CHAPTER 2
Six weeks later.
Mel knocked on the door of Jim's house. He answered, still in his socks, his gaze on the cell phone clutched in his hand. Rufus nudged his leg and whined. He patted the dog absently.
Beyond him, Mel could see into his living room. The TV was on, and from the sound, playing a football game. Warmth wafted from the room, along with the aroma of homemade beef stew. Curling up in there sounds like much more fun than walking in this, she thought glaring at the icy drizzle spitting down from the steel-gray sky.
“Jim, what's up? Are you not walking today?” she asked.
He blinked, shaking his head, and his eyes focused on hers. “Oh, hi, Mel. Yes, I'm walking. Just let me get my shoes on. Um, here, come in,” he urged. “Don't stand outside in the cold until we're ready
