17. Kara
17
Kara
K ara stepped out onto the gravel driveway, the crunch beneath her sandals sounding sharp in the quiet as Ethan’s truck rolled to a stop.
He hopped down from the driver’s seat, his boots hitting the ground with a soft thud, and strode over to the passenger door.
Taking a deep breath, Kara broke the ice first. “Wow, you actually made it on time. I’m impressed.” She paused, then added with a chuckle, “too soon?”
“Nah, it’s never too soon.” A sheepish grin spread across Ethan’s face. “Also, I think we both know I had that coming.”
Kara shifted under Ethan’s gaze, smoothing her light blue sundress, the cotton soft beneath her fingers as the warm evening breeze teased the hem.
As if reading her thoughts, Ethan’s eyes traveled over her outfit. “You look absolutely gorgeous.”
Kara’s breath caught in her throat, a warm flutter spreading through her chest, and she too found herself momentarily stunned by Ethan’s appearance—the light blue button-up shirt hugging his broad shoulders, tucked neatly into dark wash jeans that tapered down to his boots.
“Thanks. You clean up pretty nice yourself.” She grinned and gestured to his hair. “Getting some serious Top Gun vibes there, Maverick.”
Ethan’s blue eyes glinted as he leaned slightly toward her. “Well, if I’m Maverick, does that make you my Goose? Well, minus the part where Goose, you know ...”
The quip sent a little spark through Kara, but before she could respond, he swung open the passenger door with a playful bow and offered his hand. “Need help getting up?”
“I think I can manage, thanks.” She hoisted herself up into the seat, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach as Ethan closed the door and rounded the truck.
A faint trace of Ethan’s old cologne lingered in the air—spice with an afternote of wood and a hint of something warm like amber. It was the same scent he used to wear all those years ago. Her eyes roamed over the dashboard, taking in the worn steering wheel and the old coffee stain on the center console. It was as if time had barely touched the truck, and yet, so much had changed between them.
Ethan started the engine and pulled away from the curb before turning down the radio. “So, yeah, how’s your day been?”
Kara turned to him with a smirk. “Um, you do remember spending most of it with me, right?”
“Yeah, yeah. I meant after I left. What’d you do?”
Kara shrugged, fingers toying with the hem of her dress. “Oh, you know, the glamorous life of a rescue owner. Sorting through endless vet bills, brainstorming for the next adoption event, and trying to find enough donations to keep the lights on. Living the dream.” She glanced at him. “What about you? Any earth-shattering developments since this afternoon?”
Ethan drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “No, nothing really.”
“I guess no news is good news, right?” Kara gestured toward the stereo. “Mind if I change it?”
“Yeah, sure. Go for it.”
Kara reached for the stereo, pressing play on the CD that was already in. Her eyes widened as familiar notes filled the truck. “No way! Is this what I think it is?”
“Yep, that’s the one. Our infamous mix CD. It’s kind of been a permanent fixture in here over the years.”
Kara burst into laughter. “I can’t believe you kept this! Remember our Limewire marathons? Hours of downloading, praying we wouldn’t destroy your computer?”
“How could I forget? Pretty sure my computer is still recovering from all those viruses. Worth it, though.”
As they cruised down the familiar streets, the opening notes of a song drifted from the speakers. The gentle guitar strums and soft vocals transported Kara back to their first date—she could almost feel the warmth of Ethan’s hands on her waist as they swayed to this melody.
More memories rushed in—stargazing in the bed of this truck after late pharmacy shifts, sneaking out to the beach, sharing hopes and dreams in whispered conversations. This blue Chevy had been a place where two teenagers in love could escape the world. But the last memory struck her—a promise Ethan never kept.
Kara shook her head slightly, pushing the thought away.
Before she knew it, Ethan was pulling into the parking lot of Phil’s Diner.
They climbed out and made their way inside. Ethan held the door open for her as Phil’s booming voice carried across the diner. “Well, look what the cat dragged in. Good to see you kids!”
“Hey, Phil.” Kara waved, casting a side glance at the diner full of patrons. “Anything open for us?”
Phil jerked his thumb toward a booth by the window. “Got a spot right there. Give me a sec, and I’ll bring y’all some menus.”
Ethan nodded, leading the way over. Kara sat down first with her back toward the rest of the diner. Ethan slid in across from her.
Phil bustled over, his round belly preceding him, and the menus tucked under one arm. “Here we go.” He slapped the laminated menus down on the table with a practiced flourish. “What’ll it be for drinks?”
“Sweet tea would be great,” Ethan said.
Kara glanced up from her menu. “Make that two. Thanks, Phil.”
Phil nodded and turned on his heel, heading back to the kitchen.
What if I spill something on my dress? Ugh, I should’ve ordered water ... but water’s free and then he might think things are worse than they are. They aren’t great though ... but not that bad either. Okay, just breathe.
Kara turned her attention to the menu, her eyes drifting over the words without really reading them.
Right, what’s light, healthy and won’t make Ethan think I eat too much or make me look like I need rolling out of here when we’re done.
She stared at the menu, her gaze glazing over its contents.
Kara chuckled, shaking her head. “Why am I even pretending to read this? Pretty sure I could recite it in my sleep by now.”
Ethan leaned back with a wry smile. “Tell me about it. Not much has changed since the last time we—”
Phil returned, holding two glasses of sweet tea. “All right, here you go,” he said, setting the drinks down with a clink. He wiped his hands on his apron and pulled out a notepad. “Ready to order?”
Kara hesitated, then said, “You know what? I’ll just stick with some fries for now, thanks.”
“Hmm.” Ethan looked up from his menu. “Actually, I’m gonna try one of those Beyond Cheesesteak subs with fries, please.”
Kara perked up. “I had one yesterday. It was insanely good.” With a quick nod toward Phil, she added, “I’ll have the Beyond Cheesesteak too, but with extra banana peppers, please.”
Phil scribbled on his notepad, nodding. “You got it. Those things have been flying outta the kitchen lately.” He collected their menus and headed to the back.
Kara took a sip of her sweet tea as Ethan reached into his pocket.
“Um, so, there’s something I wanted to tell you,” he said.
Kara found her breath trapped in her throat, her heart racing. “Oh?”
“Well, I’ll be! If it isn’t the town’s favorite couple!” a familiar, shrill voice rang out.
Kara turned and plastered on a smile, her tone overly bright. “Ada! How’ve you been?”
Of course she’d be here.
Ada’s heavily mascaraed eyes darted between them like a spectator at a tennis match. “Oh, not nearly as good as you two lovebirds, I bet!” She turned to Ethan, patting his shoulder with a bejeweled hand. “And Ethan, honey, you’re as dashing as ever.” Her gaze swiveled to Kara, eyebrows raised suggestively. “Wouldn’t you agree, Kara?”
Heat crept up Kara’s neck. “Oh, um, actually Ada, we were in the middle of—”
“Oh, don’t you try to be coy with me!” Ada continued, cutting her off. “It’s so nice to see young people getting back together in Hadley Cove. Our very own Romeo and Juliet.”
Kara inwardly groaned, then opened her mouth, but nothing came out. There was no getting out of this now.
Ethan quirked an eyebrow and leaned in, “You know, Ada, I’m not sure about the Romeo and Juliet comparison. Didn’t end too well for them, if I recall.”
Kara stifled a snort.
Ada waved off Ethan’s comment, undeterred. “Oh, details, details. The point is, it’s just delightful to see you two together again.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “Say, have you heard about Lisa and Noah’s summer special at the Sandy Shores Inn? It’s all over the Facebook. Perfect for couples, you know. I could give Lisa a quick text, see if she can squeeze you in. Frank and I just adore it there. And don’t even get me started on their muffins—”
Phil’s voice cut through the chatter, making her jump. “Pardon me, Ada!” He skillfully maneuvered around her with two heaping plates. “Got some hungry customers here waiting on their dinner.”
“Oh! Of course, of course.” She shuffled to the side, eyes still fixed on Kara and Ethan. “Don’t let me keep you from your romantic dinner!”
Phil set the plates down. “Voila! Two Beyond Cheesesteaks, loaded with all the fixings, and a mountain of our world-famous fries. Bon appétit, you two!”
“Thanks, Phil,” Kara and Ethan chimed simultaneously. Their eyes met over the steaming plates, and they shared a small, amused smile at their synchronicity.
Ada beamed at them one last time. “Well, I’ll let you two lovebirds enjoy your meal in peace. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” She winked before finally retreating to the counter.
A silence settled between them as Ethan picked up his sub, but he paused, glancing at Kara with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Well, if we’re the town’s lovebirds, I guess we should at least give them a show, right?”
“Ethan, stop,” she laughed, swatting at his arm. “You’re terrible.”
He wiggled his eyebrows dramatically and leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if they were about to be up to no good. “Terrible? I think you mean terribly charming.”
She picked up a fry from his plate, swatting the bridge of his nose with it. “Terribly something, all right.”
Ethan grinned, settling back in his seat, and then blinked. “Hey, that one was mine. Hear ye, hear ye, we have a fry thief.”
“What an accusation! I do not steal fries. I merely ... redistribute them for the greater good.”
“Ah, of course. Robin Hood of the diner booth.”
Kara popped one of his fries into her mouth, grinning. “See? This isn’t awkward at all.”
Ethan winked, then took a huge bite of his sub. A smear of sauce clung to the corner of his mouth as he mumbled around his mouthful, “Oh man, you weren’t kidding. This is so good.”
Kara picked up her own sandwich, taking a more delicate bite. Her eyes closed briefly as she savored the flavors ... Swallowing, she nodded appreciatively. “Mm, you know what? It’s even better than yesterday. How’s that even possible?”
“It’s possible, then again could just be the company.” Ethan gave her a soft smile, his eyes holding hers for a moment longer than usual.
Kara’s breath hitched for just a second and she quickly broke eye contact, reaching for her napkin as if to distract herself. Clearing her throat, she set the sandwich down. “So, before Hurricane Ada blew through, you were about to tell me something?”
“Oh, right!” He sipped his tea then fished out some folded papers from his pocket. “I, uh, I’ve been thinking about your rescue. Had some ideas that might help drum up more interest in adoptions.”
Kara stared at the papers. “You did all this?
Ethan rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking a bit self-conscious. “Yeah, I hope you don’t mind. I know I’m still pretty new to your setup, and you’ve been running the show for ages. But I picked up some tricks at that rescue in Virginia, and I thought maybe some of those ideas could work here too.”
This gesture was the last thing she’d expected. “Can I see what you’ve come up with?”
“Yeah, of course.” Ethan pushed the papers toward her, his finger tracing over different sections. “So, up here, that’s just me throwing ideas at the wall. But down here, these are some strategies that worked for us back in Virginia.”
Kara’s eyes scanned the page. “Hold on, what’s this about? ‘Picture day’?”
“Oh, that. When I started volunteering, I was on dog grooming duty. Then I thought, once the pups are all spruced up, why not show them off? So, I set up a photo area outside, got them in the sunlight, and snapped some pictures. Then we put them on the website.” He tapped the paper. “I’ve outlined the process here—ideas for backdrops, props, and a schedule to rotate the animals through grooming and photo sessions.”
Kara’s mouth dropped as she took in the level of detail.
Ethan’s eyes lit up as he continued. “You wouldn’t believe the difference it made. Adoptions skyrocketed, and kennels emptied fast. We built an entire crew—groomers, photographers, everyone pitched in for ‘picture days.’ And it even cut costs—fewer long-term residents meant lower overhead. Total win-win.”
Kara blinked, her vision swimming as she struggled to process the sheer volume of thought and effort spread across the pages before her.
He flipped to the next page, revealing a sea of notes. “Here are social media ideas to showcase the photos, thoughts on partnering with local businesses for sponsorships, and I even drafted a startup budget to get things rolling.”
A lump formed in her throat, making her voice crack when she finally spoke. “Ethan,” she breathed, her fingers hovering over the paper as if it might disappear, “you did all of this for my rescue?”
Ethan’s voice softened, his eyes meeting hers. “Yeah, I did. For the animals, of course, but also ...” he hesitated, then finished quietly, “for you.”
She blinked back tears and took a deep breath. “This is incredible. You’ve thought of everything. You put so much time and effort into this.” Kara’s gaze lifted from the papers to meet Ethan’s eyes. “This could change everything for Second Chance. I-I don’t know what to say.”
Ethan reached out, gently placing his hand over hers. “You don’t have to say anything.”
Kara squeezed Ethan’s hand as if it were a lifeline. “Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me. How much it means to the animals.”
“It’s nothing, really.” Ethan shrugged. “Just a few suggestions that might help things. You’ve already done such an awesome job with the place.”
“Well,” Kara’s smile faltered, “it was great at first, yeah. But lately we’ve been hitting some rough patches. These past few months have been—” She paused, her voice dropping. “I couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone. It felt like I was failing the animals. I—”
Ethan’s grip on her hand tightened. “You can tell me anything, Kara. No judgment. Ever.”
Anything? Is he sure? No, he doesn’t mean it ... Does he?
Kara drew in a shaky breath, quickly brushing away a tear. “I mean, you’ve pretty much seen the highlight reel already. Not enough volunteers. The kennels are full, and I’m drowning in never-ending tasks. I was barely treading water until—” She met his eyes. “Until you showed up.”
Ethan nodded, a determined look settling on his face. “All right, here’s what we’re gonna do. Let’s break this down, figure out our top priorities. We’ll tackle this one step at a time, okay? You’ve got this, Kara.”
As they discussed potential solutions and strategies, Kara felt a sense of hope growing. Time seemed to blur as they went over every detail, bouncing ideas back and forth.
At some point, Kara reached for her drink, tilting the glass only to find a trickle of watery tea and a few melted ice cubes sliding toward her lips. She set it down, her fingers leaving marks in the condensation. Her gaze dropped to her plate, where the pile of fries had dwindled to three stragglers.
Across the table, Ethan’s plate mirrored her own. Crumbs from his sub dotted the empty space, and a lone fry lay abandoned next to a small puddle of ketchup. His tea glass stood empty, a ring of moisture marking its place on the table.
To Kara, time had always been their enemy, but tonight, it felt like an old friend. “Ethan, this is amazing. I feel like we’ve mapped out a whole new future for the rescue in just one dinner.”
“You’ve built something incredible already. Now we’re just fine-tuning it.” Ethan smiled, checking his phone before sliding some bills onto the table.
Kara’s hand instinctively went to her purse. “Oh, let me chip in—”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s on me.”
Kara felt a flutter in her chest at his gesture. It was such a small thing, but it felt significant somehow.
Ethan rose from his seat, arching his back in a stretch. “Well, I hate to say it, but we should probably think about heading out. You good to go?”
Kara nodded, though her heart sank a little. “Yeah, I suppose so,” she said, unable to keep a small sigh from escaping.
Does this night have to end?