When John got to Jamie’s room, she was still awake, reading a mystery book by the light of a headlamp that perched on her forehead just above her glasses. He wasn’t upset that she was still awake. It was a sweet reminder that she was her mother’s daughter. Julie had often read at bedtime, sometimes getting so wrapped up in a book that she didn’t realize how late it was.
“Guess who should be asleep and not reading at this hour?” he said in a teasing tone.
“Dad, I’m just trying to finish this chapter.” This was a familiar bedtime conversation. No matter where Jamie was in her current book, she always wanted to read just a little bit more. If he left it up to her, she would read for hours longer.
“You’re going to have to finish the chapter tomorrow. Really,” he said, taking the book from her and putting it down. “Yes, the suspense will keep you awake. Take your light off please.”
She pulled the headlamp from her head and fumbled to turn it off.
He took it gently from her. “I’ll figure it out. You get in bed.”
She removed her glasses and put them on the table by her bed.
“All right, young lady. Nighty-night,” he said, pulling up the quilt and tucking it in around her.
“Night-night,” she murmured.
“Sweet dreams, okay? Love you.”
John shut the door to the bedroom softly, jogged down the stairs, deposited Jamie’s headlamp on the dish-covered kitchen island, and began cleaning up.
He always thought of Julie when he was in the kitchen. She had loved cooking, and they had always enjoyed the quiet companionship of cleaning up together. Now there was just the quiet. If it weren’t for Julie’s parents, who lived close by, and his best friend Dan, who came over regularly, that loneliness might have overwhelmed him. Even though his own parents and grandparents had passed long ago, his life was full of friends and family and blessings.
As if on cue, Dan Daniels opened the back door and came in. Dan was in his late fifties, with fluffy gray hair and a beard that managed to look bushy even at a medium length. Biscuit, the Blakes’s border terrier mix rescue dog, met him at the door.
“Hey, Biscuit.”
“Dan!” John greeted him.
Dan took off his hat and parka, revealing a fisherman’s chunky-knit cardigan underneath, and hung them on the rack near the door. “John. What did you make for dinner?” He made his way over to the stove and groaned with dismay. “Aw, stroganoff again?”
“Bunny made it. It’s simple. The kids love it,” John explained, then teased his friend. “You don’t like it, I got some kibble you could help yourself to.”
Dan dismissed the mock threat. “I’ll take the strog.” He picked up a fork, ate a bite of stroganoff straight out of the pot, and chewed contemplatively.
When John finished cleaning the kitchen, they adjourned to the backgammon table in the next room. Dan carried the pot with him and continued eating while they played.
“Double sixes!” John said, putting down the dice cup. “Again.”
“For the love of Pete,” Dan groused good-naturedly around a mouthful of stroganoff. “So how’d things go with what’s-her-name?”
“Oh,” John said. “Well, she force-fed me tofu.”
“Ew,” Dan commiserated.
“Yeah, it wasn’t a good fit,” John replied. “I don’t really like being set up, anyway, to tell you the truth. I think these things should happen naturally and organically, come together easily, like two pieces of a puzzle.”
He and Julie had fit together from the start. He had been working in a training clinic one morning when a petite blonde girl walked in carrying an injured seventy-pound yellow Labrador retriever.
“Pixie’s been hit by a car,” she’d explained. Throughout the examination, Julie had refused to leave Pixie’s side, obviously terrified her pet would not recover.
John’s heart had contracted with pain for her. His instincts had always been to ease suffering, which was one reason he had gone into veterinary medicine. But he’d felt a particularly urgent need to help Julie.
To keep her mind off her fear, he’d struck up a conversation with her. During X-rays and blood analysis and various other tests, they’d talked for more than an hour. He’d learned she was an undergrad studying for a business degree and lived at home with her parents to save money. That had led to a discussion about family and animals and what an important part their pets played in their families.
Finally, John had been able to assure Julie that Pixie’s injuries were limited to torn ligaments and a broken leg, which he could repair surgically.
Julie had cried with relief and hugged John. He had already been drawn to her, and her love for her dog had made the attraction even stronger.
Pixie had come through the surgery with flying colors. Afterward, John had offered to come by and check on her for the first week, and Julie had gladly accepted. John and Julie had gradually gotten to know each other and had begun to date.
Because they’d been students, most of their dates were simple. They had studied together, ridden horses, hiked, and gone on picnics. After Pixie’s leg had improved, they’d taken her hiking with them. And they’d talked, always talked. Everything about being with her had felt so natural, so right.
John wondered if he’d ever love like that again.
Dan rattled the backgammon dice in the cup and rolled them, pulling John back to the present. Dan gave a satisfied grunt. “Double fives. I’ll take it.” He moved his checker and took another bite of stroganoff. “Your turn.”
John rolled the dice.
Chapter 6
Jennifer looked forward to the drive from Denver International Airport up to Aspen. Taught by her mom, she’d gotten her driver’s license during high school, like Meredith and most of her other friends in New Jersey had. Jennifer was a good driver, but living in New York, she didn’t get to do it very often anymore. She missed it. Long drives alone refreshed her and helped clear her mind.
Her travel day hadn’t started out well. Her flight to Denver had been delayed. Then it had been canceled altogether, and all of the people on her plane had been rebooked on flights later in the day. She’d ended up in a middle seat toward the back of the plane.
In Denver, after waiting at the baggage carousel for half an hour, she’d discovered that her luggage had been put on an earlier flight and was in a holding area. By the time she reached the car rental counter, she was frustrated and in a hurry. She hadn’t even considered spending a night in Denver, especially since she had intended to arrive much earlier in the day. And a posh, private chalet awaited her. At this point, she didn’t want to waste another minute of the luxurious vacation Paula had promised her.
“Jennifer Wade,” the car rental agent said. He gave her a questioning look.
“Yes, that Jennifer Wade, yes,” she acknowledged. She was used to being recognized in New York.
But the