Page 40 of Always Another Sunset

The text exchange she had with him hadn’t been bad. In fact, he had been very understanding when JC insisted she couldn’t meet him right away. His response had surprised JC a little. If she were missing her lost dog, especially one as wonderful as Roxie, she was not so sure she would have been as patient. Regardless, they planned to meet at six p.m. that evening at the park near JC’s house. Unexpectedly, Bella had rushed to Hawaii to be with her for the meeting, something that JC truly appreciated. No matter what happened with Roxie later, she would be forever grateful to the dog for motivating Bella to come back to Hawaii. It was as if the situation around meeting Roxie’s possible owner was the tipping point the two of them needed to move forward.Now I need to make the most of it,she thought, knowing spontaneous trips back and forth were not the answer.And find a way for us both to be happy.

Looking at her phone, she reread the message from Bella before climbing in the jeep. Rather than write back, she called her. “Well, hello,” Bella answered. “Are you already headed home?”

“Hi,” JC said with a smile, loving that Bella was waiting for her at the house. “Unfortunately, not yet. I’m headed to the shop to unload the kayaks. Probably forty-five minutes?”

“Okay. JC…” Bella said, then hesitated. JC frowned, unsure what to think, but before she could say anything, the woman continued. “It feels good to be here again. Really good.”

The words were music to JC’s ears. “Thank you again for coming,” she said, starting the jeep. “Having you here means everything.”

“I know. And thank you for wanting me to come back,” Bella answered, and JC paused to make sure the woman heard her clearly.

“Always, Bella,” she replied. “I want you to come back always.”

Walking onto the patio,Bella tried to let the serene atmosphere and scent of plumerias relax her. Even though the minute she let herself in through JC’s front door and a welcoming sense enveloped her, she was a little unsettled. Since the night they learned Blake hurt his wrist, things hadn’t felt quite the same with JC. She knew it was all wrapped up in their seemingly impossible predicament over what to do with their future, but that didn’t help her figure out what to do to fix it. The inevitable decisions were quickly approaching. Adding to her stress was the possibility they would have to give up Roxie to her original owner. Bella didn’t even want to consider how that would impact her relationship with JC.

After sinking into a lounger, Bella sighed while she closed her eyes. JC would be home soon with Roxie, who had spent the day with Blake at the Oahu Paddle Adventure’s office, and then things would be okay. Being near JC always made Bella feel better. The three of them could have dinner and then see the stranger who thought Roxie might belong to his father. She wasn’t entirely clear on the details, but JC did say the man gave her a name for Roxie. She simply hadn’t had the nerve to try it out with the dog yet. Tonight, when they were together, JC would call Roxie by the other name and see how she reacted.Please don’t let it be the correct name,she wished.Lots of dogs could look like Roxie, so let it be a mistake.

Bella forced herself to continue to take long, slow breaths, counting to four as she inhaled, and again when she exhaled. Her shoulders were starting to loosen, and her whirling mind was calming when her cell phone rang. Startled by the sound, Bella let out a little squeak of surprise. “Dang it,” she muttered, thinking of ignoring the call but then worried it was JC needing something. She pulled it out of the front pocket of her shorts to see the caller wasn’t JC but instead her sister. When Bella landed in Hawaii, she had sent a text to Hanna to let her know she had arrived okay, so a phone call was a surprise. Trying not to let her already anxious mood run away with her, she quickly answered with a hello.

“Hi,” Hanna said. “Am I interrupting anything?”

“No,” Bella replied. “JC isn’t home yet. Is everything okay?”

“Yes,” Hanna said with an apologetic tone in her voice. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to freak you out by calling.” She laughed. “I guess I could have sent a text, but I was in a hurry.”

Feeling less anxious and more curious, Bella relaxed into the cushion. “That’s okay. But what’s the big rush?”

“Well, I went by and checked your mail, and there’s an interesting envelope,” Hanna said. “Is there something you haven’t been telling me?”

Bella furrowed her brow. “Not that I know of,” she said, racking her brain for what might have come in the mail to make her sister curious. “Who is it from?”

“Well, it’s pretty official looking and supposedly from Crown Media Productions,” Hanna said, and Bella sighed. She hated to break it to her sister, but lots of junk mail came from companies with names like that, and she had learned not to get excited. Still, before she could explain, her sister continued. “So, I googled them.” She laughed. “Sorry I was nosey, but it made me curious.”

“I forgive you,” Bella said with a smile. “But Hanna, it’s probably only junk. I get fake offers to make my book into a movie every once in a while, and they are—”

Hanna cut her off. “Crown Media Productions is for real, I think. Bella, they make movies for the Hallmark Channel.”

40

“Hello? Anybody home?” JC said as Roxie bounded past her into the house. Bella appeared in the patio doorway with a smile that lit up not only the room but JC’s heart. It had only been a couple of days, but she had missed the woman terribly.A lot more than I have let myself admit, she thought.Somehow having her in my space completes my world.

Bella knelt to catch the onrushing Roxie. “I’m here,” she said. “And I missed you so much.” She scratched the dog’s neck before looking at JC. “Especially you.”

JC smiled as she laid her car keys on the sideboard before crossing the room to greet Bella properly. “I think I missed you more,” she said as Bella stood, and they came face to face. “Can I have a kiss?”

“All that you could ever want,” Bella replied before leaning in to let JC’s mouth take hers. It was sweet and tender, but JC liked the feeling of promise behind the taste of her lips. A tingle ran through her at the idea of more to come.But first,she thought pulling back with a sigh.The Roxie situation needs to be dealt with.Clearly sensing JC’s shift in thinking, Bella touched JC’s cheek. “It will all work out.”

Nodding, JC looked away to hide the fear in her eyes. “I know,” she said, then changed the subject for the moment as she walked toward the kitchen. “I didn’t call anything in for dinner. Honestly, my stomach is a little uptight over the meeting we have planned for later, so nothing sounded appetizing.”

“That’s fine,” Bella said. “I had a banana from your fruit basket when I got here and then thought about switching to wine but decided to wait until after we find out about Roxie.” With the dog on her heels, Bella followed JC into the kitchen. “We only have an hour until we have to go, so let’s get something to eat afterward.”

Opening the fridge, JC set down her gear bag from work on a kitchen chair. “Thanks for understanding,” she said before taking a glass from the cupboard and filling it with water. “I am guessing the conversation will be short.” She took a long swallow. “Either he knows Roxie, or he doesn’t. Or vice versa.”

Bella was quiet, and JC glanced at her to see her biting her lip. “Do you want to try the name he gave you and see what Roxie does?” the woman finally asked. “Just to know?” JC had mixed feelings about her suggestion. A part of her knew it was the right thing to do to return Roxie, but another part hated the idea of losing her. Even after such a short time, she had bonded with the dog. There was no denying Roxie was special to her. Their kindred love of the ocean made the link even stronger. But most of all, having Roxie to share with Bella felt like some of the glue that held them together. As crazy as that sounded, the fact she came into their lives so soon after they met and how they both loved her so much… it was something only they shared. JC looked at Roxie who had retreated to her bed in the corner. Not having the dog would be a blow. Not that it was something they couldn’t work past, but it would still be very sad, and she wished the phone call asking about Roxie had never come.

Setting down the water glass, JC went and knelt in front of Roxie. “You’re right,” she said to Bella. “We need to know.” The dog stared her in the eye, mouth partly opened as if in her familiar smile.She’s happy we are all home together,JC thought with a pang of sadness.Damn, this is an intelligent dog.Her throat tight, she had to cough to clear it before talking to Roxie. “Do you know the name… Gracie?” Roxie’s head lifted a little, and her tail slowly wagged. JC felt tears sting her eyes. “You know it, don’t you? You’re Gracie.”

Roxie’s tail wagged harder, and JC heard Bella stifle a sob. “She’s his dog,” she said, and JC could only nod.

---