Epilogue - Dean
Five months later
“Are you all done?” I trail my hand over the back of Goldie’s neck.
“Finished! Going freelance was the best thing I ever did. Better pay and no prissy manager breathing down my neck.”
“I’m the only one allowed to breathe down your neck, remember that!”
“Well, now we have the weekend free. What do you want to do? We can finish version two of our comic? Looks like we’re snowed in.” She smiles up at me and I lift her onto the kitchen counter. I plant a kiss on her neck.
“You know what I want to do, gorgeous.” My voice is growly as I bury my head in her neck and she giggles.
“Do I get to eat first? My ankle says it needs more sustenance to completely heal.” She smirks at me.
“You broke it six months ago! That ankle has to be healed by now. It’s very demanding. But, yes you get to eat first. This beef stew may just be my masterpiece. Moose’s been sniffing the air all afternoon.”
Moose thumps his tail at the sound of his name. Poupon is crashed out on the big dog bed in front of the crackling fire, lying half on top of Moose so he can’t move.
“Did you see we got another postcard from your aunt? She’s in Biarritz now. Sounds glamorous. And warmer than here.”
“This snow is crazy. That weather dude Carl was talking about more snowfall this weekend. Did your sister get back from the animal shelter okay?”
She nods. “But I think she was talking about trying to go back up the mountain to look for that dog she was fostering who escaped.”
I shake my head. “Let me give Flint a call. He’s mountain rescue. It’s dangerous up there, even if you know the mountains. I don’t like the idea of Poppy out there on her own.”
“Good thinking. I’ll feed the dogs while you make the call. I’ll try calling her to see if I can talk her out of going.”
I grab my phone and walk to the window. Snow is piling up outside in deep drifts outside our house. The twinkle lights Goldie’s strung up inside are reflected in the glass of the windowpane.
“Dean? Why are you calling me? I was on early shift.” Flint’s voice is gruff, like I’ve woken him up.
“My girlfriend’s sister Poppy works for the animal shelter in Bakersville. Poppy was fostering a dog who escaped, she was talking about going out looking for it tonight.”
“In this snow? No fucking way. Where does she live?”
“In the Peterson cabins, north-west side. It’s the one up at the top of the mountain road.”
“Hooah! On my way. I’ll let you know when I’m up there. See ya.”
Goldie comes and puts her arms around me. “No answer from Poppy. Hopefully, she’s just asleep.”
“Well, she’s going to have Flint banging on the door of her cabin soon.”
“Thanks for contacting him. Have I mentioned that I love you?” Her eyes twinkle as she looks up at me.
I wrap my arms around my girl. Moose is stretched out on the floor. We adopted him and he gets to spend a lot of time with Poupon while my aunt travels the world.
“I love you too.”
I lower my lips to hers as the snow falls softly outside.