Cruz looked tall, dark, and dashing as he pulled out a chair for Steph at the small table in the back corner that had been held all evening. Nora poured two glasses of Steph’s favorite wine and took them to the table.
Steph smiled at Nora as she approached. They greeted one another, then Nora gave Steph one of the glasses of wine.
“Thank you,” Steph said. She swirled the wine and took a sip. “You brought my favorite.”
“Of course.” Nora shifted toward Cruz and offered the other glass. “If you’d prefer a beer or mixed drink, I’m at your service.”
Cruz’s lips curved ever so slightly. “I’ll have what the lady is having,” he said, sending Steph a look of sheer adoration.
He was so sweet. If Nora could find a man like him, maybe she would rethink her all-men-are-scum stance.
She chatted with Steph and Cruz, attempting to figure out whether they were dining as friends or if they were on a date. Their talk was casual, but the looks they gave each other were smoking hot.
“What are Davey and Ben up to?” she asked Cruz, hoping he would ease her lingering anxiety.
“They went out on the lake, then headed to Knoxville for go-karts and paintball,” he said. “When I talked with Davey earlier, it sounded like they were having fun.”
Relief washed through Nora.
“Now they’re having dinner with Cee-Cee and AJ,” Cruz said.
Great…her nephew was out on the town with the losers from the hot tub. Unease poked at her gut. “Who are they?”
“NASCAR friends of Davey’s.” Cruz took a slow sip of his wine. “AJ and Davey raced together as teenagers in Alabama. Now AJ races in the Monster Energy series along with Davey. Cee-Cee races trucks.”
“I wasn’t impressed with them earlier today.” The words popped out before Nora could stop them. Not that they weren’t true, but she didn’t want to insult Cruz.
Cruz just chuckled. “Those boys are all bark and no bite.” He flashed a smile. “Don’t let them give you a hard time. If you get tough with any of them, they’ll back down so fast it’ll make your head spin.”
Nora went back to work and attempted to stay focused in the moment. Thankfully, the packed bar and ongoing drink orders from the restaurant kept her too busy to think about Davey and his infantile friends. For the most part.
“Hey, Nora,” Dan, the nighttime cook, called from the kitchen. “Scott’s out back.” He laughed. “He says he has a special delivery.”
Oh, for God’s sake. “On a Saturday evening?”
Dan shrugged. “Let me know if you need me.”
“Thanks.” She wiped her hands on a towel, then told Anna she’d only be gone for a few minutes. She made her way toward the back grumbling. Reaching for the door, goosebumps raced up her arm, indicating maybe it wasn’t Scott who had come to visit.
She pulled open the door, spotted her grandfather, and leapt into his arms. “Pap!” She smiled into his chest. “You’re the bright spot in my whole day.”
“Hey there, Cupcake.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Thought you could use a little pick me up.”
“You got that right.” She drew back and landed her gaze on his honey-warm eyes, then gave him a quick once-over. He looked amazing. She shook her head. “I still don’t understand how you do this.”
“I can go through the quantum mechanics if you’d like.” Grinning, he brushed two fingers along his ever present gold pocket watch. “Or the mystical aspects. What’s your pleasure?”
She laughed, her heart lighter from her grandfather’s mere presence. “Why don’t I just be grateful that you’re here?”
“That’s my girl.” His lips curved up again. “It’s good to see Ben and his dad connecting.”
“I suppose.” She let out a heavy sigh thinking about Davey and his irresponsible ways.
Pap sat on the edge of the delivery dock and patted the space next to him.
She lowered onto the dock and swung her feet over the edge. “Sorry for being grumpy,” she said, placing a hand over his. “I appreciate you helping me find Davey. It’s just…well….” She paused because she didn’t want to appear ungrateful, but Davey wasn’t who she had hoped he would be.
Pap linked their fingers together. “He’s not what you expected.”
“Not in the least.”
“Sometimes,” Pap said, “the best things in life are the unexpected.”
Nora snapped her head toward her grandfather. “What?” He thought Davey was one of the best things? “You’re joking, right?”
“No. You’ll see.” He winked at her. “For now, remember he’s doing the best he can right now.”
What the heck? Annoyance swept in, forming a knot in her chest. “What does that mean?”
“He has nearly ten years to catch up to.” Pap put his arm around her shoulder. “He didn’t have the best role model with his own dad so he might need a little help.”
With tears of frustration glistening on her lashes, Nora rested her head in the crook of her grandfather’s arm. She hadn’t had a good role model either, present company excluded. Still, she supposed he made a fair point. She had been a part of Ben’s life from the day he’d been born, but Davey had no experience with children.
“You’ve been a godsend for Ben,” Pap said. “And he’ll always need you.” With those words, the knot in Nora’s chest loosened. “But he needs his daddy too. Ben’s happy now, so give him this time. As for Davey, remember what I said and be patient. Now,” he said, rising and extending a hand.
After he helped her up, he hugged her tight. “I have to run and you have to get back to work.” He kissed the top of her head. “See you around, Cupcake.”
Later that evening, Nora went to bed with her grandfather’s words swirling in her head. He’s doing the best he can. She would think on it, dream on it, and try her darndest to give Davey the benefit of the doubt.
Chapter Seven
On Sunday morning, Nora was baking chocolate chip cookies when she heard a dog bark. As the barking intensified, she slid the last tray of cookies into the oven, wiped her hands on her apron, and made her way to the back porch.
Peering through the blinds, she gasped. A chubby ball of fur had lodged its head in between the patio deck rails.
“Oh, you poor thing,” she said, unlocking the door and rushing outside.
The dog whimpered and moaned as he thrashed about. Concerned that he would break his neck with his flailing, she knelt in front of him. He stopped for a quick beat to give her a doleful look and then went back to flailing.
She put her hands around his face. His eyes were the same light gray as her beloved childhood Pitbull, Astro. When she looked into the depths of his eyes, her heart skipped a beat. His aura felt like Astro’s and it seemed like he was trying to communicate with her. But he had worked himself into such a tizzy over his predicament that he was unable to do so.
She gently popped his head out of the railing. Flopping onto the deck next to her, the dog gazed at her, his large eyes beaming hope. He had a shaggy white coat except for a large splotch of gray extending from his belly up the left side of his face.
He was killing her. She would love to have a dog. For Ben, and for her too. But they were renting and she wasn’t sure how Steph would feel about a dog. Besides, they didn’t have a fenced in yard and she wasn’t sure she could afford one right now.
She rubbed his neck—no collar or tags—then eased onto the floorboards with the dog in her arms. He—she lifted his leg to check, yep, he—sagged in between her legs, loose and limp…and disconcertingly quiet. She lifted his chin, gazed into his eyes, and connected with him.
It’s me, the dog said telepathically.
Gasping, Nora touched her head to his. “Astro?” she whispered, as shock and awe, love and gratitude rushed through her.
The gray and white pup bobbed his head up and down, nuzzling his soft, fuzzy forehead against hers. Told you I’d come back.
A tear of
joy slid down her cheek as she flashed back in time. She’d found the tiny Pitbull pup on the roadside shortly after her Pap had died. She had fought her mother tooth and nail to keep him and had worked whatever jobs her neighbors would give her in order to feed and care for him. He had been an angel with paws, guiding her through her horrific childhood with unconditional love. He’d lived for over ten years, until one day out of the blue he’d told her it was his time. He’d died in her arms, and despite his promise that he’d return one day, she had grieved for over a year.
“You came back,” she sniffled, pressing kisses over the top of his head.
Of course. Can you keep me? Astro’s warm eyes glistened with hope.
“Oh, Astro, yes!” She kissed him again. Her heart floated with joy, light and puffy as the clouds overhead.
Then she glanced at the other half of the duplex, and her heart sank a little. Would Steph be open to a puppy? Nora lifted one of the dog’s enormous paws and sighed. Even worse, a pup that looked like he would grow into a really big dog.
“Why didn’t you come back as a Pitbull?” she asked, rubbing his adorable gray and white belly.
I always wanted to be a sheepdog. He gave her a doggie grin. You know like Sam.
She smiled. Sam, the Kent’s sweet sheepdog, had been enormous. “How big are you going to get?”
Ninety, maybe a hundred pounds. His doggie grin expanded.
Nora pressed a hand to the back of her neck. “We’ll need a fenced in yard.”
He licked a paw, then stared at her expectantly.
Anxiety churned in her gut. “I’ll have to ask Steph.”
Please, she pleaded mentally. She loved living in the duplex and being neighbors with Steph, but now that she was reunited with her beloved Astro, there was no way she could give him up.
“Ask me what?” Steph said, stepping outside.
Nora turned with the pup in her arms. All of the sudden he became a normal dog again, whining, woofing, and thrashing about.
Steph laughed. “Ah, a puppy.” She sat down next to them and Astro 2 licked her face. “You’re a cutie-pie.” Steph rubbed his head, then glanced at her. “Where did he come from?”
“I found him,” she said.
No, silly. Astro 2 gave her a look that said she knew better. I found you.
“Astro, I’m talking to Steph,” she said before thinking, and then with warm cheeks flicked her head toward Steph. “Um….” She trailed off, unsure of how to tell her friend that this was her former dog without sounding like a nutcase.
But her worries were for naught.
“This is your Astro?” Steph asked, without disdain, and just like Hud, without even a tad of disbelief. “You sure it’s him?”
Nora was so stunned at Steph’s easy acceptance, all she could do was nod. After a long moment, she cleared her throat and found her voice. “It’s him. We connected.”
Steph bent down and kissed Astro 2 on the head. “What a good boy, coming back to Nora.”
“If you’ll let me keep him, I’ll put in a fence.” Not that Nora could afford it, but she’d find a way. She glanced up at Steph hopefully.
Astro 2 tipped his head and gave Steph a puppy-dog plea.
“Maybe I could put in some overtime,” Nora said, holding her breath.
Steph rubbed a hand on her arm. “Of course, you can keep him.”
Relief whooshed out of Nora.
Astro 2 licked Steph’s face again.
“It’s his way of saying thank you,” Nora said. “And thanks from me too.” She smiled. “Ben will be over the moon excited.” She squeezed the dog in close and he flopped his head on her knee.
“Anything for my grandson,” Steph said making Nora laugh.
Nora rubbed Astro 2. “You’ll need a new name for your new self. What about Cosmo?”
The dog woofed in response.
“I think he likes it,” Steph said, pushing back a strand of her copper hair. “Cosmos as in the universe, or Astro and Cosmo as in you have a thing for the Jetsons?”
“I love the Jetsons.” Nora scrunched the dog’s face. “But you can’t be as grumpy as Cosmo Spacely.”
Cosmo thumped his tail and gave her an I-got-this look.
“You can keep sweet Cosmo,” Steph said, “but I’ll put in the fence.”
“I can’t let you do that,” Nora said, both surprised and touched by the offer.
“How about you work the bar for me on Thursday night and we’ll call it even?” Steph scratched Cosmo’s ears. “Anna’s heading home for a long weekend and I forgot to find someone to cover.”
“Sure, but that’s hardly even.”
Steph waved off her comment. “I’ve been thinking about putting in a fence anyway to give us more work-home separation.”
Nora nodded in agreement even though she knew Steph was doing it to help her. “Thanks, Steph. You’re an angel. I’ll call Lucas’ dad to see if Ben can stay with them on Thursday night.”
“Or he could stay with me,” Steph offered. “I can never have enough time with my grandson. Besides, he could pop over to check on Cosmo.”
A warm joy blossomed inside of Nora. Her beloved Astro was back. She reached over and pulled Steph into a hug as Cosmo woofed happily in between them.
Steph chopped vegetables for her soup as she watched Nora and Cosmo run gleefully through the back yard. Over the last few weeks, she’d become very fond of Nora. Nora was smart, funny and a hard worker. She’d been a great addition to the OTR team. She’d felt an inexplicable connection with Nora the moment she’d met her. After learning Ben was her grandson—and how wonderful was that?—Steph realized the connection had been a sign from the universe.
She had taken Nora under her wing just like she had with the rest of her employees. They were all more like family than staff. Even so, Nora was different and even more special. Because she was Ben’s guardian, she was almost like a daughter. Steph could acknowledge part of it was that she needed to feel successful as a parent, something she had yet to achieve with Davey. Because Nora yearned for a mother-like figure every bit as much as Steph yearned to be one, they were a good match.
She moved to the stove and dropped the vegetables into the soup. Cosmo’s happy bark and Nora’s laugh carried through the air, making her smile. Nora deserved this happiness. Steph wondered how Nora had turned into the positive, big-hearted woman she was considering the perpetual negativity and constant berating she’d received from her mother.
Another woof sounded, followed by a sharp mew. Taz sat at full attention at the sliding glass doors, his face in a scowl, his tail twitching wildly.
Stepping over, she laughed. “Oh, Taz.” She bent down and rubbed her cat’s head. “Cosmo lives next door now. You’re going to have to get used to him.”
Taz glowered at her with a you’ve-gotta-be-kidding-me-we’ve-lowered-to-a-dog look.
Steph picked up her cat and moved away from the glass. “It’s good for Nora.” She sat down and plunked Taz on her lap. “Don’t worry, he’ll stay on his side of the house.”
The cat broke into a loud purr.
Half an hour later, just as she pulled a loaf of rosemary bread out of the oven, the doorbell rang.
“Come on in,” she called out.
When Nora appeared, Steph pulled off the oven mitts and hugged her. “You’re looking happy.”
Nora grinned. “I still can’t believe Astro is back. Ben’s gonna be so excited. He’d been asking Lynn for a dog for a long time.” A delightful aroma of spices wafted through the air. “Whatever you’re cooking smells delicious.”
“It’s my veggie soup recipe, olive-oil rosemary bread, and that juice we talked about yesterday.”
“Sounds wonderful,” Nora said. “Can I help with anything?”
Steph poured two glasses of juice, containing freshly squeezed lemons and oranges, fresh berries, local raw honey, ginger, and cinnamon. She had created the recipe when she’d lived in Arizona and had been drinking it ever si
nce. Her sister had dubbed it ‘health in a glass,’ but it was delicious too.
She handed the glasses to Nora. “Take these to the table and I think we’re set.”
Nora took the glasses to the table, but instead of sitting in a chair, she flopped onto the floor next to Taz. The cat had taken an immediate liking to Nora which had been unusual. Taz typically wasn’t fond of visitors, but Nora seemed to have a way with animals.
As Steph carried a tray of soup and bread to the table, Nora pressed a hand to her belly and laughed.
“You got it,” she told Taz, then rose, still laughing. “He told me to keep the mangy mutt on my side of the house.”
Steph glanced down at her cat, who lifted his chin in the air and strutted out of the room like a lion. Shaking her head, she sat at the table. Nora took the seat next to her.
Nora sampled everything and declared it all delicious. “Can I have your soup recipe?”
Pleased, Steph nodded. “Of course.”
“And the juice recipe?” Nora took another sip. “This is really good. I bet it’s healthy too.” She put her glass down and angled her head. “You never told me why you became a vegetarian, only that it was for health reasons. Did you just decide you wanted to be healthier?”
Steph put down her spoon. She didn’t like to think about those days, even though she was proud of what she had overcome. She preferred to look forward, not backward, directing her thoughts toward what she desired. But she had grown close to Nora and she found herself ready and willing to share.
“It was after I’d been diagnosed with cancer,” she said quietly.
Nora’s jaw dropped as she gaped at Steph in shock. “Oh my God, Steph.” She reached over and put her hand on top of Steph’s. “Are you okay now?”
Appreciation flooded Steph as she nodded. “Eleven years ago, the doctors gave me one year to live.” Now pride mixed in with the gratitude. “I moved to Arizona with my sister and completely changed my diet and my life habits. I’ve been in remission for nine years now.”
“Wow.” Nora’s voice was full of awe. She squeezed Steph’s hand. “That’s amazing.”
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