Page 93 of Beating Heart
“Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow after the interview.” I walked back behind my desk as he made his way out the door with a wave.
I pulled up the potential interview questions that they might ask me and got to work on answering them.
I called it a day when Petra reminded me it was getting late, and I walked out with her. She was still laughing about the changes we’d seen in Carrie Peters since the first time I’d met her. She’d been in today for a wellness check, and she didn’t scratch or bite anyone nor did she have an attitude. Her mom still didn’t seem to care for me, but that didn’t matter. I’d made progress with Carrie, and that felt like a win.
“You’ve got a gift. I’m going to call you the tiny human whisperer,” Petra said.
A compliment from Petra was something I didn’t take for granted, because they didn’t come often. But she and I had grown close since our rocky start a few months ago.
I waved goodbye and made my way toward home, with Winnie striding beside me.
I waved at a few locals as they passed by and came to a stop when Janelle was locking up Magnolia Blooms.
She had a big bouquet of pink tulips in her hand. “I was just hurrying over to your office to catch you before you left. I wanted to give you these.”
“What are these for?” I gasped as she handed me the enormous bouquet.
“Big day tomorrow. I heard you’ve got a big interview. I ran into Nash and Cutler earlier and they were telling me about it.” She smiled. My heart squeezed that they’d told her about the interview. I stopped into her floral shop often to get fresh blooms for my house, and we’d grown close, too. How had I let that happen? I’d grown close with half the locals here.
“I can’t believe they told you and that you did this for me. Thank you.”
“Even if I don’t want you to leave, I know you deserve whatever it is you want in life, Emerson. So I support that because I support you.” She kissed my cheek and made her way to her car, as she lived a little further from downtown. “And, I’ve got to say. Your boys are awfully proud of you.”
My boys.
I waved goodbye and made my way down my street, walking up to the front porch to find a note taped on the door.
Sunny,
I gots the best surprise for you. Come over when you get home.
I love you.
Beefcake
My chest squeezed for maybe the millionth time today, and I pushed inside the house. I fed Winnie and made my way down the hall to change my clothes real quick. The evenings were getting cooler outside, especially by the water, so I slipped into a pair of jeans and my favorite navy hoodie. Winnie and I walked the short distance next door. The back door was open, and music was booming from inside.
Is that Beyonce filling my ears?
“Hello?” I called out, as my dog ran inside like she lived there.
“Sunny!” Cutler came running toward me. He was wearing a white tee that had something written on it with a Sharpie. He jumped into my arms. “We’ve got a surprise for you.”
I looked over to see Nash coming from the kitchen with a big smile on his face and a white tee that also had writing on it.
“Apparently, tomorrow is the equivalent of your star student day, and he wanted you to have a shirt like Jolie,” Nash said, as he glanced down at his shirt. Sunny’s my girl.
Cutler jumped down and pointed at his shirt, which also read, Sunny’s my girl.
My heart squeezed so tight I felt like it might explode through my chest.
“It’s your big day tomorrow, Sunny.” Cutler grabbed my hand as I took in dozens of rainbow-colored balloons hanging from the ceiling and he pointed at the poster board taped to the wall that read Happy Star Student Day, Sunny.
This had become a topic for Cutler and me ever since he’d opened up to me about it. I’d agreed to make the unicorn Rice Krispie treats for his star student day in two weeks. We’d talked to Nash and explained that store-bought treats were fine most of the time, but homemade treats were a must on your special day.
I took it all in, shaking my head in disbelief as I bent down and hugged Cutler tight.
I hugged him like my life depended on it. Like if I let go, he would disappear.
