Page 74 of Day Break

She was frowning again. “Where? How would I do that?”

“Well, most classes you can take online. They also teach some of them in town at the schools or the community centers. We can look at signing you up when we get back.”

The ferry was docked now, and cars were exiting. We’d load up in a few moments, so I turned the car back on.

“Thank you,” Chloe said. She laughed when Byron woke up and shoved his face between us. “I don’t know what I would have done if he hadn’t found me on the beach.”

I didn’t like thinking about that either.

During the drive to the city we chatted about a bunch of other things, but in the back of my mind was that troubling thought.

I worked for the law. For the justice system. Yet that system had allowed a woman with no shelter, no money, and no family to walk away from a year’s incarceration with nothing.

Chloe had told me that she’d lied to her parole officer and how she’d only had to check in once. I knew for less serious cases like hers that was true. Still, she should have had a social worker assigned to her, considering her past.

We stopped for coffee and donuts shortly after getting off the ferry.

When I pulled up to my townhouse and parked, it was almost lunch time, thanks to the traffic that the dense fog had caused to pile up on the city streets.

“What do you say we get Byron settled, then head out for some lunch and shopping?” I asked.

Chloe nodded, looking at the townhouse building in front of us.

The brick building housed more than a dozen units and there were at least six other buildings scattered around the complex. There was also a clubhouse, a gym, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and several parks and walking paths.

It was as close to a community that you could get without purchasing a real home. The buildings and grounds were maintained by the homeowners’ association.

Most of the owners had some small plants or decorations outside on the steps to make their units unique. I had a doormat that said Welcome.

“This is nice,” Chloe said as I carried her bag and Byron’s bed up my outer stairs.

“It beats a small apartment downtown.” I shrugged. “The law firm I work for is just down the street.” I motioned towards the office. “There’s a grocery store that way about a block.” I waved then unlocked the door.

Chloe was letting Byron pee on the bushes at the foot of the four stairs. Once the door was opened, he rushed in, pulling Chloe along with him.

“He’s okay to roam,” I said, unhooking his leash after setting his bed down inside my home study.

My style of decoration for the house was simple. I liked neutral colors, straight lines, and nature, so a lot of wood and blues filled the space.

The leather sofas I had bought my first year out on my own were worn and comfortable.

I didn’t have people over often. When I dated, I had never brought any of them here unless we’d been going out for months. In the past two years, that had only happened once.

My space was mine.

Chloe looked around the study. “I like the painting.” She motioned to the sailboat over the fireplace.

“I bought that at one of the galleries I represented.” It was one of the only pieces in the house that I truly loved. It reminded me of the island and all the summers I’d spent there, watching the sailboats and seagulls. “The artist is Allison Jordan.”

Chloe ran her eyes over it slowly.

“It’s stunning,” she said softly. “I’ve always wanted to learn how to paint.” She turned towards me. “I’m pretty good at drawing.” She shook her head and then turned away. “Show me around?”

I took her hand and walked through the first floor. Opposite of my study was the living room, which was twice the size of the study. There was a bathroom between the study and the dining room that sat at the back of the house. There was a kitchen and eating space, and off the back was a small deck and private fenced area that Byron explored while I walked her around the rest of the house. Up the stairs were three bedrooms. The main one sat at the back of the house.

It wasn’t anything special. Honestly, the building wasn’t new and could have used a lot of updates, but it was mine and it suited my needs.

The fact that it was really close to my work was the most important thing. I hated the Seattle commute and traffic. If I didn’t live close to my work, I probably would have moved out of the city years ago.