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13

Toni

Once we finish cleaning up all of the shelter supplies from the park, Anya and the other shelter employees head back to return their supplies to the building. The volunteers disperse, and Jessica and I are left standing by the playground. Once more, we find ourselves standing together without knowing what to say. The problem is that I want to say everything. I want to tell her that I’m sorry and that I was wrong. I want to tell her that we should totally try to make up for lost time.

I don’t.

Instead, I stand where I am, and I let her lead.

“I’d invite you to go on the swings, but I think it might be weird,” she says. Jessica glances around at the moms and dads hanging out at the park. I’m pretty sure there are a few babysitters and nannies, too. There are two swings open, but I think she’s right.

“I think the moms might yell at us.”

“You never know,” she smiles.

“It’s almost three,” I tell her.

“You ready to go back to my place?”

“Your place.”

“Your dress is at my place,” she reminds me. “And the makeup and hairstylist is coming over there, too.”

“Right,” I nod. I had tried to put all of that from my mind. The idea of spending the entire day with my ex-girlfriend is rough. As if trying to save me from the embarrassment of having to speak again, my stomach rumbles. Jessica hears and laughs.

“We’ll order something when we get home. I assume you remember where my apartment is.”

“I remember.”

“See you there.”

As soon as I’m in my little Honda Civic, I call Clara to provide me with emotional support on the drive to Toni’s house. She answers on the first ring.

“What’s happening?” Clara says this in a casual way and not like she’s worried. Now that she’s out from under the thumb of her family, she’s experimenting with sounding more relaxed. For the first time in her life, she doesn’t have to follow a bunch of rules, and I’m pretty sure she’s thrilled about this.

“I’m driving to Jessica’s,” I tell her.

“How was the adoption event?”

“Great.” I fill her in on how we found families for every single animal. No one is going back to the shelter tonight.

“That’s awesome! But I have a feeling you didn’t just call me to tell me about your adoption success.”

“I called because I am freaking out.”