THE WHOLE WAY HOME I’M wracked with guilt and worry. It upsets me I wasn’t able to wait to see how his dog was but I figure I can just call the hospital if it really bothers me.
Once we get to my house Beverly and Rodger come rushing outside to greet us, excitement pouring out of them. Chloe squeals from her car seat, also bouncing with excitement. “Grandma! Papa!”
I take her out and Rodger grabs her in a tight embrace, spinning her around with all the excitement of a kid on Christmas Day. She’s their life. My daughter giggles with delight and I know right there and then I made the right choice in coming back.
“Mommy hit a doggy and we had to go to the doggy hospital,” Chloe tattles while still in Rodger’s arms.
Both Beverly and Rodger stop and look at me with confused expressions.
“Long story,” I tell them, waving my hand around as if that explains everything. “A dog ran out in front of my car this morning and when I went to slam on the brakes, the car lunged forward.”
“You really need to replace your car, honey,” Rodger says, his voice filled with worry. “We can go together if you’d feel more comfortable. Beverly and I need to know that you and Chloe are safe.”
He’s right and when he puts it that way, I can’t refuse. They’ve been through so much, it’s the least I can do. “Now that I’m home, I’m definitely going to do it,” I tell him. “And I’d love to have you come with me. I could really use your help.”
He lights up. I knew that would make him smile. They both have felt so helpless since the accident and I know us being in San Diego had been hard on them. “It would be my honor,” he says, beaming with pride.
Rodger looks Chloe right in her eyes and says in a soft, sing-song voice, “I think I saw a present in someone’s bedroom.”
Chloe looks at her papa, then to her grandma, and then to me before turning back to her papa again. With wide eyes, she points at herself and asks, “Me?”
Rodger makes a grand gesture of looking at the area around us. When he turns his eyes back to her, he asks, “Hmmm, do you see any other princesses around here? Because the present is definitely for a princess.”
Chloe knows we all call her a princess. She giggles and says, “Papa, I’m a princess, silly!”
Rodger throws his head back and laughs. “I am silly,” he tells her. “Everybody knows you’re the one and only princess.” He then continues. “Well then, Princess Chloe, a royal present is waiting for you in your castle and I think we should go see what it is.”
Rodger and Chloe head into the house and Beverly hugs me. “We’re so happy to have the both of you home again. He’s been on cloud nine ever since you told us you were coming back.”
“We’re happy to be home too,” I tell her, still in her embrace.
Beverly and I walk arm-in-arm into the house. “Wine?” she asks. Normally I wouldn’t drink this early in the day and normally she wouldn’t ask, but after hearing Chloe’s admission, I know she thinks I could use a glass and she’s definitely right.
We fall into easy conversation as we take our wine out to the back porch and sit down at my little Target bistro table. I could really use some new outdoor furniture I think to myself and that makes me think about E and the furniture he made. I really wish I could see it.
“Dani?” Beverly asks over her wine glass.
Her voice startles me, pulling my head out of the clouds. “Sorry, I was lost in thought.”
“I don’t blame you after what happened today,” she says and before I can fall back into my head, she continues. “I was just saying I’ve noticed the house next door is occupied again.”
I look over and notice she’s right. It’s been vacant since my dear old neighbor Mrs. Hawthorne was moved into a retirement home by her family. Her daughter told me they were keeping the home to use as a rental, but it was still vacant when I moved to San Diego. We talk a little about Mrs. Hawthorne and who my new neighbors could possibly be. I’m really hoping it’s a family with kids for Chloe to play with.
She asks me about the dog and I go on to tell her all about it and the beautiful, strange, sad man. I tell her how disappointed I am that he had wanted me to leave and how worried I am about the both of them.
“You should have seen him, Bev. He was paralyzed by fear. All the color drained from his face and…” I shake my head to rid it of the vision of his beautiful, haunted eyes. “There was nothing there. I know that look. Something happened to him in his past. Something that was beyond tragic.” I could see my sorrow reflected back at me.
Of course, she understands. We’ve all lived it.
“I have a great idea!” Beverly declares. “I think we should get a new car for you right now!”
Surprised by the change of subject, and the enthusiasm in her voice, I ask, “What?”
“I know you, sweetheart, every time you look at that car you’re going to think about that poor man and his dog and you’re going to become sad.”
She’s right.
“I don’t know,” I hedge because that old Ford is another link to Scott I have to sever. “I haven’t really looked into anything yet.”
“Rodger has,” she tells me, her voice bright. “We knew you needed a new car; you’ve needed one for a very long time. We were both worried sick about the two of you driving in it and now with what happened with the dog…” She trails off seemingly lost in thought but quickly recovers. “You saw how happy Rodger was when you asked him. He’s already done research on the safest SUVs on the market and has priced them out. He’s even gone as far as to have visited several dealerships, but don’t tell him I told you.”
I laugh at her admission, because that’s so Rodger. Scott was just like that. Once he got something in his head, there was no stopping him. His philosophy was, “If you want something bad enough, pursue it aggressively until you wear it down and it gives in.”
“Okay,” I tell her. “Let’s do it.”