Page 72 of Someone Like You
He brushed a bit of dirt off her stone. “It happened, London.” His smile didn’t stop his tears. “Just like you said it would. I found her.” Sorrow closed in around him and made it hard to breathe. He gave a slight cough and found his voice again. “Someone like you.”
The afternoon was hot, and Dawson stood. He lifted his eyes to the clear blue sky. “Lord, you’ll tell her, right? Please?”
Because even in heaven, where all things were whole and right and perfect, Dawson had a feeling London would want to know this one detail. And that in knowing, she would do something Dawson could still picture clear as day. London would smile. The way she would if she could’ve known where he was moving. To a city where his dad’s company was expanding. A city where he would build his future.
Indianapolis, Indiana.
THE KANGAROOS SEEMEDto remember her. And since Maddie was fully trained, her boss, Ms. Barber, had noproblem leaving her alone in the exhibit. Especially on this uncrowded September Monday.
Every now and then, Maddie caught herself looking toward the bench near the lions. Or the one by the giraffes. Remembering how the events of this past summer first began. But Dawson wasn’t there, of course. He was working in Portland, where he would probably stay forever.
Maddie gazed at the distant clouds. A part of her would always be in Portland, Oregon. Not just her kidney, but a piece of her heart. The piece that forever belonged to Dawson Gage.
Since Maddie had seen him on the way to the airport that day in front of Louise and Larry’s house, Dawson had texted a few times. But he hadn’t called. It was better that way. They each needed to get on with their lives.
She had seen Connor—just once. He had asked her to coffee, and she’d agreed. She owed him that much after all she’d put him through. Their time together had been pleasant. Connor admitted that he had doubted whether they were right for each other, too.
“It seemed like the right thing.” His grin that day had been easy. “I just figured everything would work out.”
Connor told her he’d had time to think about his life and hers in the time since their breakup. “You made the right choice.” He had hugged her before they went their separate ways. “One day we’ll both be glad. I believe that.”
Maddie believed it, too.
A family entered the fenced-off area and made their way through the kangaroo enclosure. Maddie told them about the animals, their habits in the wild and their favorite foods. “Red kangaroos are herbivores.” She smiled at the family’s two little girls. “That means they like eating grass. Sort of like salad.”
“Yuck.” One of the kids made a face. “I like French fries.”
Their mother laughed. “Looks like we have work to do.”
When the family was gone, as he often did, the littlest kangaroo hopped onto the visitor path. “Joey … you’re doing it again.” Maddie approached him and scratched behind his ear. “This area is for the guests. Remember?”
She grabbed a handful of the kangaroo’s favorite food and led him off the path. Maddie washed her hands and then, before she could stop herself, she looked at the bench in front of the kangaroo exhibit. One more time.
As she did she gasped. A man was sitting there drawing. From where she stood, he almost looked like …
The guy stood and … Maddie put her hand to her mouth.How is this possible?She had no answers, but it was him. Dawson had come to her.
And he was holding yellow roses.
He walked up, the flowers in his hand. He stood a ways from her and smiled. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Maddie wasn’t sure if she was laughing or crying. “What … why are you here?” She wanted to run to him, but she couldn’t. Not while she was on the clock.
Instead of answering, he came closer and handed her the bouquet. “Someone told me you like yellow roses.”
“I do.” She didn’t look away, didn’t blink. “But I like you better.”
“Mmm.” His voice soothed her soul. Gone was the sadness from the last time they saw each other. “When do you get off work?”
Maddie wasn’t sure she could remember how to spellher name. She put her hands to her head. “Umm … three o’clock.” A shocked laugh spilled from her lips. “What time is it?”
“Two-thirty.” Dawson was grinning now. “I’ll meet you at the exit.”
Then he left without looking back. As soon as he was gone, Maddie blinked a few times. Had that really just happened? Had Dawson really come to see her when he should’ve been in Portland? She looked at the flowers in her hands. Yes, he was really here.
The yellow roses were proof.
Thirty minutes seemed like so many hours as Maddie’s shift wound down. Finally she clocked out, took her things from her locker and headed for the parking lot. The whole time she never let go of the flowers.
