Page 62 of Rumors in Bayberry
Sadie glanced up to find a vase of black-eyed Susans knocked over.Water ran off the end table and all over the floor.Binx jumped out of the way of the water.He perched on the edge of the bed and examined the mess with a twinkle of pride in his green eyes.
Sadie jumped up, the notebook and pen falling to the floor as she rushed around the bed.She stopped next to the end table and reached for the flower vase.By the time she righted it, most of the water had escaped.
She turned to glare at Binx.“Really?Did you have to?”
“Mrrr…”
“I don’t want to hear it.You’re lucky Kate agreed to take you in.If you keep this up, she might kick you out, and then what are we going to do?”
She didn’t wait around to hear Binx’s protests.She ran for the steps.She nearly collided with Reed, who had just come upstairs.“Sorry.”
“Where’s the fire?”Then the color drained from his face.“Oops.Too early for that one?”
She nodded.“It’s Binx.He made a mess.I need to get some paper towels.I’ll be right back.”
She felt really awkward when she explained to Kate what had happened.Of course, Kate waved off her apologies, but Sadie couldn’t help thinking she never had this hard of a time leaving before.And Binx did not like his new home.She could only hope he’d get accustomed to it.Kate and Wes were great.Sadie was certain they’d spoil Binx rotten…if he’d let them.
After Reed helped her clean up the mess, Sadie’s phone vibrated.She checked it and found a message from Abby, asking her to stop by her tent before she went to work at the maze.
She glanced up at Reed.“Do you need anything before I go?”
“Go?”
She nodded.“Since I’m still in town, I told them I’d work at the maze today.”
“Oh.Okay.Just give me a second to get changed, and I’ll go with you.”
She shook her head.“You need to rest.”
“I can rest tonight.”
“No, Reed.I’m serious.You inhaled a lot of smoke last night.”
“That’s why I need some fresh air.”He sent her a big smile.“I’m fine.”
She wasn’t convinced.“And if I leave without you?”
“I’ll drive myself.”He grinned at her.
She groaned.“Has anyone ever told you how frustrating you can be?”
He pursed his lips.“I think you have once or twice.”
“And you’ve proved me right.”She stopped to consider if he was serious about walking to the Pumpkin Festival if she left without him.“Fine.You can come.But you’re just going to sit around.You get ready.I’m going to run to my parents’ house, grab a quick shower, and I’ll be back to pick you up.Okay?”
“See you soon.”
Secretly, she was thrilled to spend more time with him, but she was really worried about him.She would keep a really close eye on him.Nothing could happen to him.
This was it.
The end had arrived.
Sadie wasn’t ready for the day to end.The hours at the maze had sped by.They’d laughed.They’d talked.They’d shared lingering glances.
She wanted to find some way to drag out their last moments together, but when she looked into Reed’s face, she saw the exhaustion in his eyes and the lines bracketing them.And he’d started yawning a bit ago.
She felt guilty for bringing him along.Even though he’d insisted, she should have refused.After all, he’d just been in the hospital.He didn’t even have a doctor’s release to travel yet.
