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“So, eight years? I’ll put a reminder on my phone.” She probably would as soon as the call ended. If she could figure out how.

She told me about some new neighbors who had moved in on her street while I jogged back to my porch. The lock on the front door of my small one-bedroom house clicked, and I tugged on the door to make sure it was latched.

After she finished her story, I said, “Well, I just wanted to let you know where I’d be. I have reception there, so you can get ahold of me when you need to. Don’t forget I turn my notifications off at night.”

“I just don't understand it. Out there in the wilderness by yourself… Why do you still do that?”

I slid into the front seat of my car, and the Bluetooth looped the call into the car’s speaker system. Telling her all the reasons why wouldn’t help. Her love for the great outdoors had died when Dad had. She’d only just become herself again, herself but slightly different.

Instead, I said, “You know I like solitude now and then. I lost two pets this week. They were both expected, but it doesn't make it any easier.” I then told her about Sully-Boy’s near miss. “If we’d lost him, that would have been three, and he would have been a hardloss. Besides, you know I like the park. It makes me feel close to Dad.”

“I know, sweetie. I miss him too. You be careful and let me know when you wake up tomorrow that you're okay. Or I'll call your uncle and send in the cavalry.”

She cracked me up.

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” I said.

At that, she laughed. “Too true.”

“Love you, Mom. Talk to you tomorrow.”

“Love you too. Send me a photo of the stars before you shut off for the night.”

“Will do.”

The next call was to my vet practice. It was seven, and Shannon would already be there.

She cheerfully answered on the first ring. I’d never met a more morning person than Shannon, and she always sounded like she’d had a dozen cups of coffee before her eyes even popped open all the way.

“Willow Creek Vet’s office. How can I help you?”

“How's Sully-Boy this morning?”

“Oh, he's his usual hissing and spitting self. I think he misses his girl.”

“No problems?”

“None.”

“Then he's ready to go home today?”

“I think so. He's eating and drinking, and he's already made the messes we need him to this morning, though, he’s not happy with his leg.”

“Maybe he’ll learn not to get tangled in barbed-wire fences after he escapes,” I said with a chuckle. “I'mheaded out to Magnolia. Let Callie and her mother know they’re cleared to come get him at noon like we discussed. He needs five days of antibiotics and five days of pain meds. Make sure you give them instructions for what to look for at the incision site.”

“Will do.”

“Riley should be there in an hour.”

“Sure thing. I've got some things we can both do. We still need to disinfect stall one and stall three out back. Plus, you know, whatever’s left after they pick up Sully-Boy.”

“Sounds good. See you Monday.”

I ended the call without adding any more instruction. Those two could run the place without me, and they'd call if there was an emergency.

Carefully, I backed out of my driveway and off toward the wilds with my music blaring, fantasizing about a hook-up with Logan.

If the opportunity came again, I’d be on it faster than anything, but he couldn’t ever be anything more than a booty call. I refused to do anything to jeopardize the trajectory of my life and what I had worked so hard to build.