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The further I go, the darker it gets, the dramatic lighting that shoots up the side of the house not reaching this far.
I have a moment to wonder if this is a bad idea, not knowing if the security team has ashoot first, ask questions laterpolicy.
A low bark scares a little scream out of me, and I whirl around, canvas in front of me like a shield.
“Damnit, Duke!” I let the painting fall to my side and slap my empty hand over my chest. “Heart attacks, remember?!”
He just woofs again, then trots the rest of the way to me, demanding a head scratch.
“Yeah, yeah. You’re a good boy, aren’t you?”
Duke bumps his big head against my leg, like he’s agreeing.
I eye him for a second, “You’re a clever boy. Any chance you know how to start a fire?”
His tiny tail wags, and his tongue lolls out of his mouth, but he doesn’t supply me with a lighter.
“Alright,” I sigh, then perk up. “I bet you can dig a good hole though.”
We stare at each other for another moment, and I’m glad we had ourwe’re friends nowmeetingin the house, because out here, in the dark, he looks like a damn monster.
“Any thoughts on where we should bury this thing?” I lift the frame that’s starting to get a bit too heavy.
Duke chuffs, bonks his head against my hip again, and then trots off, diagonally from where I’d been heading.
I start to jog after him, then remember that I don’t jog. “Slow down!”
Duke slows, and I once again wonder just how smart he is.
With the dog at my side, I rest my hand on the top of his head as we walk, lazily scratching him behind the ears.
We talk about dinner. About how I still love peach cobbler. And how I’ll sneak him some ice cream next time I have some. And then, like a mirage in the desert, I see fire.
Not like a scary amount, but like a firepit amount. Like the exact freaking thing I was trying to find.
“Did you…” I look down at Duke. “Did you find me fire?”
He doesn’t answer, just picks up the pace.
As we get closer, the details get clearer.
Glancing behind me, I can still see the main house, but back here at the far corner of the mowed lawn, is a cute, not so little, house that I hadn’t known existed.
There’s a back patio with a string of lights suspended around the perimeter, and just outside of that is a raised fire pit, with real fire, surrounded by a circle of wooden chairs.
We’re only a few yards away, and now that I can hear voices, I’m second-guessing if I should be here.
But Duke takes the choice away when he barks, and all three heads turn to look at me.
I’m standing in the shadows but I still lift a hand. “Um, hi.”
Silence greets me, and I take a step back, before someone stands, raising her own hand in a wave. “Savannah?”
“Cici?” I ask back, even though I can tell it’s her.
She looks at the two other people, widening her eyes, until they stand too. “This is my sister, Ginger.” She points at a woman who looks just like her. “And that’s Jamie, her husband.” She points to the guy. “They work here, too.”
I take a few steps closer, so we can all see each other. “Nice to meet you,” I say, feeling like a giant intruder. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to just barge in on you guys. I asked Duke if he could light a fire,” I aim a glare at the beast standing next to me, “and he thought he was being super funny bringing me here.”