“Do you love him?”
“It doesn’t make a difference.”
“How can you say that? Of course it does!”
“No. It really doesn’t. He abandoned me when I needed him. He cast me aside and wouldn’t let me explain myself. What kind of love is that? What kind of trust is that? I won’t get back into that kind of marriage.”
Dusty chuckled.
“What is so funny?”
“You sound just like him. That’s why he wouldn’t let you explain in the first place. He was afraid of getting into another marriage like his first. Now you’re saying the same thing.”
Annie sat down on her bed, exasperated. There was truth in Dusty’s words. “He hasn’t tried to contact me.”
“Can you blame him?”
“No.”
“Come home with me. Have dinner with Zach and Sean and me. Maybe we can convince you to stay.”
“Dusty, if he hadn’t sent me away, maybe I wouldn’t have gone home and found Riggs waiting.”
“And maybe you would have.”
“Maybe I would have, but I would have fought back like I used to. I… I’m embarrassed to say I just let him beat me. I didn’t think there was anything to live for. The man I loved had just—”
“Ah-ha!”
“What?”
> “You love him.”
“So what?”
“You will not walk away from love, Annie DeSimone. I won’t let you.”
“It’s not your decision.”
“You’re right.” Dusty rose from the bed. “But as your friend, I plan to use everything within my power to convince you to stay. To not give up on love. Follow me.”
“Where are we going?”
“Oh, just to the living room. I think I heard the doorbell.”
“What the hell are you talking about? There was no doorbell.”
“Didn’t you hear it?”
“Of course not.”
“Gee. I’m almost sure I did. You’d better check.”
“You’d better check. Your ears, that is.”
“Humor me. I know I heard it.”
“Fine. God.” Annie walked to the door and opened it. Sitting on the welcome mat, his tail thumping happily, was Jet. “What in the world?” Annie knelt down to pet him. Around his neck was an envelope tied to a string. “How long have you been sitting here, cutie?” Annie detached the envelope and opened it. Something fell out and clinked on the cement. Annie paid no attention and unfolded the note.