Breathe Out (Just Breathe, #2)(53)

“That was sweet of them,” Joe comments.

“The Nelsons were very nice. An older couple who could never have children and never adopted . . . I’m not sure why . . . but they practically adopted my parents and me, spending many of the holidays with us.”

“Did you go?” Joe searches.

“Where?”

“To any of the places that were on the map?”

“No . . . we never got to go on the trip . . . ” my voice trails.

“Because of the accident?”

“Yes. I’ve always wanted to go . . . I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.” My head hangs a little in shame. “I didn’t even go to China with Maggie and her family the last time they went. I was too scared.”

“Hey, don’t be like that,” Joe coaxes. “I wanted a happy memory and it’s turned sour.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he comments. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have . . . .”

“It’s okay,” I honestly offer.

Sadie breaks the mild tension in the room by starting to snore. Joe and I laugh, and I pretend that I’m heading back to my room.

“Where are you going?” Joe asks with concern.

Laughing, I say, “Back to my room. You can have her when she snores.”

Joe snatches me up and carries me back to the bed. Our bodies land on the bed and cause Sadie to shift a little, enough for her to stop snoring.

“Stay,” Joe says more than asks.

“No more tricks?” I check, though I don’t mind them.

“No more tricks . . . at least while we’re in Oregon,” he lightheartedly teases.

I smile, excited to know he’s not giving up on the game.

“Goodnight, beautiful,” Joe hums. His lips meet mine.

“Goodnight, Joe,” I reply and then return my lips to his for one more embrace for the night.





Sixty Eight


For our last day in Oregon, Mr. and Mrs. Covelli, Joe, Sadie and myself go for a long morning hike at one of the local national parks. We stroll at a leisurely pace to enjoy the scenery as well as to not push Sadie after her frolic with the whales. She perked up this morning, used to rigorous days with me on a regular basis, but I think the cold water pushed her over the edge just a tad.

After having lunch out in the sun, we continue on our journey for another hour before heading back to the city. We have an exquisite dinner at one of the local five-star restaurants and follow it up with a show at the Vagabond Opera house for a show of Bohemian Cabaret. The twist that the performers put on traditional cabaret, paired with opera style singing and arrangements is phenomenal to say the least with the tying of elements from Weimar Cabaret, Arabic and Balkan forms. My eyes and ears were wonderfully stimulated and aroused, eager to see another show in the future.

Back at the hotel, the four of us recount our amusement of the performance while having a few drinks in the bar. Joe’s parents share with me all of the different operas and shows they’ve seen over the years and I mention that they need to join Joe and myself for our upcoming show of the LA Philharmonic at the Disney Concert Hall tomorrow night. Joe eagerly insists they join us and Mr. and Mrs. Covelli graciously accept. I suggest that the next time they’re in town and there’s a show occurring at the Hollywood Bowl that they join us as well. Joe agrees and explains the difference between the two settings as well as the interesting acoustics that occur in the outdoor theater in Hollywood.


Once our round of drinks are finished, we say goodnight to each other and Mr. and Mrs. Covelli head back to their suite while Joe escorts me to mine. I take Sadie out for one last time for the night, even though I stopped in after dinner and before the show. She quickly relieves herself and gladly heads back in, seeming a little tired from the past two days of excitement.

Joe doesn’t ask to be invited in or for me to join him in his room. He sweetly kisses and bids me goodnight, reluctantly peeling his lips apart from mine, leaving to head to his room.

After getting ready for the night, Sadie and I curl up on the bed. Oddly, for as tired as I am, I find myself having trouble falling asleep. Sadie and I look at each other and she whines as if she’s having the same challenge too.

“He’s not coming over,” I tell her.

Sadie whimpers again.

“No, I’m not calling Joe,” I confront.

Sadie moves closer to me, nudging my chin with her nose.

For amusement, I say his name and Sadie’s tail begins to furiously beat against the bed several times and stops. Curious, I say Jared’s name and her tag only gently wags. I repeat Joe’s name and Sadie’s tail moves feverishly as she whimpers.

For some strange reason, I’m compelled to video tape her to see if she’ll do it again, convinced that Joe or anyone else would never believe me if I told them about this. I repeat Joe’s name, then Amy, Eric and Kim, then Joe’s again followed by Jared’s, then Maggie’s and Joe’s. I change up the names again, adding Pop-Pop and Nathan to the mix. Each time Joe’s name is said, Sadie whines or whimpers and her tail feverishly pounds on the bed. Anytime I say Jared's or Maggie’s name, her tail only moves a little. If I say anyone else’s name, her tail doesn’t move.

“Seriously?” I complain. “You’ve got to be kidding me?!”