If It Makes You Happy(130)

Before I can close the door, Rocket speeds down the sidewalk. I startle when he leaps into my lap.

His brown eyes stare back at me. I’m riding with you, Shelly, they say.

Cliff climbs into the driver’s side and chuckles. “The more, the merrier, I guess.”

I shut the passenger door, and Cliff shifts the truck into gear.

We drive down the road as my family waves to us. Bird & Breakfast disappears around the corner. We roll past the sidewalks, cross in front of Burke’s Bakery, and go around the square until it fades away too. We drive under the covered red bridge, and I see the back side of Copper Run’s latticed sign.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING! COME BACK SOON!

Rocket curls closer in my lap. I run my fingers over his feathered black-and-white fur and lean my cheek against his neck.





CHAPTER 45





Cliff




Copper Run’s sign gets smaller and smaller until I can’t make it out through the sticks and bare trees. I know I’ll be coming back, but I’ll be coming back without her.

We talk the whole ride to the airport—everything from recent news to Copper Run gossip. I make sarcastic comments, and she laughs, as always, her head beautifully falling back on the headrest. I hold her hand the entire time, stroking my thumb over the back of hers, holding as tight as I can.

The tall buildings appear faster than I would like. Planes take off from runways in the distance, booming overhead. The drop-off car line is long and agonizing. My nerves pick up in my chest, and I can tell hers do, too, because she starts running Birdie’s pendant over the chain. I kiss the back of her knuckles.

“It’s fine,” I whisper.

She nods quickly, over and over.

Rocket is restless in the seat, walking over her thighs to mine, pressing his nose to the window, leaving wet nose marks against the glass.

“Rocket,” I say through a laugh, lifting up to peer over his body.

Michelle claps her hands. “Rocket, let him drive.”

Suddenly whining, he paces back to her, pressing his muzzle against her window instead.

We finally pull to the curb, and I put on my emergency lights. I look over at her. She’s already staring at me, absentmindedly stroking Rocket’s fur as his paws shake on her thigh.

I reach out to bury my palm in her hair.

“Come here,” I murmur.

She leans across the bench seat, pressing her lips to mine. The kiss is slow and lingering and doesn’t last nearly long enough.

I lean my forehead against hers. “This is good,” I whisper.

She nods. “Yeah.” But it doesn’t sound sure.

I force a laugh. “You’re Michelle. You’re going to thrive out there, like you always have.”

She silently nods against me.

I want to keep holding her, but a car behind me honks, and I groan.

“Time to go, huh?” I say with a laugh.

She doesn’t return it, instead repeating a small “Yeah.”

I open the door and shut it before Rocket can jump out. He’s a wild card today, and I’m not risking it. I lean over the side of the truck bed and pull out her suitcases, lowering them to the ground with a definitive thunk. She stares at me, and I let out an exhale with a smile.

I throw my thumb back to the truck. “Rocket kinda ruined my chances of walking you to your gate.”

She looks at the ground, playing with the long strap of her purse with a breathy laugh. “I know.”

I’m mentally cursing that dang dog, but I know he wanted to see her off. I couldn’t deny him that.

I walk forward, pulling her into my chest and placing my chin on her head. “I’m so excited for you.”

My heart is pounding. I can feel it thrumming in my ears. But I can’t show her this is killing me. She doesn’t need that right now.

“Watch the inn, will you?” she murmurs, tilting her head to the side. “I know Sara is gonna … I don’t know … burn the biscuits or …” She sniffs and looks at the sky, shaking her head. “God, she won’t pay the bills—I know it. Make sure she checks the mail daily.”

I chuckle. “I’ll check it for her.”

“And the honeymoon quilts. Don’t let her forget those.”

“The ugly pink things. Got it.”

She smacks my arm, and I chuckle as she buries her face in my chest again. My nose stings, but I can’t be sad. I have to be certain for her. I have to be.

“Take care of my favorite place, okay?”

I laugh. “I will.”

“Okay,” she says, swallowing. “Okay. I’m gonna go.”

“Call me when you land?”

I kiss her again, and she clutches my arms so tight that I wonder if it’ll bruise.

“I’ll talk to you soon,” she says, and the words sound almost strained. Desperate.

I’ve never heard that sound from her before.

I cup her cheek and kiss her again.

I love you.

“I’ll miss you,” I say instead. It’s easier. Kinder.

She grabs the handles of both suitcases with whitened knuckles and shaking hands. I place my palms over them.

“I’ll see you sooner than either of us can blink,” I reassure her.