Page 102 of Beach Cottage Kisses

“You know her, Scott,” Sage said, as though the four words held all the answers he’d need. “Fix it.”

* * *

Iris was in her workroom late Sunday night, editing photos she’d taken of Angel the day before, avoiding going to bed. She’d slept on the leather sofa in her workroom Friday and Saturday nights but knew that it wasn’t healthy to do so.

She couldn’t hide from the inevitable. Nor was she going to be wasteful and buy new furniture when hers was only a couple of years old. She was going to be sleeping alone, again.

In the bed, the room, she’d shared with Scott.

She needed to just get in there and get on with it.

Already in the cotton pajama shorts and short-sleeved shirt she intended to wear to bed, she called to Angel and headed toward the door for the girl’s last duty call.

The front door, not the back. No way was she taking a chance on Morgan being out. On the girls creating a horribly awkward situation for her and Scott.

She’d already set about taking care of that situation. Had spent a good part of the afternoon looking for another place to live.

Angel was whining before Iris even got the door opened. Frowning, wondering if the girl wasn’t feeling well, Iris let Angel head out first,to get to the small patch of artificial grass Iris had laid for her to use, only to see her running down to the cemented post mailbox at the end of the drive.

That’s when she noticed the man standing there, leaning on the post.

Turning, ready to go back inside, she heard Angel’s yip as she greeted the best friend she hadn’t seen in two days. And knew that she couldn’t run. Or hide.

She wasn’t going to desert Angel.

But she could take the offense. Get through the difficult moment she’d tried to avoid and be done.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, when nothing better came along.

“Waiting to see you.”

“You could have called.”

“Would you have answered?”

Probably not. Since his question implied the obvious, she left it alone.

Tried another stance. “I saw Diane last night. Apologized for how I’d treated her when I was younger. And let her know she’d saved my life.” Just to let him know that she was healthy. Strong. And willing to admit to her mistakes.

Like the one she’d made when she’d walked away from him without giving him the same?

“I’m sorry for the other night, Scott. I handled it badly.”

With his hands in the pockets of his shorts, his biceps oddly highlighted by the streetlight just above them, he remained by the post and said, “Sorry for how you handled it? Or for your response in general?”

Both really. The admission did nothing but prolong the inevitable.

“I’m moving,” she said then, figuring Sage would have already told him.Guessing that was why he’d shown up. She’d wondered if he would.

Had hoped not.

“You and Sage were here first. Ocean Breeze is your home. It’s right that I be the one to go.”

She thought he nodded. Couldn’t be sure. Saw Angel pee, and was glad the awkward goodbye was almost done. “Anyway, I just wanted you to know, I’ll remember you always, with utmost fondness. I’m glad I knew you, Scott Martin,” she said and, clicking her fingers for Angel because she didn’t trust her voice to get out another coherent sound, turned to head toward her new life.

Whatever it would be.

Wherever it would lead her.