Bridge to Shelter by Eliza Harwell

Author:Eliza Harwell [Eliza Harwell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little Publishing
Published: 2022-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Casey’s phone buzzed the next morning with a text from Will. How are you?

She rubbed her eyes and looked at the time. Eight o’clock! She never slept this late. Fine, thank you. Overslept.

Happens to the best of us. Sorry to wake you.

She was grateful that he had. No problem. Thank you again for your help yesterday. Really.

A memory of his lips on hers made her sigh. She could feel their warmth and softness, hear his breath, and imagine his hands pulling her into him as the kisses deepened. She had repeated that moment again and again in her dreams. She also remembered his kindness, his helpfulness, and his words about how magnificent—had he really said that?—she was.

You’re welcome.

She didn’t know what else to write. What was going to happen now? Would they talk about that kiss or pretend it never happened? Did this change anything between them?

He solved the problem for her. See you later.

Have a good day, she replied, disappointed. Was that it?

She didn’t like to rush in the mornings, but she realized she could make it to church if she hurried to feed the animals and get dressed. She could use an hour or so to think about positive things like hope and love. Then she would have time to eat a quick sandwich before working an adoption event with Ellen, an energetic former volunteer who liked to help out at the shelter when she was home visiting from college.

Casey pushed herself out of bed and let Meow lead her to the bathroom and then the kitchen. She couldn’t believe the cat had allowed her to sleep so late. He yowled and brushed against Casey’s leg as she prepared his food. She then fed all the outdoor animals and said a quick hello to them. She felt guilty that she was always so busy with the shelter lately and not spending much time with her own animals. Reluctantly, she admitted to herself that Will was right. Something had to give, especially if she needed to open up more time to secure the long-term interests of the shelter.

Arriving at church only a couple of minutes late, she spoke briefly with the greeter and then pushed open the sanctuary doors to hear the opening bars of one of her favorite hymns. She took the first seat available at the edge of the back pew on the right.

As she sang, she made a cursory glance around the congregation and saw so many familiar people who had embraced her since her move to Pleasant Valley. She thought the back of one head several rows ahead looked like Will’s, although she could only catch glimpses of him through the movements of people in between them as they swayed to the music or jiggled their babies. Could it be?

His height and longish dark hair were unmistakable, but she couldn’t imagine why he would be here today. He headed back home on Saturday evenings, and anyway, he had never mentioned attending church. Could he have come because he knew she would be there? That seemed unlikely.

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