Page 67 of Then Came You

They’d been engaged when they’d taken the trip, and she’d happily flaunted her ring to anyone who’d asked to see it. Now the ring hung on a gold chain, and she wore it as a pendant. It used to be that she wouldn’t leave the house without it, but lately she hadn’t been wearing it as much. Her life was slowly starting to change.

While she was reminiscing, the doorbell rang. Frantic, she opened her dresser drawer and shoved the picture inside before slamming it shut. She glanced at her bedroom clock and saw it was almost eleven. Had Sam gotten off work early? Why hadn’t he called first? Where is my phone, anyway?

While she was looking around the room, the doorbell rang again, only more insistently this time. Dammit! If she kept him waiting any longer, he’d probably break down the door.

She rushed down the hallway in her towel ensemble and yelled, “Coming!” Cocoa was sitting patiently by the door, and since he hadn’t barked, she figured it had to be Sam. She flung open the door without looking through the peephole first, and there was Stella.

Stella gave her a funny look, and Gillian remembered what she was wearing, or more accurately, what she wasn’t. Why on earth had Stella come over this late unless she’d seen somebody lurking around again?

Regardless, Gillian refused to invite her inside. She had a limited amount of time to get dressed before Sam arrived, and she didn’t want to waste it talking to her neighbor.

“I just got out of the tub.”

“I see that. Sorry to bother you.”

“It is kind of late.”

“I know, but when I saw all your lights on, I figured you were awake.”

Gillian nodded, not wanting to prolong the conversation any longer than necessary.

“What can I do for you?”

“I just wanted to let you know that they caught someone breaking into the Wilkinses’ house last night. It was probably the same person who tried to get in here.”

“Good. I’m glad they caught him. Although I did get a security system installed, so I feel safer now.” Plus, I have a hunky cop who’s been looking out for me, but Stella probably already knows that.

“I think we’ll all be able to sleep better now that the guy was caught.”

“Yes. Well, thanks for letting me know.” Gillian started to close the door, but Stella stuck her foot in the crack.

“I also wanted to say that I’m really happy for you.”

Gillian wrinkled her brow with confusion. “Happy…about what?”

“About your new fella. I happened to see him leaving your house last night, and I swear he was practically skipping down the steps.”

A few different responses crossed Gillian’s mind, most of them having to do with planting more trees between their houses and stealing Stella’s binoculars.

“I hope you don’t mind my saying, but I’d like to think Owen would be happy for you too.”

Tears pricked Gillian’s eyes. It often happened at the mention of his name, though not as much in recent days.

“I know people say things like that all the time, but I tend to believe it. Our loved ones wouldn’t want us to be sad and lonely for the rest of our lives. If you have a second chance at happiness, I say grab it!”

Gillian swallowed hard. Just when she’d wanted to physically remove Stella from her porch, her neighbor had gone and said something so sweet.

“Thank you, Stella. And since you know about my ‘fella,’ he’s stopping by tonight, so if you don’t mind…”

“Oh! Of course, dear. Why didn’t you say something earlier?”

Gillian shrugged.

“I’ll skedaddle! You have fun tonight.”

“I will,” she replied, but Stella had already disappeared into the night. The older woman was surprisingly agile at times.

After Gillian locked the door, she hurried back to her bedroom to finish getting ready. She had just enough time to get dressed and blow-dry her hair, but that was all. Not that it really mattered, because Sam had already seen her at her worst. He’d seen her without makeup, with wind-whipped hair, picking up dog poop, terrified from a nightmare, and heartbroken over the loss of her fiancé.