As nervous as she suddenly was, she was still able to both appreciate the old architecture and get a sense of Gabe’s understated decorating skills. Unlike Aunt Becky’s place, which was decorated to the hilt, Gabe’s walls were largely bare, but the hardwood floors, tall ceilings, molding, and exposed brick on the outer wall made up for it.

Judging by the way a single throw blanket was wadded up and flattened in the center of the couch, Samson had most likely been snuggled there. On the adjacent coffee table was a nearly empty glass of water, a well-worn book of Missouri state parks and less-explored hiking trails, and several issues of the Journal of Veterinary Medicine.

The rear portion of the living room had a long dining table, four chairs, and a bench on one side. Based on a water ring and the fact that one end of the table was clutter-free, she could tell where Gabe ate. On the opposite end of the table, there was a laundry basket filled with clothes, a laptop, and a stack of paperwork and mail, all of which brought a smile to Olivia’s face.

She was getting a real look into the place where Gabe lived out the monotonous parts of life—the bill paying, the laundry folding, the resting and reading, and the snuggling with Samson. And her heart warmed even more.

Guessing the bathroom had to be toward the back, she headed through the short, wide hallway that opened to a narrow galley kitchen and then two doors, the first of which turned out to be the bathroom, the second, his bedroom.

Suspecting a surge of panic would fill her if she gave the bedroom any real attention, she headed into the bathroom and shut the door. It was a small space and, probably out of necessity, tidy and organized. His toiletries were on a shelf to the right of a pedestal sink, and the only item on the sink base was a jar of hand soap.

She peed and washed up and smoothed out her hair in the mirror. Spotting a bottle of mouthwash on his toiletry shelf, she was half-tempted to use it. After a bit of debate, she opted not to and just rinsed her mouth with water. Right before she stepped from the room, she heard the patter of Samson’s paws trotting across the floor.

“Hey, buddy,” she said, pulling the bathroom door open.