[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
you re vulnerable again.
I ve got Julie, and I m still not worried. Yeah, he
startled me at the bar, but there s something in his eyes
that tell me he s not out to harm me. Madison
157
Through Hazel Eyes
followed suit and stretched her calves before stretching
her hamstrings.
What then? If he wanted to date you, he would
have asked you by now, don t you think?
Maybe, but not if he s shy.
He s not shy! My God, he shows up everywhere
you are. That s no shy man, that s a bold man! Olivia
was now standing up in her teacher pose, making
Madison feel like one of Olivia s students in the back
row who was just called on even though she didn t
raise her hand.
Know what? I d really like to drop this subject. It s
getting old. Madison unlocked her car and climbed in,
careful not to get her sweaty palms on the steering
wheel until after she wiped them on her shirt.
Geez, I can see someone s edgy since her boyfriend
left town. If you don t hire an investigator at least go
online and do a search on him. What s his last name
again? They said it so fast that day at the race, I don t
remember though. Olivia said before she climbed in
the passenger seat.
I don t know. I didn t even see him, remember?
Madison said. If it makes you feel better, I ll see what I
can find out over spring break.
Madison wasn t ready to face her empty house.
After the grocery store, the bookstore, and another hot
chocolate from the coffee shop, she gave in and
returned home. Julie wagged her tail with great
enthusiasm when the door unlocked and opened.
Madison let her out in the back yard and fed her dinner
when she came back in from her short walkabout.
158
Through Hazel Eyes
Madison was starting to see why people owned dogs.
Dogs rarely disagree with you and are always happy to
see you. The comfort of her couch welcomed
Madison as she lay down to watch television. Any
show would do, if it took her mind off Phil being gone.
She knew each day would grow easier, not only
because she d be more used to him being gone, but
because it would mean one day closer to his return.
Having met Rick fresh out of college, she hadn t had
much experience with the different dynamics of a
relationship and long distance was definitely not on the
list.
Hours later, the phone rang. It took her a minute to
locate it in her stupor, let alone the dark. She had fallen
asleep while it was still light out. Eventually, she found
the phone and was relieved to see Phil s number on the
caller ID.
Hello! she said.
Hey, hon! How are my girls doing? Phil sounded
chipper, despite his long day of driving.
We re fine. How s your drive? Madison reached
down and rubbed Julie behind her ears while listening
to his recall of the day s events on the road. He
described the tractor-trailers as though they were
deadly serpents hunting down cars that were mere
minnows. That sounds like an adventurous start to
your trip. Did you get enough to eat on the road?
Madison didn t want to hang up, especially now
that she was wide-awake and knew she d have
difficulty falling back to sleep later.
159
Through Hazel Eyes
Yeah, I ate the sandwich you made me by ten
o clock, then stopped for some snacks at lunchtime.
How about you? What d you do today?
Went running with Olivia down in the Hallow.
That was fun, but it was tough being there without
you. Madison paused, twirling her hair with her index
finger. The good news is that Julie s eating just fine.
She went to the dog park today and seemed to enjoy it.
I ll take her back tomorrow so I can get a picture of her.
That way you ll have one when you get to California.
That d be great, but make sure there s one of you
too, Phil said.
Maybe, maybe not. It ll be a surprise. Well, I
should let you go to bed. I know you ve had a long
day. I miss you.
I miss you too. Love you. Good night. The phone
clicked before Madison was able to say, I love you
back. Instead she whispered it to the empty room. She
climbed the stairs to her bedroom where she changed
into his shirt before slipping under the covers.
160
Through Hazel Eyes
TWENTY-ONE
The purple leash Phil bought for Julie was shorter than
Madison would have liked. However, if she went
running with Julie, it would be better to use a shorter
one than a longer one. She drove over to the dog park,
this time arriving earlier than the day before. Julie
stood on the back seat of the car with her head out the
window and ears flapping in the wind. Oh, to have the
life of a dog. Fewer dogs than the previous day were
inside the fenced area, making it easier to let Julie in
through the gate. After Madison unhooked the leash,
Julie took off across the field to play the other dogs.
Many of them were chasing a ball that one of the other
owners was throwing. Fortunately for him another
Labrador Retriever was consistently coming up with
the ball, delighted to return it to the man.
Madison took a seat on the same bench where she
had met Caroline. This morning, however, she was
relieved to have the bench and her thoughts to herself.
Absorbed in watching the various dogs at play, she
engaged herself again in playing the game of guessing
which ones belonged to which owner. A long haired
Collie mix with an equally long nose apparently
belonged to the woman with a braid that reached the
middle of her back. The Beagle with a gray muzzle
stuck closely to its owner, an elderly man with soft
161
Through Hazel Eyes
cheeks. Julie seemed to make friends with a German
Shepherd mix that followed her around more than any
other dog there.
Madison sat with the hot chocolate she stopped for
at the coffee shop up the road. The hot to-go container
sat cupped between her hands, which she rested on her
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]