She started back down the trail, her pace a little quicker that time. Yes, she would get in touch with Lumi. She decided that the conversation warranted more than a phone call. Neither she nor Lumi was very skilled with phones anyway. At some point in the near future, she was going to have to go to Finland.
Chapter Twenty-Four
ISAIAH
Isaiah entered the lobby a few minutes before six, preparing to eat in the Emerald House restaurant. Ash had extended an invite for dinner, and he had accepted without hesitation.
Holly appeared beside him and looped her arm through his before he could enter the restaurant. “Not in there,” she said with a grin.
Isaiah raised an eyebrow and walked with her through the front door.
“We have a little tradition here of ordering to go then eating in the gazebo in the back gardens. Seemed like the perfect night for it now that it’s warmed up so much.”
“Yeah. What’s with that? Is that normal for here?”
“Actually—”
But Holly stopped speaking as they rounded the corner to see the gazebo, which was lit up bright with white lights. Ash was already inside it, setting the table. He moved slightly to the left, and Isaiah’s heart rate kicked up as he spotted Sofia.
“Sofia thought it would be funny to surprise you,” Holly whispered, apparently noticing the expression on his face, which he thought he had masked. “She likes to keep people on their toes.”
Isaiah barked out a laugh. “I’ve noticed.”
Holly grinned, seeming to relax at his reaction. He followed her up the few steps, shook hands with Ash, then turned to Sofia.
“So, is this you welcoming me into the fold? Letting me in on an Emerald Hollow tradition?”
Sofia scowled, but there was a twinkle in her eyes. “Don’t be too excited. We’re making you do all the dishes.”
“Not true,” Holly said quickly, though she was smiling too.
They all took a seat, Holly next to Ash and Isaiah and Sofia across from them. Ash began to open the picnic basket and pull out the food, which Isaiah thought smelled amazing. He couldn’t get enough of the food at the Emerald House. Ash gave Holly a quick kiss on the lips as he set a roll in front of her.
“So, how long have you two been together?” Isaiah asked.
“Oh, they’re not together,” Sofia said.
Isaiah nearly choked.
Ash took a roll and threw it at her. “Geez, Sof. Don’t you think the man has been through enough without you ribbing him? Sorry, Isaiah. She learned all that in the military.”
“You were in the military?” Isaiah turned toward her, sensing an opportunity. He’d been curious about her personal life for weeks, but their conversations had always remained surface level, Sofia deflecting most of his questions with humor and sarcasm.
“Yep.” Sofia didn’t make eye contact with him as she pulled the roll out of her lap and placed it on her plate. “Six years.”
“Which branch?”
“Air Force.”
“Were you a pilot?”
Sofia laughed. “You say Air Force, and people automatically assume pilot. No. I was enlisted. Working dog handler.”
Isaiah’s eyebrows rose, and something flickered in the back of his memory.Didn’t she say something about having a dog before?“What was that like?”
“I enjoyed it for a while. Those dogs are amazing. I got to keep mine when he retired. He passed away a couple years ago. I haven’t been able to get a dog since.” Her voice was softer than he’d ever heard it, and he wondered if he’d been wrong to ask for details. But before he could shift gears, she spoke again. “Good thing we have Comet around for us all to spoil rotten.”
They all laughed as Comet poked his head up from under the table then, placing his nose squarely in her lap.
