“Mimi as in Mimi’s Bakery?” Gran was sitting in a sturdy chair that Hadley’s dad had brought for her, positioned between Hadley’s booth and the dogs, her right leg stretched out on a footstool. The dogs were in reach for her to pet, and her cane was propped up nearby. She wore a wildly flowered dress and bright pink sneakers, both definite signs that she was getting back on her game.
“Yep,” Hadley said proudly. “That’s two dogs so far today.”
“Hadley, that’s wonderful.” Gran patted her on the arm.
Jagger put his chin on top of the pet playpen near Hadley, just to check in. “There’s a young family who might be interested in him too.” She stroked his now-silky fur. “I’ve never met such a sweet dog. He’s really chill and he gets along with everyone. Whoever gets him is going to be lucky.”
Gran raised a pointed brow. “Sounds like somebody’s going back to LA with you.”
Hadley shook her head. “Can you imagine? He’s big as a pony. Kind of looks like one too. He needs more room than I have.”
Her grandmother just shrugged and looked at her with her signature stop BS’ing look she’d known all her life.
“Seriously, Gran. That dog? In the city?” The look didn’t soften. “Just go ahead and say whatever it is you want to say, since I know you’re going to anyway.”
Gran crossed her arms, another sign she was in for it. “It’s obvious to me Darla’s ring has given you no pause to think out of the box in the slightest.”
Okay, she was going to look up Paul’s cell and text him STAT.
“Just because I can’t take Jagger back to LA doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking out of the box,” Hadley protested. “I have plenty of ideas about a rescue. Being downtown brings in a ton of people off the streets who stop in from shopping. And did you know some pet rescues in communities like ours offer beachgoers the opportunity to take dogs to the beach for a few hours? Isn’t that cool? It gives people a chance to get to know the animals. So many creative ideas out there.”
“Well, you’re a very creative person.” Gran patted her knee. After a considerable pause, she asked, “Have you given more thought to pursuing these ideas?”
Hadley shifted the dog on her lap. “The problem is, there’s a difference between doing something that brings you joy and earning a living.”
“You sound like your father,” Gran said. “I love the man but he’s always been a tad too practical for my tastes. No one declared you had to be miserable in your job.”
“I mean, I have an important job, Gran. It pays a lot of money. It’s very stressful.”
“Do you enjoy it?”
“Yes?”
“Yes with a question mark?” Gran made a noise that sounded a lot like a raspberry. “What on earth does that mean?”
“I mean, it’s work, Grandma.” Hadley almost never called Gran that, except when she was irritated. “Work is about financial stability and achieving something and hopefully making the world a better place. Happiness in work is a luxury few people really achieve.”
“You’re absolutely right. However, I prefer to believe work is the way we lovingly contribute to the world. And what we do joyfully, we do well. But I certainly would never put pressure on you to change your life. It’s yours to decide how to spend.” Her grandmother wasn’t going to make this easy. “You sound like you’ve decided what you want.”
“Not really. I’ve sort of been waiting for you to tell me what it is you really want when you’re feeling well and not pressured about doing what other people think you should.”
Her grandma beamed. “I know you want the best for me.” Her eyes were actually misting over. “Because you’re not rushing me to decide.”
“Gran, are you crying?”
She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “When you get older, people want to take responsibility away from you because they think that’s what’s best. I can’t tell you how wonderful it feels to have someone treat me like an adult.”
“I just know how much you love the dogs.”
“You love them, too, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Hadley said. “Of course.”
“Well, I hope you understand when I tell you that as much as I love them, I’m ready to start a new chapter in my life that’s about more than just working.”
Wait. What? “Gran, are you…have you decided to retire?”
Her grandmother sighed. “This little fall of mine was a bit of a wake-up call. It made me think about the things I want to do that I’ve never done. Like travel. Sleep in. Binge-watch TV shows. Sit out in my garden at noon and watch the sun sparkle on the water. Spend time with my great-grandchildren.”
“You don’t have great-grandchildren.”
“Well, I might one day. You never know.” She reached over for Hadley’s hand. “I want you to know I appreciate everything you’ve done to help me. But now you’ve got to decide where your heart is. Because I’ve got to decide what to do with my business.”
Now Hadley’s vision was blurring. “I understand.” At least, she was trying to. She couldn’t quite wrap her head around her grandmother not being inside Pooch Palace, with the dogs. With her.
“I want you to think on what you’ve started here and about what your next steps would be. I just hate the thought of you and Cam fighting. I was sort of hoping you two would find one another again.”
“Well, we’re trying to be friendly. But Cam’s not interested in a relationship. I mean, I’m not interested either,” she rushed to add. “It’s probably not a good idea to try and relive the past. Especially after our history.”
“You both needed to grow up and see the world. So you did. And miraculously, you’ve both ended up in the same place again. Now you have an opportunity to get to know each other again. That’s not reliving the past. It’s getting to know each other as adults.” She seemed to think carefully before adding, “I just want you to be happy, whether you decide to go back to California or stay. I want you to live without regrets, whatever that means for you.”
Hadley had never been more confused. She’d worked so hard to achieve success. She’d made so many sacrifices—of time, of hard work, of pouring her entire self into achieving success.
That’s what it had taken to rise to the top of her field.
To slow down her life and relocate to start a nonprofit from scratch seemed incredibly risky, even foolhardy.
That’s what her brain said. But her heart…
Her grandmother rose slowly and carefully and stretched. “I think I’ll go try some ice cream.” She glanced across the grassy aisle to where Paul was passing out treats. “While you sit here and stare at Tony.”
“Gran!”
“Yes?”
“That’s unfair. I’m not staring at him. I’m just…hungry. For…um…pretzel balls.” Right.
“Oh, okay. But just to let you know, he’s been staring at you, too, when you’re not looking.”
Kit returned, Ollie in one arm, a plate of pretzel balls in the other. “Here you go, everybody.” She held the plate out so everyone could take one. “I’m going to have such a great night out next week. This was totally worth it.”