Page 94 of Between the Lines

Mostly, she stayed close, checking in with Essie now and then as though she needed to be sure she was doing this right.

“You’re doing great,” Essie told her softly. Essie was already madly in love with the animal. She’d gotten up twice last night to check on her, both times finding her fast asleep at the foot of Essie’s own bed.

She was such a good dog. Sweet, well-behaved, and seemingly happy all the time. Essie felt like Maple was a gift from God. Maybe some people would think that was silly, but Maple was exactly what she’d needed at the exact time she’d needed it.

After a little more walking, Essie led Maple farther up on the sand and lowered herself to sit and just watch the water. Maple circled twice before settling, her fur warm against Essie’s leg, her gaze fixed on the waves as if she, too, could watch them forever.

Essie rested her hands on her knees and breathed.

She missed Frank. That was a feeling that reared its head pretty regularly these days. She missed his voice in the mornings, the way he always read the headlines aloud even when she’d already seen them. The way he kissed her neck when she was making dinner. She missed the small, ordinary rituals of married life.

It didn’t mean she didn’t understand he was doing what needed to be done, but Italy felt very far away today.

But now she wasn’t lonely.

Maple shifted closer, looking at Essie and thumping her tail in the sand. Essie smiled and scratched the back of Maple’s neck. “You’re a good girl. Yes, you are.”

Even in such a short time, having another living thing to care for had changed the shape of her days. There was comfort in Maple’s company. There was new purpose, too. Someone to walk with, which was good for both of them. Someone who needed her to be present, even when her thoughts were tempted to wander to things she couldn’t change.

Her phone buzzed in the pocket of her shorts. Essie didn’t reach for it right away. She had a feeling what it would be. A notification about Sophie’s TikTok account. With Liliana’s help, Essie had set them up.

There had been a new one late last night and another this morning. It wasn’t unusual for Sophie to post three or four times a day.

When Essie finally checked, it was just as she’d expected. Another short video. No explanation. No names. A shot of Sophie’s hands holding a fancy coffee drink on a table, the camera angled so all that was visible was the cup and Sophie’s sparkly pink manicure. There was a caption about feeling stuck and another about things changing without warning. Then, finally, about not knowing what came next.

That seemed to be Sophie’s mantra these days.

Essie closed the app.

It worried her, the way Sophie talked so much about her issues, like she was a victim instead of owning the fact that so much of what was happening to her was because of her own actions and decisions. The way everything seemed designed to bring her sympathy.

To Essie, it felt like the young woman was afraid that if she spoke plainly about what was hurting her, that the hurt might become permanent.

Essie fiercely wished that she could help without Sophie pushing her away again. That Sophie would understand how much Essie wanted to be there for her, without judgment. That Essie knew the pain of loss.

That there was a right thing to say that would make Sophie feel loved, safe, and, ultimately, less alone.

Maple let out a small sigh and rested her head on Essie’s knee.

“I know,” Essie murmured, smoothing her hand over the dog’s soft fur. “You get it, don’t you, girl? Life is a lot harder when you think you have to do it alone.”

The waves rolled in and out, completely indifferent, just as they always were. Essie sat a little longer, letting the sound of the water and the weight of Maple against her leg anchor her in the moment.

It was a beautiful day, but at some point she had to go back. Finally, she brushed the sand from her palms and glanced toward the sun, gauging how high it still was. “We should probably be heading home soon,” she told Maple. “Have some lunch. Finish the book for book club.” She only had a few chapters left.

Maple responded by leaning harder into Essie’s thigh, clearly uninterested in lunch or reading.

“Come on, now. Don’t be lazy.” Essie smiled and scratched behind her ears, shifting her weight forward to stand.

“Essie?”

Her name carried easily over the sound of the surf.

Essie looked up to see Gigi DeLuca approaching, oversized white sunglasses pushed into her hair. She wore a breezy, hot pink and coral coverup that fluttered around her legs as she walked.

“Gigi,” Essie said, surprised but polite.

“I thought that was you,” Gigi said, smiling brightly. She wiggled her fingers at Maple, who lifted her head and gave Gigi a cautious once-over. “Who is this pretty thing? Boy or girl, that is a gorgeous dog.”