The Moment of Truth

Josh could picture it.

Was he a fool to turn his back on what was rightfully his? Not the Montford mansion, but the life it represented?

Was it his purpose in life to be a spoiled rich playboy? Was he fighting something he’d never be able to change?

Or was this truly his moment of truth? His chance to save himself from wasting the opportunities he’d been given to make a difference during his time on earth? Did he have it in him to contribute something good of his own to the world?

As he’d been sitting in the hospital, waiting for news on Michelle’s condition, Michelle’s sister had asked him what good works he’d done in his life.

He’d listed off his successful business deals.

Parties he’d thrown that everyone had loved.

Generous gifts he’d bought.

And she’d shaken her head.

Good works, she’d said. She’d listed some charity opportunities they’d had at Harvard. He’d been too busy to look into them. But he remembered the checks he’d written for Michelle.

Rather than impressing her, she’d just looked away, shaking her head.

Now, as he sat staring at the mansion that loomed in front of him, he felt something wet against the edge of his hand. L.G.’s nose butting up against him.

Glancing at the dog, Josh was hit by the irony of his current situation. How could he possibly expect himself to unravel the mysteries of life when he didn’t even know if the dog was simply seeking companionship or telling him that he had to piss?

Josh wasn’t ready to head back to the house. But taking the puppy’s cue, he put the car in gear and drove straight to his real destination—and the real reason he had the puppy in the car with him.

L.G. would be his ticket in.

Once he got there, what he did with the admittance was up to him.

When he pulled onto Dana’s street, he relaxed for the first time that evening. Until he saw the car parked behind hers in her driveway and the other two parked on the street in front of her place. Her blinds were still open, and as he slowed down in front of her house, he could make out at least three people inside.

Speeding up, Josh drove on past. Obviously Dana wasn’t suffering over his less than stellar behavior the night before. She wasn’t alone, grieving....

Hell, for all he knew she had a boyfriend. He hadn’t even asked.

It was so typical of him that it hadn’t even dawned on him to wonder about her situation.

Which was why he was going to do her a favor and leave her the hell alone.

Dana deserved better.

* * *

DANA HAD LORI, Marissa and Dillon—Marissa’s boyfriend—over for pizza and cards Friday night. While she enjoyed their company, she also felt kind of like their parent as she sat there listening to them talk about who was talking to whom and who said what among the kids they knew.

She listened, laughed and joined in, usually with a piece of advice, and thought about Josh’s note. It meant something that he’d written that note instead of just texting her.

Maybe she should have responded.

She hadn’t heard from him all night.

Cleaning up after her guests had left, she pictured Josh arriving home after work earlier that evening. Had he looked for a reply to his note? Had his eye gone to the place where he’d left the note and found the spot empty?

Her heart lurched.

Had he even gone home after work?

Now that Josh was meeting people he’d have his pick of dates. Of invitations and places to spend his downtime. Guys like Josh Redmond. The kind with all the confidence in the world, with looks that would buy them entrance into any circle and, most important, a heart kind enough to take on a puppy simply because it didn’t have a home, even though they knew absolutely nothing about dogs but were willing to let the puppy turn their home upside down, to clean up after him and never once consider giving the dog back... Guys like him had so many people vying for their attention that they didn’t have time for girls like Dana Harris.

She was everyone’s friend. Lori’s. Jerome’s. Now Marissa’s and Dillon’s. Lillie’s and Jon’s. Sharon’s. The list went on. It had been the same at home, too. People came to her with problems, and usually she found a way to help.

Most of the time, she was completely happy with that.

Turning off the lights, she went to bed. And refused to think about Josh or those few brief minutes when her body had been joined with his.

She had to be up early in the morning for another pet-therapy visit to a nursing home in south Phoenix. Jerome was coming over to do laundry after that. She had calls to make in an attempt to find forever homes for three older rescue dogs that were in foster care. Zack had called, giving her jurisdiction over the placement and follow-up. She had her own “clients” and was excited about this new road she’d embarked on.