But reality was calling. She checked her phone: no calls, though surely someone must have wondered where she’d gone. Especially since her Jeep still stood in the driveway next door, which, unlike her, was where it belonged.

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

“It’s open,” Earl’s voice unexpectedly responded when Annie knocked on the cottage door.

Stepping inside, she was greeted by Restless, his tail wagging so fiercely that his rear end jerked back and forth. She bent down and patted his head, scratched his ears, and said, “I didn’t expect to see you here.” She slipped out of her sneakers, revealing her old socks.

“Lucy brought him for a visit,” Donna said from the rocking chair, as Lucy emerged from the bathroom.

“And I stopped by to get this young lady home in time to do her homework,” Earl added as he leaned, arms folded, against the refrigerator.

Annie glanced back at Donna, who looked rested. Her cheeks had a nice pink color as if she’d never been ill. Restless scooted over and settled at Donna’s feet as if that was where he’d been stationed when Annie had opened the door. It made for a sweet tableau.

“Did you have a nice visit?” she asked Donna.

“We did. Lucy brought us homemade date nut bread. And this little guy’s a gem.” She leaned down and ran a hand gently across the dog. “I love dogs. We never had one, though. Kevin is allergic.”

Annie refrained from mentioning that he’d told her that. “You’re really a good kid, aren’t you?” she asked Lucy, who responded by sticking her tongue out at Annie, a gesture that Annie had learned to consider a term of endearment.

Then Lucy laughed and said, “Nice outfit, Annie. Has my dad seen you in that?”

Earl let out a chuckle.

Annie looked down at her attire. She looked pathetic, right down to her socks. “I’m saving it for a special date. Like maybe if he takes me to the symphony. Or the opera.”

“Good luck with that,” Lucy said. “But you might at least make an appointment with Patti Linn for a cut and color. If she fixes your hair maybe the rest of you won’t be so . . . noticeable.”

Annie smoothed her hair behind her ears; she knew it had grown long and wasn’t short and neat, like Donna’s. Scruffy, her mother Ellen would have called it. “I’ll do that. And I’ll take good care of my outfit so you can wear it to the prom.” The ladies giggled.

Earl shook his head and stood up straight. “Time to leave. Get yourself together, granddaughter.” He turned to Donna. “It’s been a pleasure to see you again, Ms. Donna. I’ll stop by tomorrow after I run down to the boat.”