Chapter Eight #2
Marin held out the bottle of wine she’d brought. “I hope you both enjoy red wine. I forgot to ask if you drink when we planned dinner.”
“We do, and thanks so much.” Audrey made a welcoming motion with her hand. “Come on in. Michelle’s in the kitchen finishing up dinner.”
Marin stepped inside and began unbuttoning her coat. “I’m obsessed with the location of your house. That view! I pulled into your driveway just in time to catch sunset over the mountains.”
“Isn’t it amazing? This was Michelle’s house, and I loved it so much it was a no-brainer for me to move in here with her when the time came.”
“Did I hear my name?” An elegant brunette entered the room, wearing fitted jeans and a pin-striped shirt. She offered Marin a polite smile. “Hello. I’m Michelle.” She spoke with a crisp British accent.
“Marin,” she responded. “It’s so nice to meet you. I was just admiring your house. I’m house hunting myself right now, and this is definite goals.”
“This house is the main reason I still live in Vermont,” Michelle said. “I love it, and I love the location even more. You should see the views during the daytime.”
“Excuse me,” Audrey interjected, giving her fiancée a playful nudge. “The house is the only reason you still live in Vermont?” She gestured to herself.
“I said the main reason.” Michelle gave her an affectionate look. “If you recall, you offered to move to London with me if it was what I wanted. So yes, I stayed for the house . . . mostly.”
“I recall.” Audrey kissed her cheek. “And I meant it too. London would have been a fun adventure, but I’m glad we stayed here.”
Michelle gazed adoringly at her fiancée, and Marin felt a tug of yearning watching them together.
This was what she wanted. She wanted a woman who looked at her the way Michelle looked at Audrey.
It was the kind of sapphic love she’d spent so many years daydreaming about.
Watching them made her want a girlfriend of her own more than ever.
“Anyway.” Michelle turned toward her. “Welcome. Would you like something to drink? I’ve cooked a squash risotto for dinner.”
“She’s getting domestic now that she’s quit teaching,” Audrey said.
“And now that I have someone else to cook for.”
“Cooking for one is a drag,” Marin agreed. “Although I do end up with a lot of leftovers I can use for lunch the next day.”
“No significant other, then?” Audrey asked. “I’m going to have a glass of wine with dinner, if that sounds good to you. Riesling, probably. Michelle usually goes for whisky.”
“But I might have wine tonight too.” Michelle led the way toward the kitchen.
“Wine sounds perfect,” Marin said. “And no significant other. I’m recently divorced, actually. It’s part of the reason I’m here in Vermont, starting over.”
“Good for you,” Michelle said. “I’m about three years postdivorce myself. I hope you find everything you’re looking for.”
“Thanks.”
They fixed plates and poured wine and then sat together around a square table just off the kitchen. “So, Michelle, you used to teach at Northshire?” Marin asked.
Michelle nodded. “I taught art history for seventeen years.”
“That’s what you teach, too, right?” Marin asked Audrey.
“Yes. Michelle and I were colleagues last year. Actually . . .” Audrey glanced at her fiancée with a sly smile. “Do you mind if I tell her the rest?”
Michelle rolled her eyes. “Go ahead.”
Audrey turned to Marin, eyes gleaming. “She was my professor when I was an undergrad. She inspired me to pursue a career in academia myself.”
“Aww, I love that,” Marin exclaimed.
“Well, don’t leave out the best part,” Michelle drawled, looking amused.
“Never letting you live down that you called this the best part,” Audrey said smugly, then turned to Marin. “I had the biggest crush on her when I was a student, not that I ever would have acted on it then. When we reconnected last year, though . . .”
“Wow,” Marin said ineloquently.
“Yep.” Audrey grinned. “I like to think we’re a perfect match. The universe was just waiting to bring us back together, right?”
“Right.” Marin thought of herself and Charlotte and how the universe had brought them back together too. The romantic side of her wished they could have a similar outcome, but it wasn’t meant to be. Charlotte was straight.
“Anyway, if you’re at all interested in female artists, you’ve come to the right place. Michelle and I could talk your ears off for hours on the topic.”
“I don’t know much about female artists, unfortunately,” Marin admitted. “In fact, I think I could only name a handful.”
“That’s true for most people,” Michelle said. “Women in art rarely get their due.”
“Well, now you’ve got me curious to learn more. Any suggestions?”
“So many,” Audrey enthused before listing off a handful of books and articles Marin could check out, including a book called The Story of Art Without Men, which Marin was immediately intrigued by because, wow, what a title.
She was in the mood to celebrate women in all facets of her life these days, it seemed.
“Marin, you mentioned that you’re house hunting?” Michelle said.
“I am. Not having much luck yet, unfortunately. It’s a slow time of year, I’m told.”
“Well, if you were serious about a home with a view like ours, I happened to hear that a house a few miles down the road from this one is about to go on the market,” Michelle said. “I could get the listing agent’s information for you, if you’re interested?”
Marin felt a ping of excitement because that sounded perfect. “I would love that.”
On Friday afternoon, Marin picked up her new puppy.
Ember and her siblings were gated in the kitchen like they had been last time, although several of them were gone now, having already been adopted, and Marin could hardly believe how much they’d grown.
Yes, she’d seen pictures since her first visit, but photos didn’t quite do justice to the fact that the stubby-legged pups she’d met three weeks ago looked like little dogs now.
In fact, she even heard a bark or two as she walked into the kitchen.
“Hi, puppies,” she said, already smiling.
Ember stood at the back of the group, just like last time.
As Marin approached, the puppy’s tail wagged enthusiastically.
If it was possible, Ember had gotten even cuter since Marin first met her.
Marin felt a warm burst of happiness to know that this was her puppy now.
“I just need you to sign the contract,” Susan said. “Then we’ll go over the basics of her routine, vaccine schedule, and all that good stuff, but please feel free to email me with any questions once you get home.”
“I appreciate that,” Marin said. “As you know, she’s my first puppy, so I’m bound to have questions, although I’ve done my research and I have a friend with puppy experience who’s going to come over later today to help.”
Susan nodded. “All right, let’s get this signed so you can take your girl home.”
They went through the paperwork together, and then .
. . it was time. Marin clipped on the collar she’d brought with her, with Ember’s name already inscribed on the name tag, and then she lifted the puppy into her arms. Ember whined, looking back at her siblings.
This felt like a huge transition for her, going from living in a litter to being someone’s pet, but every puppy did it, so hopefully she’d adjust quickly.
“Ready to go home?” Marin asked the puppy.
Ember stared at her out of big brown eyes, and there was that warm feeling again. This puppy was about to turn Marin’s world upside down, no doubt about it, but she could already tell the reward was going to be worth the loss of sleep and chewed shoes.
After saying goodbye to Susan, they were off. Marin tucked Ember into a puppy carrier on the back seat before sitting up front. There was a whine from behind her. “Hang on, sweetie. We just have a short drive home.”
She talked to Ember all the way to her apartment, and the puppy cried a few times but was mostly quiet.
When they arrived, Marin tried walking her in front of the building, “tried” being the operative word.
Ember yanked and rolled like a fish on a hook, clearly unfamiliar with being walked on leash.
And Marin had her first reality check about life with a new puppy.
Ember was a baby. She had almost no training yet.
Marin had her work cut out for her, maybe more so than she’d anticipated.
It was intimidating to realize that this helpless little creature was entirely dependent on her now.
It was a big responsibility. And more than ever, she needed a house.
This morning, Marin had driven past the house Michelle told her about, and it looked really promising.
It was small, but it had so much charm, and honestly, small suited her right now.
Best of all, it was situated in a wide-open field, surrounded by wooded hilltops, the perfect mountain hideaway.
She and Ember would have all the space they needed for walks, hikes, and anything else they wanted to do together.
Marin couldn’t do any vigorous hiking with her leg injury, but she hoped to at least do some exploring in the woods.
Staying active was actually good for her recovery, as long as she didn’t overdo it.
There was a fine line that she was still adjusting to, but after months of rigorous PT, she was stronger than she’d ever been in many ways, despite the chronic pain.
She’d sent the link to Charlotte, although she wasn’t sure how to coordinate seeing a house while also settling in a new puppy, because Ember obviously couldn’t be left home alone so soon after adoption.
Marin had to work on crate training with her this weekend.
She had so much to do to get Ember acclimated before her class on Monday. It was daunting.
“Is this her?” a female voice called from overhead, and Marin recognized it as belonging to Ji-Yoon, the art history student who lived upstairs. Ji-Yoon would be puppysitting for Marin over the next few weeks, a fact she was extremely grateful for.
“Yes, this is Ember. Want to come meet her?”
“Try and stop me!” Ji-Yoon clambered down the steps from the upstairs landing and crouched in front of the puppy, who was currently eating snow. “Hi, puppy.” Ji-Yoon knelt before Ember, arms outstretched. Ember’s little tail wagged so hard it performed a full loop-de-loop. “Aren’t you adorable?”
“She’s very cute, and she seems to like you,” Marin observed.
“I’m irresistible,” Ji-Yoon said with a laugh as she leaned down so the puppy could kiss her face.
“And animals generally love me. Just let me know when you need me to puppysit. I’m not seeing anyone right now, so I’m happy to hang out with this adorable girl while I study.
Do you mind if I have a few friends over to play with her too? ”
Marin smiled at the way the girl babbled on.
She liked Ji-Yoon a lot, and it was handy that she lived upstairs.
This was the positive trade-off of living in an apartment, something she’d lose when she moved into a house.
“I think it would be great if you had friends over, actually. I’m told socialization is important at her age, and that’ll be hard to accomplish in January since I can’t take her around town very easily.
So yes, please introduce her to your friends. ”
“Excellent. Ember, you and I are going to be besties,” Ji-Yoon proclaimed before pressing a kiss between the puppy’s ears. “See you around, Professor Easterly. You’ve got my number. Just text when you need me. Otherwise, I’ll be here like we discussed to watch her during your class on Monday.”
“Perfect, and it’s Marin, remember? I’m not your professor. I’m your neighbor.”
“Right, right. Feels weird, but okay, Marin.” Ji-Yoon waved before heading back upstairs.
Ember whined, watching her go.
“You like her, huh? That’s good. All right, Ember. Ready to see your new home?”