8
Rebecca pulled into Richie’s garage and then practically flew up the stairs into the kitchen. Finding it empty, she hurried to the living room. No one was there either. For a moment, she was puzzled, but then went to the French door leading out to the well-tended yard. Stairs led down to a lawn area surrounded by flowers, shrubs, and a small vegetable and herb garden.
There, Richie tossed a little red ball and Spike ran after it, picked it up, trotted back with a spring in his step, and dropped the ball for Richie to toss again. She hadn’t even known Spike knew how to play fetch.
She didn’t move for a long moment, watching them, letting relief and thankfulness fill her.
And then she opened the door.
As soon as Spike saw her, he ran up the steps, then twirled around and practically d
