Page 100 of Saving You

“Thank you for hanging out with Charlie,” Bailey says.

“Oh, you don’t need to thank me for hanging out with my girl here.”

“Well, next time you should come over to our place. I can make myself scarce at Josh and Liv’s for a few hours for you guys to have a girls’ night,” I say.

Lily’s eyes bounce between Bailey and me before landing on me. “You’re a good one.”

I rub the back of my neck as I say, “Thanks.”

“So, um, Lil. If there’s anything at my place you might want, just let me know. I’m listing it, so you’re welcome to whatever you want before I sell it. I’m only keepingthe sentimental photos and stuff, so all the furniture and pretty much the entire kitchen is up for grabs.”

Lily stares at Bailey, wide-eyed. “You’re selling your parents’ place?”

“Yeah. I think the negative memories have made too much of an imprint on the place, and we don’t need it anymore.”

Lily doesn’t say anything, she just nods. Bailey leaves us as she takes Charlie to go gather their things so we can leave. Once they’ve walked away, Lily pulls me into a hug.

“Thank you,” she whispers. “Thank you for loving them the way they deserve to be loved. You’re a good man, Caleb Sutton.”

She releases me, and I make sure to hold her eyes to ensure she knows just how serious I am about what I’m going to say.

“I will love those girls until my last dying breath. They are the best thing to ever come into my life. I will spend the rest of it knowing just how amazing they are, and how lucky I am that they chose me.”

Lily tips her head back as she wipes at a tear that falls down her cheek. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted for them,” she whispers.

Bailey notices Lily wipe away her tear as she comes down the hallway with Charlie’s bag thrown over her shoulder. Her eyes are filled with worry as she looks at me and then back to Lily.

“What’s wrong?” she asks.

Shaking her head with a chuckle, Lily says, “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I’m just so happy for you.”

Bailey pulls her into a hug before we make our way to the truck.

On our way home, I allow myself to sit in my thoughts as the girls sing to the music playing through the stereo.

When we get home, Finn doesn’t greet us at the door like usual. I make my way through the house, calling out for him. When I walk into the kitchen, the breeze that sweeps through alerts me to the open sliding glass door.

Bailey’s gasp travels through the kitchen. My head swings to her, and I see the tears forming in her eyes. I make my way to her, but she moves past me and heads straight outside. She frantically calls Finn’s name as she moves through the yard. When he doesn’t turn up, she runs up the side of the house and Charlie and I follow. Bailey’s frantic.

None of us find him. When Charlie and I catch up to Bailey, she turns towards us, completely distraught as she works to catch her breath. With her hands on her hips, she tips her head back and takes deep breaths.

Charlie walks up to her and wraps her arms around her legs.

“Mommy, are you okay?”

Plastering on a smile, Bailey looks down at her. “Yeah, Baby Girl, I’m okay. I’m just worried because we can’t find Finn.”

“Mommy, it’s okay. Finn’s a good doggy. He’ll come home.”

Bailey’s eyes leave the little girl wrapped around her leg and meet mine. She’s fighting to hold back tears. I slowly approach her like a scared animal, worried that going too fast will have her breaking before my eyes.

“Bails, it’s okay. We’ll find him. Charlie’s right, he’ll come home.”

Her tears slowly fall as she gives up the fight.

“How are you so calm? I lost your dog. I swore I closed the door all the way before we left, but I guess I left it cracked and Finn pushed it open more and ran out. We don’t know how long he’s been gone and how far he’s gotten.”

She’s out of breath as she rambles, and I wrap my arms around her and hold her, kissing the top of her head.

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