“Yes, I do. I’ll be there in a jiffy. And I’ll bring you some proof,” he added.
They said good-bye, Audrey thinking that some proof of ownership would be a good thing. She wasn’t normally so picky or formal. But Audrey needed some solid proof before she would hand over Millie to anyone.
Rob came downstairs a few moments later and Audrey explained the call to him. “I can’t see how she could have made it all the way from the village out onto the island. But he was convinced, so I told him to come.”
Rob’s expression was serious. “You did the right thing. But that picture on our flyer was so blurry. Millie probably isn’t his dog. He just misses his dog so much, he wishes it were her.”
Audrey nodded. She hoped that was true. Millie had come inside and now sat under the table. Her fur tickled Audrey’s bare legs. Audrey reached down and stroked her silky head.
She felt very nervous but didn’t want to overreact. In all these weeks, there had not been one call about the dog. This was a total long shot. This old man would come, see the dog, and be disappointed. Which would be sad. But he wouldn’t take Millie with him. Audrey couldn’t even think of that.
A short time later, they heard a car drive up toward the house. Rob got up and walked toward the front door. Millie went with him. Though she wasn’t much of a watchdog, she loved to greet visitors. Audrey followed.
Rob took a leash from a hook near the door, then clipped it onto Millie’s collar. “You said he was old and just got out of the hospital. I don’t want Millie to knock him down,” Rob explained to Audrey.
“Oh, right. Good idea,” she agreed.
Rob opened the door and held on to Millie’s leash. The three of them looked out and watched Leonard Broussard slowly making his way up the walk toward the house. He used a cane and took each step very carefully. He was dressed a bit formally, Audrey thought, in dark pants and a white shirt with a bow tie, even though the day was very warm. His canvas hat with a large brim gave him a rakish, old-fashioned air.
Millie pulled at Rob’s hold and started to whine. Mr. Broussard had come a little more than halfway up the path and now glanced up at them.
“Hello, Sunny girl. It’s me. Do you recognize me? Surprised to see me after all this time?”
Millie gave a low whine, and her tail began beating happily against the porch. She tossed her head back and barked, then tried to run to Leonard Broussard. Rob kept her on a short lead, but it was hard to hold her back.
She always gets excited when she sees strangers and wants to greet them, Audrey reminded herself. But this was a different kind of excitement, a different tone in her bark, even. Audrey couldn’t deny it.
“She remembers me,” Mr. Broussard said happily. “She didn’t forget me.”
Millie tugged on the leash, trying to get down to Mr. Broussard, and Rob had no choice but to be pulled along behind her. He glanced back at Audrey a moment with a “What can I do?” expression. Audrey took a breath and followed. The old man stood still, balancing on his cane, beaming down at the dog.
Rob walked up to him, holding Millie down by her collar.
“That’s okay, you can let her go. She won’t hurt me,” Mr. Broussard insisted.
He bent over so that Millie could see him better. She ran around in excited circles, stopping now and then to lick his face. Audrey watched Mr. Broussard close his eyes, chuckling to himself. The old man was half laughing and half crying as he reached out and took hold of Millie’s large head, petting her fur and then kissing her on the forehead.
“Sunny, my sweetheart. How I missed you. I never thought I’d see this day. I was about to give up …” His words were choked with emotion, and Audrey wasn’t sure if he was talking to them, or the dog. Probably a little of both.
She felt overwhelmed, too. Millie and Sunny were obviously one and the same.
Only Rob seemed to be keeping his head, though he had come to love Millie, too, Audrey knew. “Would you care to come inside and have a cold drink?” he asked. “We can talk more about the dog inside.”
“I would like that very much,” Mr. Broussard replied.
Millie was off her leash now. She followed the group up into the house. They walked back to the kitchen, and Audrey took a pitcher of tea from the refrigerator. When she reached into the cupboard for glasses, her hands shook so badly, she could hardly handle them.
Mr. Broussard sat in a chair at the table, and Millie sat right next to him, pressing her body against his leg and leaning her head back every few minutes, as if to make sure he was really there. Audrey felt her heart breaking. It was so hard to watch this. She felt the loss so keenly.
“Before we go any further, I told you I’d bring you folks some proof that Sunny is my dog. I have it right here.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small plastic bag, wrapped with a rubber band.
There were photos inside, Audrey saw, as he put the stack on the table. “These are some photographs of me and Sunny, from when she was a puppy,” he explained. “Her spots are so distinctive; if you look closely, you’ll recognize it’s got to be her. And me,” he added with a laugh.
Rob picked up the photos as Audrey came to the table. “So you’ve had her quite a few years.”
“Yes, I have. I never wanted a dog,” Mr. Broussard admitted. “But my neighbor’s dog had puppies, and all of them had been given away, except one. They were moving and didn’t know what to do with that leftover pup. My wife had just died and I was grieving,” he added. “I still didn’t want a dog, even though they’d asked me a million times to take her. One morning, I found her in a box at my front door with a note. It said, ‘Keep her or bring her to the pound.’”
Mr. Broussard rested his hand on Millie’s head. “I didn’t like being tricked that way, but what could I do? They had moved away. I meant to bring her to the shelter. I just never got around to it,” he added, laughing. “She was a great distraction when I was so lonely. I couldn’t sink into myself anymore. I had something—someone—to take care of. She made me feel okay again. Like it was worth going on. Just watching her is entertainment. She seems so happy all the time, just to wake up in the morning and go outside, sniffing the smells in the air.”
He looked up at Audrey as if wondering if she understood.
She did understand. She felt just the same about Millie. She was surprised—but not so surprised—at the way Millie had come into Mr. Broussard’s life when he had most needed comfort and encouragement.
Millie had arrived in her life at the right moment, too. That seemed to be her talent. But I still need Millie, she thought desperately. It’s too soon to give her back. I didn’t think I’d ever have to give her back at all.
Audrey reached out and petted Millie’s head. Millie came to her and rested her head on Audrey’s knee.
“You’ve been good to her. I can see that,” Mr. Broussard said. “She looks very well cared for. Thank you so much. I wish I could repay you for your trouble.”
“Not necessary, not at all,” Rob insisted. “We loved having Millie—er, Sunny—with us. Right, Audrey?”
Audrey nodded. “Yes, we love her. She’s a wonderful dog.” She looked up at Mr. Broussard. “Did you teach her all those tricks?”
“She was showing off for you, was she?” He laughed and shook his head. “I did teach her a few. She’s a fast study. It didn’t take much.” He paused as the dog wandered back toward him and nudged his hand with her head, asking for another pet. “I’m so sorry, folks … I can see this is hard for you, too. I didn’t even think of that when I found the flyer and called. I am sorry to cause you any pain.”
He looked up at Audrey. She could see he was sincere. She wished with all her heart it wasn’t so, but there was no way around it. Millie was obviously his dog, and he needed her as much as Audrey felt she did, if not more.
“Thank you for saying that,” she quietly replied. “It is hard to give her back,” she admitted. “We’re going to miss her.”
; “You can come and see her anytime you like. I don’t live far, right in Cape Light, off Main Street. Please come. I’m sure she’ll miss you, too. Here, I’ll write down my address and phone number for you.”
He pulled out a small pad and a stubby pencil from his pocket and scribbled down the information.
Rob got up and began gathering Millie’s things—an extra leash, a few dog toys, her tin dishes, and some dog food—and put them all in a paper bag. They wouldn’t need them anymore, Audrey realized.
Audrey and Mr. Broussard rose, too. Millie was lying on the floor now between them.
“Come on, Sunny. Time to go,” he called. The dog sat up and looked at him expectantly. Then she looked at Audrey, seeming confused.
“It’s all right, Millie,” she said, trying to sound calm, though she felt as if her heart were breaking. Rob slipped his arm around her shoulders as they walked Mr. Broussard and Millie down to his car, and Rob put the bag of Millie’s things in the backseat.
Audrey leaned down and gave Millie one last hug. She was crying openly. She couldn’t help it. Millie sat very still and licked the tears from her face. She looked sad, too, or at least subdued, Audrey thought. Very subdued, for Millie.
But when Mr. Broussard opened the passenger door and invited her to get in, Millie jumped right up in the car and settled herself on the front seat. Rob patted her head through the window and shook hands with Mr. Broussard.
“Good-bye now. Come and see us. I really mean that,” the old man said happily.
“We will,” Audrey replied, though she wondered if she would ever be able to keep that promise. She stood watching Mr. Broussard’s car drive off the farm. Millie looked out the window, her face in the wind, her ears flat against her head.
Audrey wondered if the dog knew what was happening. Maybe she did. She seemed so intuitive.
Rob stood beside her, and she turned into his comforting embrace and buried her head on his shoulder. “I know, honey,” he said. “I know it’s hard to see her go. But what could we do? Millie is his dog. We were just keeping her safe for a little while.”
Audrey couldn’t answer at first. She was crying so hard. Sobs shook her body. It felt like everything had been taken away, all possible hope and comfort. She was already feeling so weighed down about not having a baby and probably having to give up the farm. But at least she’d had Millie, an eighty-pound bundle of love and happy energy. A sweet, blithe spirit. Did she have to lose her, too?
“I know it’s his dog. But it doesn’t seem right, Rob. We love her, too.”
“I know,” he soothed her, patting her back. “Let’s try to remember how happy that old man was to see her again. He’s had some sadness, too. It sounds like he’s all alone and needs her just as much as we do, maybe even more.”
Audrey nodded and took a deep, calming breath. Mr. Broussard did need Millie. He had lost his wife and didn’t mention any children. At least she and Rob had each other. Still, it was going to be hard to get over this. Audrey knew she would miss that silly dog for a very long time.
Chapter Thirteen
“SO when is Daniel getting back? This weekend, right?” Audrey smiled at Liza as she poured them each a glass of lemonade.
“He was supposed to get back this Friday, for the holiday weekend. But now he says there have been delays getting materials. And they have to wait for the property owner to walk through and sign off on the job. That means he’ll probably be up there all of next week.” It was the Monday before Labor Day. Daniel had only been gone a few weeks, but somehow it seemed much longer.
Audrey’s expression was sympathetic. “That must be rough. I’m sure you miss him.”
“I do,” Liza said honestly. “We talk on the phone almost every night, but every time I get off the phone with him, I seem to miss him even more.”
They sat in the shade at the umbrella-covered table next to the farm shop. This final blast of August heat would have felt unbearable if it hadn’t come so close to Labor Day weekend, reminding everyone they ought to savor the last warm days of the season; they would be chilly soon enough.
Liza had just finished cleaning up the inn after the weekend wave of guests and had wandered over to the farm for a quick visit with her friend. She took a sip of the cold, tart drink and met Audrey’s gaze. “I bet you miss Millie. It seems pretty quiet around here now.”
Audrey sighed and tried to smile. “The cats are happy about it. But I think they’re in the barnyard minority.”
She had told Liza the whole story over the phone last week, soon after Millie’s owner had taken her away. Liza knew that it had been very hard to give up the dog.
“It’s only been a week, and one day,” Audrey added. “I keep reminding myself that she was just a dog and worse things could happen, but it’s hard. I still keep finding things that remind me of her—a chewed sock or a dog toy.”
“I’m sorry.” Liza patted Audrey’s hand. “She wasn’t just a dog. She was a wonderful companion. Dogs give such unconditional, unlimited love. They never criticize us or think that we’ve said something dumb. Or disapprove of our outfits—or turn up their noses at our cooking. Of course you miss her.”
Liza didn’t know what else to say. It seemed dumb to suggest that Audrey and Rob get a new dog, not when their living arrangements were up in the air.
Audrey gave another halfhearted smile. “Yes, I know. I’m just trying to keep things in perspective. We definitely have some bigger fish to fry right now.”
“Have you made any decision about the farm?” Liza hated the idea that she might lose her good friends and neighbors, but she always tried to sound positive about their plans. She knew how much Audrey wanted a baby, even if they had to move off the island to make that happen. Liza couldn’t imagine how hard that would be for them. She wanted to support them any way she could.
“Rob and I agreed to keep things status quo until the end of the summer, but it looks like that deadline is creeping up on us. I told Rob he could have a real estate agent come out and look at the place sometime next week. And I’ll see the new fertility doctor in Boston, on the ninth. So things are moving along on that front, I guess.”
“I would hate to see you guys leave here. I don’t even want to think about it. But it doesn’t have to be for good,” Liza reminded her. “You could come back and get another place in a few years. And you can definitely stay at the inn anytime. I’ll give you that big suite on the second floor and I have plenty of baby equipment—”
Audrey laughed. “You have it all planned out, don’t you?”
“I do. I’ll even babysit if you want to go into town for a movie.”
“Babysitting, too? Watch out, we might take you up on that.” Audrey finally smiled again. She sat back and fanned herself with a magazine. “Guess what? I got a special order for bath products from—hold on to your lemonade—Mrs. Nick Dempsey. It came by e-mail this morning.”
“That’s great! I hope she starts a trend on Rodeo Drive.”
“That makes two of us. Let’s face it, it’s been pretty dull around here since the movie people left. Did you see this article about Charlotte?” Audrey reached for a magazine that she had stashed beside the table. “I never buy these magazines, but I saw Charlotte’s photo on the cover and couldn’t resist.”
Liza picked it up and scanned the cover. The celebrity news magazines weren’t her cup of tea either, but she was eager for any news about Charlotte.
“She finished filming the movie they were working on here, A Wandering Heart. She was due to start another right away, but the article says she’s gone home to visit her family for a while, instead … Here, I’ll read it to you,” Audrey offered, flipping to the right page. “‘A spokesperson for the actress has stated that Ms. Miller has returned to her hometown, Greenwood, Ohio, to visit her family. She has not told the press how long she plans to stay, but she has pushed back the start date for her next project by at least two months.’”
“I hope she’s takin
g a break,” Liza said. “From what I could see, she was really feeling the strain—of all the work, the crazy schedules, and the pressure of being famous. Like I said, I’d love the shopping sprees, but not necessarily the rest of it. Can I take this to show Claire?”
“Sure.” Audrey was quiet for a moment. Ice cubes tinkled in her glass. She glanced at Liza. “I wonder if Colin is wearing his hat. It must be cold out on the water this time of year. Where did he go again?”
Liza had told Audrey about the gift Charlotte had left for the fisherman, swearing her to secrecy. Not that Colin had asked her to do such a thing, but it only seemed polite.
“Up to Maine. I think he sailed out of Bar Harbor.”
Liza finished her drink and stood up. It was time to head back to the inn. “Thanks for the lemonade. Do you want to get together for dinner when Daniel gets back? We can do a big clambake on the beach. One last party before it gets too chilly?”
“That sounds great.” Audrey smiled but Liza could see a shadow of sadness and worry in her eyes. She had so much on her mind now.
“Okay, we’ll figure it out. But let me know what’s going on with you guys. Call me after you see the doctor next week, okay? What day did you say it was?”
“It’s a week from Friday, September ninth. They’ll probably just poke and prod me a little more.” Audrey shook her head. “Can you believe it’s almost September?”
Audrey laughed but Liza knew the entire experience was grueling. “You’re such a trouper, Audrey. God bless you.” They shared a quick hug, and Liza headed across the meadow to the inn. She turned and waved to Audrey, then realized that she missed Millie, too. The dog would normally be lying at Audrey’s feet during their visits and then escort Liza across the meadow.
But Millie was gone. Just like that, no warning. The summer had been full of rain and surprises, Liza decided. And it wasn’t over yet.
When she got back to the inn, she found Claire sitting on the porch, shelling peas. They dropped into a metal bowl with a soft rhythmic sound.
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