by Tonya Kappes
“Oh no.” I looked at my scraped-up hands and down at the rip in my jeans. “Now I definitely have to go to the boutique. Lemons to lemonade,” I said the mantra I’d adopted since I’d gotten divorced.
I picked up the bike and hobbled back to the cabin. It was a typical old log cabin that no one wanted. Of course they didn’t. It had the old knob and tube wiring that had to be changed out to meet code and there was not any type of regular walls or concrete. It was logs laid upon logs. The realtor assured me the potbelly stove was perfect for cold winter nights and to warm the chilly mornings.
The front porch happened to be my favorite place and was what really sold me—besides the cheap price tag. Aunt Maxi had several rental houses and over the years had accumulated furniture so I was happy when she gave me the key to her storage unit and let me pick out anything I wanted.
The two rocking chairs my grandfather had made were a perfect addition to the cabin. I’d even taken a couple of her outdoor pillows and placed them on the rockers for a warm feel. They were deep brown ladder-back style and so comfortable. The inside was one big room with a combination kitchen and dining room. The bathroom and laundry room were located on the far back right. There was a set of stairs that led up to one big room that was considered the bedroom. The natural light from the skylights and the large window in the bedroom really made the room inviting. After I’d added the white iron bed suite from Aunt Maxi’s storage unit and a few quilts she’d had stored, the bedroom was cozy and perfect for me.
As much as I wanted to stay and snuggle up for the evening with a good book, I’d told Louise I’d meet her and I was a woman of my word. I quickly changed into a pair of yoga pants that I’d bought for the sole purpose to do yoga, but that never happened.
Maybe with the new studio going in Honey Springs, I might go see what yoga was all about. It wasn’t the idea of the exercise or flexibility that sounded good to me, it was the stress free environment that I’d heard all about that made me want to take the classes.
I grabbed my car keys off the counter and locked up the cabin before I headed out of town to meet Louise.
The Pet Palace was on the north end of town, so I took the side roads instead of going through town, though I did need to go to the grocery store before the Honey Festival this weekend. It wouldn’t be good if I ran out of supplies at The Bean Hive.
There wouldn’t be any time tonight to head into town and get what I needed, besides, making a list tomorrow while I was at the shop would be best. I’d sure forget something if I tried to go off my memory.
It didn’t take long to drive to the Pet Palace.
It was on a large piece of donated land that sat on a hill. The property was fenced in and the building looked fairly newer than the old metal building that I remembered. It was a welcome sight because on my way over, my stomach was in knots from just anticipating what condition the shelter might be in.
A smile crossed my lips as I read the sign at the entrance. All creatures welcomed and loved.
Isn’t that how we all should live? I parked next to the building. Louise came outside and greeted me with a wave and a smile.
“This looks brand new.” I couldn’t help but notice the view. The spring sun was setting and sprinkled an orange glow over the fields.
In a couple of the dog runs, a few of the bigger dogs ran and jumped and played. Their wagging tails were enough to tell me how happy they were. There were about ten people working in the various fields closest to the building.
“We had a new building donated about a year ago. We’ve been very happy with it.” Louise gestured for me to walk ahead of her down the sidewalk toward the front entrance. “Didn’t you come here once or twice with Maxine when you were a little girl?”
“I was just trying to think about that. I remember coming once and Aunt Maxi took home an orange tabby.” I smiled from the memory. “I remember holding that cat all the way home.”
“Matilda.” Louise’s eyes lit up. “She was an old cat that found us. Maxine said she had a heart for the elderly animals.”
“I know that Aunt Maxi seems a little hard hearted, but she’s got a heart for every creature, even the two-legged humans.” I walked into the warm comforts of the building.
The inside was painted a warm brown. There was a gas fireplace in the middle of the room with a couple of couches placed in a box shape, a rug in the middle with a coffee table sitting on top.
“You’re going to put me out of business before I get started,” I said and pointed to the coffee bar up against the wall, only half joking.
“You know as well as I do that people commune over a cup of coffee. We love the smell too.” She winked and motioned for me to follow her to the other side of the fireplace where the business part of the Pet Palace took place.
The laminate grey countertop was in an “L” shape and behind it was a couple of different chairs pushed up to the counter in front of a couple of computers. Behind those were file cabinets.
“Roxanne, this is Stewart Roof. He’s been with me for about ten years now.” She introduced me to an older gentleman with black hair combed neatly to the side.
“Hi, Stewart.” I shook his hand.
“Roxanne owns the new coffee shop on the boardwalk. The Bean Hive. Isn’t that cute?” Louise wrinkled her nose. “You really need to go in there. And take your grandchildren.”
“So you are Maxine’s niece?” There was an excitement in his voice.
“Yes, sir.” I could tell by his smile that he was fond of Aunt Maxi.
“She’s very happy that you’ve come back to Honey Springs. I mean, I know you never lived here but for a few summers but she talks all about those fun summers.” He put his hands in his pockets. “She’s a character, your aunt.”
“Yes, sir, she sure is.” I smiled.
“I’m going to take Roxanne back to look at a few dogs. She needs a companion.” Louise grabbed a set of keys off of a hook behind the counter.
“Watch out. They will steal your heart,” Stewart called after us before we walked through another door.
“That’s what I hope,” Louise suggested.
“By the way,” Stewart said and handed her a sticky note, “Drew and Mari are going to be able to pick up an extra volunteer night starting in a couple of weeks.”
Louise looked at the note and then back at Stewart. There was a question that hung between them.
“She said something about Drew saying he needed some much needed time off and how the animals make him happy or something.” Stewart shrugged and went back to typing on the computer.
Louise walked ahead of me, clearly in deep thought as she fumbled with the key pad to get into the kennel area of Pet Palace.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. I love the new remodel.” I broke her train of thought.
“You know, Maxine loves to come here.” She snapped back into the present and held the door open for me.
“She still volunteers regularly?” I asked.
“Every week. Even though Maxine and Alexis have their differences, they are a good team.” She opened the door and had me step through before she shut it behind us. “All the craft girls have really stepped up and helped out. Everyone has a partner. Bunny and Mae Belle also work together.”
“You’d think they were all enemies the way they talk.” I looked down the long hallway.
“They are harmless old women like me. Nothing better to do than pick at each other.” She winked and took a few steps forward.
The kennel part of the Pet Palace was the typical setup. The floor was concrete which was normal for spills and accidents. The chain-link gates ran along each side of the narrow hallway. I didn’t even have to walk down the hall to know that little round eyes were going to be looking at me. It was heart wrenching to see them without a warm home where they would be cuddled and loved, though I could tell by the big fluffy beds, stuffed animals, bowls full of water, and overflowing food bowls that Louise and h
er staff did take care of them. Still, I believed all creatures should be loved and cared for.
“Do you know what type of dog you might want?” Louise asked.
“I wasn’t even sure I wanted a dog until you said something at The Bean Hive.” I really hadn’t thought about a dog, but she was right. I needed not only a companion, but a security system that I could afford.
She took her time as we walked past each cage. All the dogs I passed jumped or sat there. I stopped in front of a poodle.
“That’s Sassy.” Louise put her hand through the gate and Sassy snubbed her nose up at Louise. Sassy put her head down into the food bowl. “See what I mean?”
I laughed. “Yeah, she’s adorable, but maybe not the watch dog I’m hoping for.” I chewed on a passing thought. “I wonder if you and I can partner up and maybe have a fundraiser on the boardwalk. I know that I don’t bring in a lot of business. This weekend is the grand opening for the boardwalk’s new opening. I’m assuming there’ll be a lot of people coming down. You can set up some cages on the boardwalk in front of The Bean Hive and I’ll serve free coffee to everyone.”
“You are a genius!” Louise clasped her hands in delight. A high pitch yip come from a couple of cages down. “First, I think there is someone who is anticipating meeting you.”
We walked down past a couple more cages and there was a little Schnauzer jumping to high heaven. When I bent down to get a look at the little guy, he sat down, his small tall wagging a mile a minute.
“This is Pepper. He’s a little high-strung.” Louise bent down next to me. Louise put a hand out. Her face reddened. “Umm. He usually stops when you put a hand out. He’s very excited.”
Pepper was a little curly and could stand a haircut. His ears stood up. He was more silver than black. His round beady eyes stared at me even when Louise was petting him. He was focused on me. His tongue dropped out of his mouth while his back end shook with excitement.
“Pepper,” I said and he jumped up. “Sit, Pepper.”
He sat.
“Does he know tricks?” I asked.
“Not that I know of. Pepper’s owner is in the military and got deployed. That’s how we got him. He’s a sweet boy and very vocal so I’m not sure how he’d do with customers if you wanted a companion at work.” It seemed that Louise was trying to discourage me from taking him. “We try to make the best match possible and Pepper requires a lot of play and walking. Not so much sitting and hanging out.”
“So you’re thinking he’s not a great match for me?” I questioned her.
“I think you should look around,” she hedged.
I put my hand in the cage and Pepper jumped back up. He rubbed his right side down my hand for a good scratch, turned around and rubbed his left before he smelled my hand and licked it. He sat down and put his head on my hand. His big round black eyes stared right into my soul.
“Unless you’d like to see him?” Louise asked with hesitation.
“I’d love to see him,” I said and backed away from the cage, giving her space to open it.
Pepper bounded out and jumped on me.
“Down, Pepper,” Louise snapped her fingers.
“It’s no problem.” I giggled at the cute four-legged sweetheart and sat down.
He eased into my lap and gave me a couple of kisses on my face before he sat in my lap and curled up into a ball.
“That’s amazing.” Louise bent down and looked at him. “He’s never been this calm when someone asked to see him.”
“He seems great to me.” I ran my hand down his back. “With a good haircut and some good loving, I think we are a perfect match.”
“Are you sure?” Louise’s brows formed a “V”. An unsure look clouded in her eyes. “I don’t really like to place an animal and then have it not work out. Trial period maybe?” Her brows rose.
“Nope. I think we are a good match.” I picked Pepper up and cradled him in my arms and stood up. “Pepper Bloom.”
Louise laughed. “Okay. We can head up front and do the paperwork if you are sure.”
“I’m positive.” I snuggled Pepper close to me and he nuzzled his little whiskered face in my neck, giving me a little tickle. My heart soared. It sang a happy tune that I’d not felt since I’d decided to open The Bean Hive.
“About that fundraiser,” Louise started to make plans about our idea of the joint venture. “I’ll do the advertising and you just make the coffee.”
With a few details nailed down about the fundraiser and some signatures signed on Pepper’s adoption papers, Pepper and I were in the car and on our way home.
Five
“What is he doing here?” I asked Pepper.
My headlights pierced the darkness and made a spotlight on my cabin’s porch where Patrick Cane was sitting in one of my rocking chairs. He used the toe of his boot to rock himself back and forth in a slow and fluid motion. I got out of the car. “Shouldn’t you be home at this hour with your wife and son?” I asked and walked around the car to open the passenger door to get Pepper out of the car.
“Wife and son?” he scoffed, walking down the steps of the porch. “I didn’t know you had a dog.”
“You don’t know anything about me.” I put Pepper on the ground and he immediately scurried over to Patrick. “Traitor.”
“What a cutie. What’s his name?” he asked and picked up my new furry watch dog.
“His name is Pepper and he’s supposed to be keeping me safe from intruders like you.” I pointed out and grabbed the adoption bag from the back seat.
Louise had put in some dog food, some treats, and a couple of toys she insisted Pepper liked. Pepper liked to be loved on and he liked to lick from what I could see.
“He knows I’m a good man.” Patrick glanced up at me and so did Pepper. “You just get him from Louise?”
“I did. She thought, or Aunt Maxi thought, I needed a dog.” I didn’t admit it but they were right. In the short time it took me to drive from the Pet Palace to the cabin, my heart was filled with a flutter and joy with Pepper next to me. “Why are you here?”
“And not home with my imaginary wife and kid?” he laughed and put Pepper back down on the ground. He pulled out the pocket knife his grandfather had given him. He’d carried that thing as long as I’d known him.
In fact, I don’t think he ever took it out of his jeans pocket.
He flipped it out and started to pluck the dirt from the soles of his boots.
“I saw you leave the boardwalk with a little boy and woman.” There wasn’t any need to hide the fact that I knew he was married. It did me no good.
“Roxy,” his lips turned up. He seemed to be enjoying my reaction. He closed the pocket knife and put it back in his pocket. “You’ve been watching me?”
“Umm. No,” I said flatly. “You were in front of my shop.”
“If it’s any of your business. I’m not married. That was my sister-in-law and nephew, both of whom I’m very close to since Tim’s passing.” His voice trailed off.
“Oh, gosh.” A lump formed in my throat. “I’d heard about Tim getting killed in Iraq. I’m so sorry. I’m being a jerk. It’s just the last time I . . .” I stopped and tried to swallow the lump.
“The last time we saw each other was when you were here last. We were eighteen. Have you talked to Crissy?” he asked.
“No. I left everything behind that year. Including Crissy.” I stared at him and wanted to keep that night out of my mind like it’d been for years.
Here I was, standing in the very town I thought I’d left behind. I needed to find Crissy and see what she was up to. Though I wasn’t going to lie that I wasn’t a bit unhappy that he wasn’t married.
“Why are you here? Not to reminisce or gloat that I’m divorced. Or fix the tire on my bike.” I pointed to the bike with the new wheel. “Or do you keep spare bike tires in your truck?”
“Actually, I do.” He shrugged. The lines around his eyes that made him look so mature deepened as his smi
le grew. “Bike is still the number one preferred mode of transportation around here. Does the flashlight work?”
That was one thing I do remember vividly about Patrick. He was always smiling.
“Of course it does.” I laughed. “At four a.m. it’s still dark out. It comes in handy.”
“Four a.m.?” he asked with an exhausted tone and ran his hand through his hair.
“I’m up anyways. My mind is still not wrapped around what my life has become.” I wasn’t going to sugarcoat anything. Divorce was painful no matter where on the love scale Kirk and I were. Truly we never seemed to be in love at the same time. Still, I never imagined I’d be divorced by age thirty.
“I’m not going to say that I told you so about him.” There was displeasure in his voice.
“What?” I asked, wondering what he was talking about.
“Nothing. It doesn’t matter. Anyways, your aunt hired me to come look at your wiring since this place hasn’t been lived in for at least twenty years. She said something about knob and tube. That’s against code.”
“I don’t need you to look. I’ll get my own contractor. In fact, Louise has someone that built her new building that I can call.” Patrick Cane wasn’t getting anywhere near my house or my life.
“That was my company.” He shrugged and that little grin came back on his face. “I’m the only contractor behind Cane Contracting.”
“Why on earth doesn’t that surprise me?” I muttered and patted my leg for Pepper to follow me up the stairs.
There was a gleam of interest in his brown eyes. “Regardless, why not let me take a look?”
I chewed on the corner of my lip.
“It’s been over ten years since I’ve seen you.” He looked down where Pepper had decided to pop a squat next to him.
“Twelve.” It’d been twelve years since I was eighteen and the last summer I’d spent in Honey Springs.
“Twelve years.” His face split into a wide grin. “You were eighteen.” The smile grew bigger. He put his foot up on the step and leaned on his bent knee with his elbow. “You were so mad at me. You had on those cutoff shorts and that white tee shirt I’d won you from the strong man hammer game at the festival.”