**NOTES**
I am so so sorry for the delay. We had some family stuff and the writing got shifted to the backburner. I promise faster updates from now on. Enjoy Chapter Three!
October 16, 2044
She could have sworn that walk in the park leading to an outdoor quickie was real when she woke up sitting in the middle of their bed. Correction: her bed. "No, screw that," she shook her head. "If that is going to happen here, it will always be our bed."
She glanced at the clock. 7:00am. "Shit," she jumped out of bed. "I am going to be late for class."
As she brushed her teeth with the shower running she thought to herself, "This was a bad idea to make my one class a morning class."
On her way through the living room, she said "Okay. It is time to really clean you up later today."She sighed, "I'm officially talking to myself," she sighed as she made her way into the kitchen and made her coffee on the Keurig.
Ten minutes later, she stepped out of the house, her bag over her shoulder, her blonde hair flowing in the breeze. Her green travel mug in her hand. She waved at the barn manager on her way to the SUV.
"Good Morning, everyone," she said as she hopped in.
"Morning, Ma'am," the detail answered her in unison as they pulled out of the driveway.
She watched the roadway she knew so well pass by as they made their way to UVA. It had been about month and half since Henry passed and the golden yellow leaves of fall were starting to make their way through the green. The nights were chillier but the days remained warm. She was starting to settle back into life although she missed him more every day.
"Celeste, we are a little late. So, a quick pass by my office and then to class, okay?" she made sure her agent was aware of the change for the morning.
They raced down the hallway with some students greeting her with a "Good Morning, Madam President" others too afraid to say anything.
"Morning, Blake!" she smiled at her longtime assistant, as she strode into their office space, he glanced up at her noticing that her confidence was back.
"Morning! You're late!" he smirked back at her and tilted his head to her office.
She gave him the side eye and made her way into the office.
As she opened the door, she was greeted by a small, yellow Labrador puppy, with the cutest floppy ears and the most soulful brown eyes. Her front paws up on Elizabeth's legs begging for attention.
"What the? Where did you get this dog?" she glared at Mike who was sitting in the chair in front of her desk. He turned to look at her, "Mike, we have been through this before," she was admonishing him. "This better be yours."
He got up from the chair. "No, no…not mine this time. She's yours AND Henry bought her from a breeder before he passed. She was ready for pickup yesterday. He gave me that task because I am the lucky friend left behind." She just stared at him as she crouched down to the dog.
"I know! Not the normal way you get dogs. We all remember you are the rescue type, so who knows why your dedicated husband forgot that fact!" he quipped.
She knelt down to her. "She's gorgeous," she smiled as the puppy jumped up at her to kiss her face.
"All AKC Yellow Labrador," he handed her an envelope. She took it from him and threw it on her desk stacked with papers dropped off for her to grade. She went back to petting the puppy and watching her run around her office.
Mike B. just stood there holding the second envelope waiting for it to catch her eye. His gray hair was getting whiter than she had last seen him. He was smiling truly enjoying watching her try to figure out how she was going to do this.
She looked back at him and said "You should have brought her to the farmhouse. What am I going to do with her here while I teach?"
"Blake likes dogs," he joked. It was then she saw the second envelope with her name in his handwriting.
"What's this?" she asked.
"Probably some mushy love note from heaven that I don't want to know about."
She took it out of his hand abruptly and glared at him.
"Well, I have to get back to DC. Enjoy your day!" he hugged her and walked out.
"BLAKE…." She called out to him for help.
It would be several hours and a lot of trips outside to pee before Elizabeth and the new puppy arrived at home. As they walked into the house, she said to her "I can tell you one thing, we are getting rid of this pink leash and collar. Who put that on you?"
Elizabeth sighed as she looked around at every thing she needed to change for this new life of hers. She took out her phone as the puppy ran around looking to get into whatever she could.
Family Group Text:
Patrick: (The first of Alison's 20 years old twins- the funny one) "Gram, did you get a dog?" Followed by a bunch of laughing emojis.
Eliza: (The oldest grandchild, pregnant with their first great-grandchild) "She's so cute. What did you name her?"
"Crap. I have to give her a name. Ugh!" She tossed her head back. "Maybe I should let the kids name her?"
Suzanne: (The second of Alison's twins – the serious one and UVA student) "Why am I just finding out about this here? I can't believe you left campus without letting me meet her."
Elizabeth: "No, I did not. Your grandfather did as a gift to me. She is cute and needs a name. You were in class all day. I wasn't pulling rank and pulling you out of class to meet a dog. I saw your GPA is and you need to work a little bit harder on it versus the partying."
Jason: "Ohhhh. That's rough. Way to go, Suzie!"
Alison: "Jason, stop! It's not funny. I am paying the bill."
Jason: "Correction. A smaller tuition bill because of who she is."
Alison: "Sorry your son was too stupid and went to Harvard over UVA and cost you way more money! Oh wait…like father, like son."
Elizabeth: "Alright. Stop bickering and let's get back to this dog."
Elizabeth looked down at the whimpering, puppy realizing she had no food for her.
Stevie: Just a bunch of laughing emojis.
"Great! I thought she was going to be my helper since she always has been," Elizabeth said out loud or now to the dog.
Elizabeth plopped herself down in the armchair in the corner of the living room and pulled the dog onto her lap.
Suzanne: "Grammy, text me a list of what you need. Kristie and I will go get it and be over in an hour or so. Also, let's get take out."
"Now, we're talking!" Elizabeth looked at the dog.
She sent off the list and pulled out Henry's letter.
Hey Babe,
Okay, don't be mad at Mike B. He's just the messenger here. But, I figured by now you are probably talking to yourself and feeling a little more lonely. So, surprise, I got you a dog to keep you company.
"Damn it, Henry. You know me way too well," she said out loud.
I hope she is really cute and wins your heart like Lady and Hope did. Don't forget to put a bell on the door for her training so she won't go in the house. And she needs to go out every hour. Don't worry. It will only take a few weeks and then the hard stuff will be over.
I chose her because I knew she would be a smart, gorgeous blonde and will love the horses. So, she's basically just like you.
"Oh Henry. So lame," she laughed.
As for her name, choose something that is a happy reminder of us. She will fill your days away from me with happiness and love. So don't choose something sad. Take her to work with you. The students will love her. But, make Suzanne come and walk her. She needs more purpose in her life and it ensures she will visit you.
Keep her with you always but don't let her on the furniture in Georgetown. That is if you haven't sold Georgetown yet.
I love you!
Henry
"Why does everyone think I am selling Georgetown?" she said out loud, the dog woke up and jumped down off of her lap. "You need to go out, don't you? Let's go find you a spot."
She put the letter on the end table and walked away.
Outside the sun was beginning to set at the new earlier hour, which everyone on the East Coast hated. It was all orange and pink giving the sky a beautiful glow. She looked down away from it while the puppy found herself a corner just up against the white picket fence in the back and went to the bathroom.
"Oh you ARE smart. Let's make that your spot," she couldn't help but look back up to the sky. It reminded her of a certain sunset.
They sat on the beach after a dinner of burgers and fries at the dive bar nearby. She was nestled in front of Henry. Her legs bent up as her toes dug into the sand. His legs outstretched on either side of her. His hands wrapped around her cradling her stomach….where their first child had now taken up residence. They just found out that morning they were going to be parents after she missed her last two periods and was not feeling well at all.
"This is the best spot on this beach," she lamented to him. "We should claim this as ours!"
"Always the conqueror," he joked as she swatted his leg.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked as they both just laughed it off.
The sky made it's way from orange to the slightest pink without any blue in sight.
"A girl…" Henry replied quietly in her ear.
"Well, if that sunset isn't telling us our fortune, I don't know what will. That is spectacular," she leaned back into Henry taking in all the beach scent of sand and water. They sat in silence until it started to get dark.
The puppy pawed at her leg as Elizabeth stared off into the memory. She came back and looked down at her, squatting she scratched her under her snout and petted her head to behind her ears, "Sunny! That's your name."