Page 97 of Huckleberry Hill
Though it would be wonderful to see one of my friends, I hated to admit that I was enjoying my private time with Declan. And if Wyn was here, I’d feel pulled in two different directions. It wouldn’t be fair to have her come out and then bail on her to spend time with a man I barely knew.
I ate my breakfast and then helped Muddy clean up.
“I already fed the chickens,” she said. “And collected the eggs. I’m headed into town. You need anything?”
“Town? This early in the morning?” I raised my brows. “You don’t have a town fella, do you?”
“Oh you.” She laughed. “No. I’m meeting Lucy for coffee before the store opens.”
“Tell her I said hello,” I said.
“I will.”
I sprayed off the counter to get rid of the grease splatter and began wiping it off.
She leaned over and patted my cheek. “Don’t think too hard about the future, Hadley. It has its way of working itself out.”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I’m off. Call me if you need something.”
“Okay.”
Muddy walked to the foyer, grabbed her keys and jacket and was gone. The house was quiet except for the hum of the dishwasher. I went upstairs and headed immediately to my bedroom. My cell phone was charging on my nightstand. I had a missed text from Dad with some photos of livestock he was contemplating purchasing, and several messages in the group text.
It was just past nine on the East Coast which meant that Poet and Salem were at work already.
I called Wyn.
“Are you coming to visit or not?” I demanded.
“Good morning, how are you? I put vanilla in my coffee this morning and did Pilates.”
I sighed. “Good morning.”
“No, I’m not coming for a visit. Though I wish I was.”
My heart sank. “Why can’t you come? You have a week off.”
“Yeah, see, about that week off . . . the housekeeper called and said the Carringtons’ mini dachshund was having separation anxiety, so she asked me if I would take care of her. Mildred becomes destructive and has a habit of leaving fecal gifts in random places when she’s left alone.”
“Mildred is the housekeeper or the dog?”
“The dog. She’s a good girl, she just needs an emotional support human.”
“And where is the good girl right now?” I asked with a smile.
“Not snuggling me . . . in bed . . . under the covers . . .”
“Ah,” I said with a laugh. “I see.”
“Mildred and I are hanging for the week at our place. Poet and Salem are excited to have a part-time dog.”
“Dogs are good,” I said.
“Sorry I can’t visit.”
“It’s fine.”
