and make sure her eyeliner wasn’t smudged.
A second later she opened the front door again. Jake turned around and she smiled, forgetting for a moment about trying to figure out how she should treat him. After all, he was still Jake. Surely it couldn’t be that difficult for them to be normal around each other? If she could just shove the past under a Texas–sized Band-Aid.
“Okay, come in,” she said, stepping aside.
“Hiding all the magic books and candlesticks?” he asked with raised brows.
“And the animal innards we use for divining. You know, you really don’t need to help with anything.”
“Well, what else was I going to do? Sit in my Elmwood Motel room by myself?”
“Can’t stand your own company? I totally sympathize.”
“Be nice to our guest!” Gigi hollered from the living room.
“Listen to your elders,” Jake said with a solemn tone and a teasing glint in his eyes.
Sadie reached out to smack him on the arm, but he darted out of the way. She wanted to point out that he was not there by her invitation. Damn Gigi and her meddling ways. What was she playing at, anyway?
“Give me those,” she said, grabbing the wine from his hands and turning on her heel.
Jake followed her into the kitchen and watched as she uncorked the bottle of pinot gris he’d brought. Of course, he remembered that she didn’t favor the reds.
“What can I do?” he asked, always helpful to a fault.
Go back where you came from?
Never have left?
Kiss me, maybe?
Shut up, Sadie.
Silently, she handed him a glass of wine and ignored the gentle tug on her heart.
“Thanks, by the way, for abandoning me with Annabelle.”
“Sometimes the best kind of torture is the one where I leave you to your own devices. I mean, you should expect it. You’re the talk of the town.”
“Well, good to know some things never change, at least.” He smiled.
“Hubris. Lovely.”
“You’ve never cared what people think. It’s one of the things I admire about you.”
On the spot, she decided that she better start carrying a small posy of white and lavender heather to keep her on the safe side of sunset. Because it was statements like those, the ones that led back to dusty memories, that reminded her just how well he knew her. Better than anyone aside from Seth.
Instead of answering, she gave him a knife and pointed to a pile of onions for him to chop.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said with a smile.
They worked in soft silence, moving around each other like water, practiced and smooth. When his arm brushed against hers as they worked, her skin reacted by breaking out in goose bumps. And when she went to get the butter from the fridge, it was already melted in its container.
A scratching noise came from upstairs.
“Gigi still taking in strays?” Jake guessed.
“Um, yeah.” Her laugh sounded manic even to her own ears as her eyes refused to meet his.
“You know, one of the things I was really happy about moving here was that I could finally get a dog. Got the dopiest chocolate lab puppy, but the dumb guy ran off while I was looking at the house.”
“Oh, really? That—well, how unfortunate,” she said with wide, innocent eyes, even though her chest filled with something that felt terribly like guilt. “Maybe you should have put your number on his collar. Like a responsible adult.”
“The machine at the pet store was broken. I ordered one and had it shipped to the motel, Miss Bossy Pants.”
“Oh,” Sadie said, and her face fell. Damn him.
Bambi whimpered and barked, and Jake narrowed his eyes at the sound, recognition coloring his features.
“I’m letting Bambi out!” Gigi called before Jake could say anything.
“No!” Sadie shouted, but a few seconds later the lab in question came bounding into the kitchen.
“Chief!” Jake shouted, dropping to the floor as the dog covered him in wet kisses. From the ground Jake looked up at Sadie with pursed lips.
“Did you steal my dog?”
“What! I mean, no! I mean … he just wandered into our garden. He begged me to take him. I tried to get him to leave. I said, ‘Shoo, dog. Be gone!’ But he wouldn’t listen, and … and … yes, I did. I stole him. But I didn’t know!” she blathered, her skin going clammy.
“Sadie, we’re in the country!” Jake huffed in exasperation. “Sound carries. Didn’t you hear me calling him last night?” He stood up, crossing his arms, and Sadie could swear he was trying not to smile.
“It was muffled,” she mumbled, staring at her shoes.
“Sadie Kathryn Revelare. Did you know this was his dog?” Gigi demanded, standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
“I may have considered the possibility, yes.”