LOGINOliver stands outside, talking on the phone, his voice low and businesslike. Scotty the mini schnauzer rests on his bed nearby, eyes closed in peaceful contentment. Scarlett takes a break from her own pumpkin to decorate one for Scotty, choosing a smaller gourd for the task. She has a stencil shaped like a dog that resembles a mini schnauzer, and the engrossed dog owner traces it carefully before beginning to carve, her tongue poking out slightly in concentration.Oliver returns from his phone call, his expression relaxed again. "It was a work call. Sorry about that," he says, then pauses to observe Scarlett carving a dog into the pumpkin's surface."It's okay. So, everything is fine, then?" Scarlett asks, glancing up briefly. "I am carving a pumpkin for Scotty—I have a stencil that looks just like him. What do you think?" She giggles while examining her work, then looks adoringly over at the real Scotty. The mini schnauzer wags his tail, drinks some water, and studies his own reflect
It is Wednesday at eight o'clock in the morning, and the air still carries the crisp bite of early fall. Scarlett zips up her light jacket and steps outside with Scotty trotting eagerly at her heels, his leash jingling with each bound. The rolling hills stretch out before them, dotted with trees that have turned brilliant shades of amber and crimson, their fallen leaves scattered like confetti across the ground. Scarlett breathes in deeply, savoring the cool morning air and the quiet stillness of the park before it fully wakes.As she rounds the bend near the neighboring lot, a woman emerges from her RV, coffee mug in hand, and offers a warm smile. The two women introduce themselves, their conversation flowing easily as their dogs sniff and circle one another with cautious curiosity. The neighbor, who calls herself Mrs. Johnson, explains that she and her husband have settled in for the winter season, their little dachshund already proving to be a spirited companion. Scarlett watches
Scarlett returns to New Haven, savoring the quiet beauty of the rural RV park. Maple and pine trees scatter throughout the grounds, their branches also lining the fence that marks its border. The wood fence, rustic yet well kept, stretches between vertical posts joined by two horizontal beams. The maples stand vivid with reddish-orange leaves, their color deepening in the early light. Scarlett's blue truck sits parked once more, home at last from the train station lot, its tires still dusted with dirt from the winding road into the park.She steps out and breathes deeply, feeling the weight of a busy weekend finally lift from her shoulders. Though the trip brought its own kind of joy, she finds herself grateful to return to this tranquil setting, where rolling grassy mountains rise in the distance and colorful trees—red, yellow, purple, and orange—blanket their slopes like a quilt stitched together by the season itself. There's a stillness here that the city can never offer, a peace
Scarlett awakens to Scotty licking her face happily, his grey tail wagging with unrestrained joy. She groans and laughs at once, the sound still thick with sleep. Sunlight filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the tangled sheets, and for a moment she simply lies there, savoring the dog's unfiltered affection. "Alright, Scotty, I'm awake," she says, her voice softening as she relents and rubs his chest, then moves to scratch beneath his well-groomed chin. He leans into her touch, eyes half-closed in contentment, and she feels a quiet gratitude settle over her—for this small, familiar ritual, and for the loyal companion who never fails to greet each morning as though it were the best one yet. Scarlett breathes in the aroma of the potpourri resting on the bedside table, cinnamon and apple mingling in a way that evokes a hearty appetite and reminds her that autumn has arrived. The scent carries her back to childhood kitchens and crisp afternoons, and she lingers in the m
Scarlett and Oliver meet in Times Square, where the atmosphere pulses with energy. Towering billboards flash in every direction, their neon glow washing over the crowds below, but the two quickly realize there isn't a single country bar in sight. Still, caught up in the spectacle, they pause to take some photos together, laughing as they try to fit the dazzling lights into the frame.Scarlett's reddish curls bounce under her suede western hat as she shifts and poses, her cheeks flushed from the cold and the thrill of the city around them. Her grey western boots, adorned with glitter and sparkling sequins shaped like angel wings, catch the streetlight with every step. Her burgundy top with its lacey overlay hides beneath her brown leather jacket. The cool night air surrounds Oliver and Scarlett, and he leans closer as if trying to warm her, his hand brushing hers for a moment before he laces his fingers through hers.His plaid western shirt, a mix of orange, brown, and cream, tucks ne
As Scarlett prepares for a day on the lake in Central Park, she glances at Scotty. His coffee-brown eyes soften, and he wags his grey tail in eager anticipation. She checks her phone for the weather. Hmmm, fifties and sixties. Better dress warmly, already picturing the breeze off the water. She rummages through her suitcase, selecting a crème-colored sweater with a lacey overlay, paired with jeans. She peers into a small hat box tucked inside her pink waterproof suitcase, smiling as she chooses a crème-colored cashmere beret adorned with a flower on the side. It was a gift from her mother, one she treasures for the memories it holds as much as its style.She dresses quickly, recalling that Scotty needs a walk. She slips on her tall brown leather boots, which fall below her knees, the leather creaking pleasantly with each step. Scarlett places maple-colored earrings in each ear, pausing to admire them in the mirror; they remind her of the autumn leaves she cannot wait to see blanketin
The rural Connecticut RV park is about an hour train ride from NYC, nestled in a mountain range, rolling mountains filled with various tree species. Maples and Pine are the only ones Scarlett recognizes. The maples are beginning to turn reddish-orange. The early October air, is cool crisp, refresh
Scarlett is sitting in the driver’s seat of her blue super duty truck, on highway 1604, traffic is at a stand still as usual. She glances at the clock on her dash, five-twenty seven in the evening, still daylight out, no sun set in sight. It’s only the beginning of October. We’re supposed to meet a
Scarlett maneuvers through the busy airport, weaving in between people, and retrieves her suitcase. She holds rental car keys in her softened hand, and makes her way to another car, this time a Camaro. A smile forms on her pleased face; admiring the car like it’s an attractive man. A sigh escapes h
Chapter OneScarlett's finger presses on the black button. The camera clicks, as it captures the scenic city view, another honing in on trees, one aiming for the lake with a fountain, water gushing up and out, spilling over. Scarlett’s mind cleanses filling it with flowing water, removing stagnatio







