job after job and keep getting denials or ghosted. If I have any chance of getting out of Storm's hair, then I need to get a job and start saving some money.
After sending out a few more applications and checking my email, l find another denial email. Oh, they're nice about it. At least they try to be, but it doesn’t make it any less hurtful. Groaning, I rest my head on the desk, thinking how I'm probably just applying in the wrong field. Maybe I need to switch gears, but I do not really have the energy to do so right now.
"River? What's wrong?" Storm says, stepping into the office doorway.
I should just say nothing and move on, but it seems like he came in at the perfect moment where I just need to unleash on someone.
"Do you have any idea how expensive childcare costs are? So, if I'm going to be making any money at a job, I have to find one that I can work from at home. Most of those include a typing test which I seem to keep failing. But for a job that doesn't include typing, they turn out to be one of those stupid MLM sales jobs. I am not someone who can sell someone anything." I stop to take a deep breath, intending to go on.
"River, you need to stop stressing. I know all of this is a lot to think about. But as long as you’re staying here, I'm going to take care of you. For as long as you need, and for as long as you want." His voice is calm and somehow reassuring.
"I know. But there is even a limit to your generosity. I don't plan on reaching that limit anytime soon, nor do I want to overstay my welcome," I sigh, leaning back in the chair.
"There is no limit, River," he says.
The stare he’s giving me tells me without words that he's serious.
"So, if I wanted to stay here until this kid turns eighteen and graduates high school, you'd let me?" I joke with him trying to prove my point, but he just stares at me as if I should know the answer is yes.
"I mean what I say. So will you please stop stressing about it?" he says gently.
I just nod my head.
"Now, let's get you out of the house for a bit."
Standing quickly, I am immediately excited to see what he has planned.
"Where are we going?"
"Well, I got a call from the animal shelter. They have a dog that they think will do well with my training. Every so often, they call me, so I thought I'd head into town and check it out. But it's also a good time to go and get your driver's license changed from Virginia to Montana."
"Oh, we don't have to do that right now. It seems like it would be such a pain to do it once I move out." I say it because I hadn't even thought about changing my driver's license.
But I also don't miss how Storm shifts on his feet uncomfortably.
"What are you not telling me?" I narrow my eyes at him.
He doesn't look up and make eye contact with me. Instead, he appears to be looking past me.
"Once we get your driver's license settled, that will start your residency in Montana. Fortunately for you, Montana doesn't look too kindly on grandparents' rights. So whatever Jason's parents have in mind with requesting that DNA test, you will have a better chance as a Montana resident than a Virginia resident."
In my heart, I can't bring myself to believe that his parents would be that horrible towards their own grandchild. But it's always better to be safe than sorry, I think to myself. Then my mind starts racing, thinking of what I need to take with me.
"Go get dressed. I already pulled all the paperwork and have it ready on the counter. Everything that we need was in with Jason's stuff, and we've been using it for the military paperwork," he says. Then he steps out of the doorway, letting me pass.
"Thank you." Without thinking about it, I once again place my hand on his arm and look up at him. Offering a small smile, I lock eyes with him.
When he nods at me, I go get dressed. I don't know how he does it, but Storm always finds a way to completely throw me off balance. The worst part is I don't know if he's doing it on purpose or if he doesn't even realize he's doing it.
Knowing I'm going to have to take a photo for my new driver's license, I put a little extra time into my hair and makeup before stepping out of my room. Storm looks up at me when I come into the living room, putting this phone away. But then does a double take, looking at me again. Normally, attention like that would make me uncomfortable, but with him it doesn't, so I just shrug my shoulders.
"Figure if I'm going to have to have my picture taken, I might as well look good."
He grabs the paperwork off the table and before I know it, we're on our way to Whiskey River.
The small little DMV in Whiskey River is nowhere near as busy as the ones I've had to deal with in Virginia. Happily, we are in and out in about an hour.
"Well, I guess it's official. I am now a Montana resident. You know I've never lived in any other state but Virginia my whole life?" I say, staring at my Montana driver's license.
It may have Storm's address on it, but it's that first sign of independence. Kind of like it was when I saw my married name after Jason and I were married.
As we pull into the parking lot of the animal shelter, I put my driver's license away. We are here for the puppy that Storm is looking at, and I'm very interested in finding out what makes a good puppy for him.
The little old ladies at the animal shelter know him as soon as he walks in, and they're all smiles. He introduces me to each of them, but again, I don't remember their names.
"River, Storm here told us about you the last time he was in. He's so excited to be an uncle to your child. We heard what happened to your husband though, and we are so sorry. We wish you were in Whiskey River for better circumstances, but we are darn glad that you're here." The taller of the ladies says before turning and leading us to the back of the building.
"This guy here seems to have some searching abilities. Not only did he track down two of our lunches this week, but when he sniffed out my medications in my purse, he sat on it and started barking," she says.
"Well, it sounds like he's definitely got some experience. What brought him to the shelter?" Storm asks.
"His owner died, and the kids didn't want to or couldn't take him."
"River, you stay out here until I know that the dog's friendly enough for you to be in with him. We don't want him jumping up on your belly." Storm tells me as he enters the room where the dog is waiting for him.
Waiting by the door, I'm able to watch the whole interaction through the windows. He's patient and gentle with the dog who takes his time, sniffing Storm out. But in just a few minutes' time, Storm is petting the dog, and they're acting like their best friends.
Storm comes out of the room with a big smile on his face. "Looks like this guy is coming home with us," he says and brings the dog to the door.
The dog looks at me, sniffs around me and then sits down and stares up at me with what I swear is a huge smile. When I lean down and pet him, he starts doing a little happy dance spinning in circles, trying to lick my hand.
We all laugh because this dog just has the most amazing energy. At one point the dog gets so excited he pushes against my leg, and I get a little off balance falling in to Storm.
I land against his hard chest, and he studies me with a hand on each arm. When I look up at his face, there's something more than just the laughter that was there a moment ago.
"Sorry," I say as I start to pull away.
"No need to be sorry. I'll always catch you," he says in his deep voice, making my heart do a weird flutter.
As we head up front for him to fill out the paperwork for the dog, I take a few deep breaths and try to get those thoughts out of my head. This is Storm, after all, not just some other random guy.
On the way home, I told Storm that I wanted to sit in the back seat with the dog.
"I don't think that's a good idea. What if he gets too excited and bumps into your belly?" Storm keeps a hand on the truck door so I can't even open it.
"I'm a lot tougher than I look. Plus, I think that it's going to be stressful in a new truck not knowing where he's going, so I can be back there to give him a little reassurance."
Storm still looks hesitant, and it’s actually kind of cute.
"I'd rather you sit up front with me," he says. But not with as much determination as last time.
"Storm, I've always wanted a dog. Whenever I thought about the drive home, I knew I wanted to sit in the back. At least let me get the experience of bringing a dog home," I tell him with a smile. Then I gently place my hand over his to open the truck door. This time he lets me.
The dog jumps inside all excited and moves to the far side, giving me plenty of room to get in with him and sit down. Storm makes sure I'm buckled up before he closes the door and gets into his seat.
Carefully, the dog walks over to me, laying down, resting his head in my lap. I’m happy to just sit there petting him. On the drive up the mountain, Storm keeps checking the rearview mirror to make sure everything's okay. But neither of us moves much.
"He needs a name, you know," Storm says when we're about halfway home.
"Let's get back to the cabin and give him have some time to settle in before we name him. Give his personality a chance to shine through."
"Sounds like a plan," he says.
We do just that.
Once back at the cabin, Storm introduces him to the rest of the gang, who seemed to accept him with no questions asked. He snoops around the house and is in and out of every room at least twice before returning right back to my side.
Even through dinner, he lies beside my seat, and when I go to use the bathroom, he sits right outside the door.
"You know, I think a good name for him would be Shadow," I joke as I'm getting ready for bed.
"I think that fits him. He's pretty much been your shadow all day."
"What do you think? Do you like the name Shadow?" I turn and ask the dog. He starts wagging his tail uncontrollably.
"I think that's a yes," Storm laughs.
As I’m getting ready for bed, a few of the other dogs that have been sleeping in my room join us. But Shadow makes it clear that he is the only one laying at the foot of my bed.
"Maybe we shouldn’t let him get used to sleeping in here with you. Because at some point, once the baby's born, you're going to want your space again."
"I don't know. I like having at least one dog in here if not more. It's like my own personal security team," I joke with him.
But he doesn't laugh. Instead, he studies me for a moment like he's reading what I didn't say.
"I think he knows that you're pregnant, and he's being extra protective." He steps into the room to pet Shadow, who eats up the attention. "Are you sure you're all right with him in here?"
"I’m fine with it. If I'm not, I will let you know. I promise."
That seems good enough for Storm because he turns to leave. At the same time, I move towards the bed but trip over one of the dogs. Once again, I end up falling against Storm.
This time, Storm doesn't let me go right away. Our eyes lock, and the mood definitely shifts in the air. Is it my imagination or did he just lean down a little bit? I'm trying to decide, but the next time he moves I'm certain that he did. While I’m trying to figure it out, it’s clear a second later. Suddenly, his lips are on mine, and he's kissing me.
It's a soft kiss. Almost like he’s asking if this is okay. I should move away and put an end to this. But I find I want him to kiss me more. So, I wrap my hand around the back of his neck and pull him in to me. That seems to be enough for him to deepen the kiss before he pulls back, putting quite a bit of space between us.
We are both trying to catch our breath while staring at each other. But we don't say a word.
After a moment, he clears his throat. "Good night, River. Get some sleep." Then he leaves the room, not letting me say a word.
Almost like he doesn't want to hear what I might have to say. Well, that makes two of us. I don't want to talk about the kiss, much less hear that in his opinion, it was a mistake.
Turning off all the lights and getting ready for bed, once again Shadow lays his head on my feet. But it seems neither of us is really going to get any sleep tonight.