CLARE
Exhaustion had taken its toll on me, causing me to sleep late. Since it was Saturday and I had nowhere to be and nothing to worry about—not even Lacrosse because my dog had sleep-overs more often than not—I didn’t feel guilty for rolling over.
If the two next door got tired of my dog, they’d bring her back over.
A week had passed since the storm, and Dale had dropped by each morning just to say hello…and to bring me a postcard. He didn’t pressure me, didn’t ask for more. Just knocked on the door, kissed my forehead, and handed me the card, not even waiting for my reaction to them before he left.
Most had been funny, cute, and endearing, and one had tiny baby feet and a saying about new life fixing old mistakes. I knew what he was doing, chipping away at my resolve to not give in, but after I’d left him hopeful, could I really blame him?
The sound of hammers outside made me get up, and when I stepped to the window, I saw Sally and Lacrosse running around my yard, then over into Dale’s and back. There was something essential missing between the two properties.
Grabbing my robe, I slipped it on, holding it closed as I made my way down the stairs and out the front door—only to freeze on the porch. It was covered in postcards. From where I stood, I’d say half were about the future and half about love.
“Clare!” Sally called, waving from her yard as I bent to pick up the postcards. Grasping the pile, I made my way down the porch steps and around the house. There was a new fence around my lawn—one that stretched around Dale’s property, too. The fencing that normally separated our yards was gone, although Jacky’s roses were still there.
Dale stood on the border of our two yards, hammering another pole into place. He glanced at me with a small smile, as if he couldn’t care less that I was running around out here when his eyes conveyed how excited he was.
“There’s something missing between your house and mine,” I pointed out, my heart beating in my throat, nearly making it impossible to speak. I was already choking on emotions and I hadn’t even gone through the stack of cards in my hands.
“Daddy says Lacrosse needs more room, so he dog-proofed your garden and ours, then removed the fence. He says since you keep borrowing Lacrosse to us, it’s the least we can do.” Sally sounded excited, even happy, and looked much better since we discovered that her sleeping with Lacrosse meant she didn’t have the nightmares anymore.
Dale looked much better, too, the lines of exhaustion gone from his face.
My eyes were still on him, even though he was preoccupied with the fencing. “That’s what he said, huh? That you’re practically adopting my dog?” I knew I was teasing him, wanting to get a reaction, but he ignored my words while Sally shrugged.
“You can see her as often as we do, and now she can’t run away when you let her out during the day. It’s a good thing, Clare.”
I bit back a grin. “I can see my dog often, huh?”
Dale finally turned. “You’re not making a good case here, Sally.” He rolled his eyes dramatically. “How about letting your dad take over the argument?”
She didn’t even react, just threw her hands up before stomping away, Lacrosse following her.
It was official. My dog loved my neighbor’s daughter more than she loved me.
I couldn’t hide my smile as I stepped closer to him. “Well, Dad, make your case then.”
He reached out, cupping my cheek and running his thumb across my lips. It was such a small gesture, yet so incredibly intimate, it made me shiver. I saw longing in his eyes as he looked at me, and I nearly melted right there.
“I want our families together. You and Lacrosse belong with us, and combined yards is the start. The ground my house is on is mine, but I know the ground yours is standing on is for sale. If we combine that, we can expand either house, maybe build a small barn or something for me to start doing what I’ve always wanted to do. You were right. I need a hobby, need to do something I love. I can’t wait to get my hands on some furniture to sand and restore.”
He shrugged, turning away and surveying the area, as if he could already see all he envisioned.
“I won’t rush anything, Clare. We have seven months to find our new normal, our new routines. I was stupid to suggest you get rid of the baby. I had a serious brain fart that night, but… It doesn’t matter. Even if you decide against me in the end, it’s still my child. I want to see it.”
I arched a brow. “You’d want to be part of this baby’s life even if we go back to only being neighbors?”
He pulled me close. “We won’t ever be only neighbors again. You’re the mother of my child…and a mother figure for Sally.”
His voice was quiet, subdued, as if it were hard for him to admit all of this.
“We’re a mess,” I muttered, close to tears. Lately, I was always emotional, but I wanted what he insinuated—a family. “What if you realize you don’t like me?”
He laughed, the sound happy and relaxed. Damn, he was sure of himself. It was endearing, even if it should annoy me. “I don’t have to like you to love you.” He winked. “I’ve heard about couples who fight constantly. So, basically, nothing changes for us, except that I get to hold you in between you throwing plates at me.”
This time, it was me who had to laugh, resting my hands against his chest. Even though I would keep my own house to live in until we figured out what we were doing, I knew he’d won.