Page 12 of Fly's Path

“Would you help me make something for him and the staff, then bring it to visit him?”

Oh. She’s scared to try it on her own. To see the little boy she loves broken. “I’d be honored to, but I’m only in town for a week or two.”

The lady taps on the table for a second. “We could do it tomorrow, if you’re free?”

Dylan’s cake tasting isn’t for two days. I can make some time tomorrow. “Sure.”

“Around eight in the morning?”

“Sure.” That will give me time for a morning run and a shower. I stand up. “It was nice meeting you…” Oh, that was a little blunder, not asking her name but agreeing to help.

“Viola.”

“It was nice meeting you, Viola. I’m Sheridan. See you tomorrow.”

“Do you need me to ask my son or husband to pick you up?”

Do I? It would certainly be easier. “No, I can walk over.” I think. I can’t be that far from Dahlia's place. Next time, I should pay attention to where I’m going when I run.

The neighborhood starts coming alive as I jog back. It really wasn’t far at all. How many times did I circle the neighborhood? My body feels like I did at least five miles…a good morning run but nothing too wild.

Tomorrow, I need to see if the little park is open at that time.

Yeah, right. Like wandering through an empty park when it’s mostly dark, as a woman alone, wouldn’t be a recipe for being assaulted.

It’s so picture perfect, even in the winter, with all those cute little lanterns. What could possibly go wrong? Everything.

There are lights on in Dahlia’s house as I walk inside.

Glass clinks from the direction of the kitchen.

Should I say hello? Or should I just run up and shower?

A steaming hot shower sounds amazing.

Dahlia giggles.

My gut screams to hide.

They invited you to visit. Be a pleasant guest. Fine.

“Good morning!” I shout before entering in case the newlyweds aren’t expecting me.

“Morning.” Dahlia smiles at me from the island where she has two coffee mugs in front of her.

Try as I might, I can’t help staring at her husband, who is pan-frying a bunch of vegetables. That man is a beast. His body is covered in massive muscles…the kind that don’t just appear on a man’s body. Maverick isn’t a particularly handsome man, but there’s something about him.

“How was your run?”

Odd. Strange. “Lovely. The air was brisk and exhilarating.”

“There’s no way I could have dragged myself out of a warm bed to run in the cold. Though, to be fair, I don’t run at all. Would you like a cup of hot cocoa or coffee?”

Cocoa sounds amazing. Be a polite guest. “No. Thank you.”

She raises an eyebrow but says nothing. “Maverick is making a vegetable omelet, but if there’s something else you would like…”

Find something that doesn’t put them out…There’s a bowl of fruit on the island with a bunch of bananas on top. Perfect. Cheap and easy. “I don’t usually eat much for breakfast. One of these is all I want.” That’s such a lie. But the banana will be good to add back some potassium into my body. “Do you want to get a planning session in this morning? Or can I help with anything?”