Page 82 of Shallow Remains

“If you think of anything, just reach out. I’ll have my office assistant contact you to set up the next appointment.”

“All right. Thank you for calling.” Her voice was surprisingly steady. Unlike the rest of her. And that was only going to get worse.

She slipped the phone back into the pocket of her overalls. Looked around her yard. A light wind rustled the tall tufts of ornamental grasses she’d left undisturbed because she liked the way they moved. They made the deep plum and golden chrysanthemums tremble on their stems. Just like her left hand in her pocket.

She shook herself. Willow.

She went back inside. Willow was still waiting inside the front door, as if she sensed Mae needed privacy. “Everything okay?”

“Yes, everything’s fine.”

“I can see I interrupted you in the middle of cleaning up the backyard, but Rufus would love it if you walked with us.”

Her first instinct was to decline. Pour herself a gigantic glass of wine and collapse on the couch with her dogs while she took stock of her life. Or what was left of it.

But she was made of sterner stuff than that. Feeling sorry for herself was terrible. She had survived the worst pain imaginable when she’d lost Carson. She could deal with this.

She needed to exercise more going forward. The fresh air and getting her blood pumping would be good for her. “A walk sounds lovely.”

Willow left to get Rufus and brought him to the front garden gate. He wagged his tail in greeting when he saw her, ears pricking up. “Hello, handsome.” She stroked his soft, chocolate-brown head and ears.

They set out together down the hill, Willow mindful of her slower pace now that she had to use a damned cane. Mae asked her about the wedding plans and what she and Tripp were working on in their respective studios. Willow chatted away, the cool air whipping a pretty pink flush into her cheeks.

Mae had never seen her happier than she had been these past few months, and it did her heart good. Tripp was a good man who had been through horrific things. He’d managed to fight through them to the other side and had somehow found the courage to reach for his own happiness along the way.

There was an important lesson in that. One Mae needed to take note of.

They took a narrow path that wound through a wooded area and came out at the main road that led back to town.

Rufus stopped at the far shoulder and sniffed around insistently.

“He always does this,” Willow said, trying to tug him forward. “It’s like he found a treat here once or something and thinks there might be another one waiting every time we come this way.”

Mae wrapped the edges of her sweater tighter around her body. “He’s a clever boy,” she said, suppressing a shiver. As if someone had just walked over her grave.

Or someone else’s.

“Yeah. Too clever for my good,” Willow muttered.

The walk back up the hill was slower than the walk down. By the time they reached her house, Mae was drained and ready to forgo the rest of the yard cleanup in favor of a rest.

“You don’t look so great,” Willow said, eyeing her in concern. “Are you alright?”

“Fine, dear. Just tired from all the rushing around lately, that’s all. You and Tripp free for dinner tomorrow? I’ll make him an apple crisp for dessert.”

“I’ll check with him, but I know he’d love that. Can we bring anything?”

“Just yourselves.” They were both the best of company. Mae loved having them around. They treated her like family. But then Mae had always considered them to be her family.

Willow hugged her goodbye, squeezing extra tight as if she knew something was up. “Love you, Mae.”

Her throat tightened. Yeah, Willow knew something was wrong. “I love you too, young lady.”

Mae shut the door behind her and stood there a long moment, her mind a blur. She was tired. So damned tired, and…so damned sad all of a sudden.

She blinked away the hot rush of tears, shook her head at herself. “Nonsense,” she muttered, and shuffled into the living room.

The dogs jumped up onto the sofa, watching expectantly as she settled into the far corner and stretched her legs out across the cushions. Larry settled in a lump between the back of the sofa and her thigh. Curly wedged himself under her elbow. Little Moe climbed onto her lap and curled into a ball with a contented sigh, her little pink tongue poking out as she licked her lips in contentment.