Page 36 of Throw Away the Key
“Z, do you need me to stay?”
“No, go ahead. I've got this today. I was planning to stay ‘til close anyway. I'll see you in the morning?”
“Yeah, I'm gonna take Coco and go get some supplies.”
Mike returned and handed Emma a crate stuffed with some pee pads, a blanket, and a chew toy. He pulled folded papers out of his back pocket and had Emma sign. “This is your copy, and my card is stapled up top if you have any questions. The back pages are information on the fostering to adoption process, incase you decide you are interested in pursuing something more permanent.”
Coco rested her head against Emma’s chest, and Emma cooed. “That’s a definite possibility. Thanks, Mike!”
He waved as he left.
“Okay, Coco, let’s go get some stuff for the house and take a walk in the neighborhood.”
“That’s a good idea–let her adjust to some of the scents,” Ms. Marion nodded her head in agreement. “And about that other thing,” she looked at Emma, affectionately. “There's nothing to worry about. I’m sure she'll talk to you soon.”
Emma nodded, giving Granny's cheek a quick peck. “Thank you.”
Granny patted Coco's head, “And I will see you tomorrow.”
“Granny,” Zora warned.
She shrugged in response. “The heart wants what it wants, baby.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Okay, Coco. This is home,” Emma whispered to Coco, who looked up at her, her bright green harness attached to a retractable leash. Emma’s other arm was wrapped around the crate with the handles of shopping bags from the pet store hanging from her hand. “Okay, so we're gonna go up these stairs… I wish you could help me with some of these bags.” Emma unlocked the door and they stepped inside. She looked up the staircase to find Sadie sitting on the landing at the top.
“Hey.” Sadie called softly.
Emma and Coco advanced up the stairs as she watched. “Hi,” Emma replied cautiously. “This is Coco.”
“Oh my gosh, you are so cute. Do you know how cute you are?” Sadie cooed, her eyes twinkling as they drew closer.
Coco immediately took to her, wriggling out of Emma’s arms to lick Sadie’s hands, jumping into her lap. Sadie laughed. “What a ball of energy.”
“Yeah.” Emma stood frozen, unsure what to do.
“Listen,” Sadie stood to her feet, still holding Coco. “I wanted to apologize for leaving the way that I did yesterday.”
“Are you okay?” Emma stared at her, searching her face for clues as to what happened.
“I'm fine. It's just… seeing Zora get engaged like that triggered some feelings that I've been working through.” Sadie moved to the side so they could both sit down together. “As you know, I was raised by my grandmother and my grandfather. I lost both of my parents at a young age–they were in a really bad accident. And you know that my grandparents passed right after college graduation.
Emma nodded, listening, reaching in to pet Coco, but she pulled her hand away when she made contact with Sadie's.
“I'm not going to break or run away if you touch me.” Sadie smiled slightly.
“I think that remains to be seen,” Emma tilted her head, her lips quirking to the side.
“Fair, that's fair. So… I was married once.”
“Oh. Okay...” Emma's eyebrows shot up.That was not on my bingo card.Of all the scenarios she’d considered, Sadie being married previously was not one she’d played out.
“Yeah… It wasn't for long–about six months. And then she left. No reason given, no conversation. She just decided to disappear and applied for an annulment. I only found out when I got served papers.”
Ouch.“Did she ever explain?”
“No. She didn't realize that we didn't actually qualify for an annulment, so we ended up having to get a divorce. All of the communication was done through attorneys, so I never actually saw her again,” she hung her head, her shoulders drooping until Coco littered her with kisses before snuggling close.
