Page 26 of Unexpected Adventures

Chapter Seven

As Denise and I enter the kitchen, we find Sarah loading the dishwasher. No dogs. No Shaun. My heart does a little nose dive. Did he change his mind and decide to leave without me?

Denise instantly elbows me, gently nodding her head to the sliding glass doors off the breakfast nook. My attention turns in that direction and I see Shaun out on the grass, throwing balls for the dogs to chase.

A grin spreads across my face, which seems to please Denise as she smiles and winks at me.

“Hey, gals,” Sarah greets us. “Want anything? Juice, yogurt, omelet?”

“I’ll just grab some juice,” I say.

“And I would love an omelet. But you don’t have to cook for me. I can get it.”

“Oh, it’s no trouble. I just finished one up for Shaun a bit ago after he came back from his run. Now he’s offered to take the dogs for a walk.”

“Abby’s going to join them. Then I think it’s going to be a spa day for us. I’ll help you here, Sarah. It’ll keep me busy until they get back.”

“Oh, nice,” Sarah responds.

“Are you from the area, Sarah?” I ask. “Do you have family close by?”

“I am, and I do. My parents actually live right up the road in West Menlo Park. They both teach at Stanford. My younger brother is attending there, playing football. And my older brother is a techy in Silicon Valley.”

“Do you like what you do? The house-sitting?”

“I really do. I’d like to think I’m smart, but I’m not a genius like my other family members, so no college for me. I enjoy the different settings I go to… from one home to another, taking care of affairs and the houses for my clients.”

“Bet it never gets dull.”

“That’s for sure. What do you do, Abby?”

“I’m a caregiver. I help others with their daily living, running errands, taking them to appointments, cleaning, cooking. And I just began work as a dog-sitter for a few clients.”

“So, not unlike what I do, only you have your own place to go to at night.”

“Yeah, I guess you can look at it like that.”

“And do you enjoy what you do?”

“I do. I really do, as well.” I shrug. “I gave CC a try, got my AA in Liberal Studies. Just means I know a little about little.”

“No,” Denise interrupts. “It means you know about a variety of things, broadening your horizons. And it’s never too late to go back.”

“I wouldn’t know what I’d want to go back for. I know I’ll never make a fortune at what I do, but I like it and it works for now.”

“If you’re happy, that’s what’s important,” Sarah says.

“Right.” I place the empty glass on the counter. “Thanks for the juice. I better get out there before everyone gets restless.”

“Oh, Shaun is so good with those dogs. They’re having fun with all the attention.”

“So cute,” I murmur as I watch Shaun pitch one ball after another, causing the dogs to scurry after them.

“Would that be the dogs you’re referring to, or Shaun?” Sarah asks with humor in her voice.

I blush as I turn toward her. “Both, I guess.”

“I watched him last night with you, and it’s pretty obvious he likes you. Never in the three years I’ve been house sitting for Sherri have I ever seen him bring a woman over. Never really ever heard him talk about anyone for that matter.”

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