Danny had gone again, chasing salmon this time. He said the sea cleared his head. I believed him. He promised he’d be fine. His mates were with him. I promised to take care of Ned, his huge, adorable Mastiff, while he was gone. For a heartbeat, it was quiet. Then, late afternoon, a message came through. Short. Uneven. The kind of honesty that slips out when someone is breaking open. The house feels too big. Don’t want to be alone. I grabbed my bag without thinking. Pick me up
