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more than they presented to the world, for Christina, seemed to have

vanished into a whirlwind mist of flooring crews, window crews, furniture

orders, coordinating with the shelters and rescues, advertising, marketing,

meetings, including meetings with Juliana to discuss the legal aspect.

The building was running basically on schedule. They’d decided

together to leave the grand opening until after Thanksgiving. People would

be done with holiday mode and could focus on something else in their

schedule. Taylor also knew that she and Christina both needed a break.

They’d been putting in crazy hours, working insanely hard to get everything

finished.

It seemed like they’d gone from sitting in a coffee shop, talking

anxiously, to settling into the sort of easier, getting to know each other,

almost friendship that Taylor had described. Christina had surprised Taylor

by accepting every invitation she’d extended to do something with her and

Chloe. They’d gone to the arcade, mini-golfed, seen movies for kids at the

theatre, gone to a musical— also for kids— taken Chloe thrifting, and had

enjoyed an ice cream night out. Christina had even accompanied them one

day when they’d taken Peppy to a dog park. She’d pretended that she didn’t

mind Peppy jumping on her and licking her hand.

The entire month of November passed by way too fast. One day they

were sitting in the coffee shop, Taylor thinking that she might lose Christina

before she really even found her, thinking that she’d discovered what she

really felt far too late, worrying that she might not get another chance, and

all of a sudden, they were packed into Taylor’s little red car. Chloe and

Peppy were in the backseat. Christina in the passenger, Taylor driving.

Even though they’d been getting along, were working together

efficiently and easily, and hanging out with Chloe, Taylor wasn’t certain

that Christina would agree to come with her for Thanksgiving to her

parents’ farm. She was elated when Christina asked her, a few days ago,

what she should pack.