The Luck of the Paw (An Alpine Grove Romantic Comedy Book 9)

by Susan C. Daffron

  “You seem fine now.” He smiled. “At the moment, your mental health seems better than mine, in fact.”

  “Bipolar disorder does run in families, but over time I determined I was just angry and sad, not clinically depressed or manic.”

  “Given what happened, who wouldn’t be sad?”

  “I suppose.” Mia curled up closer. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this, but that’s my sordid past in a nutshell. Basically, I was a mess for a long time. I thought you should know.”

  Chris stroked her hair. “I think you’re pretty great now.”

  “You’re pretty great too, you know.” She inclined her head in the direction of Lulu’s crate. “But I think your dog wants to go outside.”

  “I know.” He gave her a kiss. “Don’t leave.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Chris got up, located his clothes, and got dressed. While Mia observed from within her warm cocoon of blankets, he wandered around picking up the many papers and notes that had been thrown onto the floor.

  He went outside with Lulu and Mia rolled over on her stomach. Had she ever been this relaxed before? If she had, she couldn’t remember when. Reveling in the moment, she snuggled her head deeper into the pillow.

  With a whoosh, Chris came back inside and put Lulu on the floor. The small dog ran around in a frenetic circle, stopping only to shake a few times.

  Mia sat up. “I see the rain arrived.”

  “I need to dig out my umbrella. It’s here somewhere.” He grabbed a bag of dog food from the closet and filled the dog bowl while Lulu capered around his feet.

  After giving Lulu her breakfast, Chris sat down on the edge of the bed next to Mia. She reached up and pushed a sodden clump of brown hair back off his forehead. “You look sad all of a sudden. What happened?”

  “Nothing tragic. But I have to work today and I don’t want to because I’d rather spend the day with you. My last meeting with Ben about the house is tomorrow and I’m really behind. I’ve got to finish these preliminary drawings before I talk to him.”

  Mia took his hand and interlaced her fingers with his. “I have to see if I can track down the mysterious Gwen and go walk Gizmo today. I’ll let you know if I can meet with her. If you’re working later, maybe I could bring you dinner here.”

  “I’d like that.” He looked into her eyes. “Last night was…well…I can’t even think of the right word. Incredible?”

  “I know. For me too.”

  “So when you stop by later does that mean you’d be willing to stay overnight again?”

  Mia grinned. “I’m counting on it.”

  The phone on the nightstand rang and Mia lurched in surprise. Chris scrambled over her and sprawled across the bed to grab it. Mia moved over so he could sit up.

  The expression on his face turned serious. “Yes, I know. But I do have the meeting with Ben tomorrow. I also have to drop off my sister’s dog at her house.”

  Mia raised her eyebrows in silent query.

  Chris put his hand over his eyes. “All right, make the reservations. Fine. Wednesday morning will work. I can be there for the meeting at four.”

  After he slowly hung up the phone, Mia said, “I’m guessing you leave Wednesday.”

  “There’s some major all-company announcement Wednesday afternoon and they want me back there for it. After my meeting with Ben tomorrow, I need to get in the car, drive to my sister’s house, and drop off Lulu. Then get on a plane early the next morning.”

  “I knew you had to leave sometime.”

  “The thought of going back makes my stomach hurt. I hate to think why they want me at this meeting so badly.” He leaned back on the headboard and put his arm over his eyes. “It can’t be good news.”

  Mia pulled his arm away and peered down into his face. “Why do you say that? Is there something you haven’t told me?”

  “I have a bad feeling they’re going to do a big layoff and I’ll lose my job.”

  “You said you were afraid of getting fired before, but I don’t believe it. I’ve seen your work. I know I’m not an expert, but you seem really good at what you do. Are you sure there’s not something else going on?”

  “No, there’s nothing I haven’t told you. I was comfortable with you from the moment we met and I have no idea why. It’s like I don’t have to pretend with you. I’m just me.” He smiled. “Geeky warts and all.”

  “I know what you mean.” Mia snuggled up against him, resting her cheek on his chest. “My mushroomy warts get along with your geeky warts.”

  “All this time, I didn’t know what I was missing until I met you.” He smoothed her hair. “Are we ever going to see each other after tomorrow?”

  “I’m not sure, but I hope so.”

  “Me too.”

  Chapter 9

  Potty Mouth

  Mia gave Chris a final hug goodbye and drove back to her room at the H12 in town. After eating and showering, she couldn’t think of any more excuses to put off calling Gwen. What was she supposed to say to this woman? It was like the little kid’s book with the baby bluebird who went around asking everyone, “Are you my mother?” Mia wasn’t the only one with missing-parent issues.

  She stared at the phone and fiddled with the piece of paper with the phone number in her fingertips, but it didn’t help her figure out what she was going to say. Oh well, she was just going to have to improvise.

  Finally, Mia dialed the number and waited while the phone rang. Maybe Gwen wasn’t home. After fifteen rings, Mia was moving the handset away from her head to hang up when she heard a voice. She jerked the receiver back to her ear quickly. “Hello? Is this Gwen?”

  “Yes. What? Who is this? I can’t talk now.”

  “I’m, um, my name is Mia, Amelia Riggins.”

  There was a clattering noise and finally the woman said, “Mia? Oh wait, yes, I’ve been expecting your call. What took you so long?”

  “It’s a long study…uh…story.”

  “I can’t talk right now.” Another crash came from the other end of the line.

  Mia looked around the room as if it might reveal some answers. “Is this a bad time? Are you okay?”

  “I have a squirrel situation.” She squeaked and said, “Shoo! Get out of there!”

  “Do you need hurt? I mean help?”

  “I have to go.”

  Mia wasn’t sure what to do. Gwen was the only person who seemed to have any answers, and she needed to talk to her. “Maybe I could stop by and help you. Kat said you live next door to her, right?”

  “Yes, I do. Come by if you want. I’ve got to go. Hey! I said, shoo…scoot, no, get out!”

  “Okay, I’ll be there in a half hour. Is that okay?”

  “Fine! See you later.”

  Mia held the handset away from her head and looked at it as the dial tone buzzed. For once, she wasn’t the bizarre one in the conversation. What did Gwen mean by a squirrel situation? After hanging up the phone, Mia gathered her things, went out into the pouring rain, and got into the RAV. Whatever the situation was, she was about to find out.

  As she worked her way through the back roads toward the kennel, the rain grew heavier. Kat had indicated that Gwen’s house was before hers along the road, so presumably Mia had driven by it quite a few times now. Most of the houses were set so far back off the road that spotting the driveway might be tricky.

  Mia squinted through the windshield at the downpour, which wasn’t doing much to help visibility. Gwen’s house had to be along here somewhere. She slowed the car and crawled along, hoping no other cars would come zooming up behind her. A battered steel mailbox with faded press-on letters spelled DAV S. Although the letter I was lost to the elements, it was close enough. This must be the place.

  The driveway went back into the trees, much like the serpentine path to the boarding kennel, but the route to Gwen’s place didn’t go as far into the forest before it opened up into a clearing. An old battered single-wide mobile home sat in t
he middle of the area looking oddly out of place. The two-tone brown-and-tan siding was dirty and a huge black tarp covered half of the roof.

  Although the mobile home was run-down, a lot of work had gone into landscaping the garden areas around it. Everything was looking a little drenched and battered by the rain, but the bed full of black-eyed Susans and other flowers must have put on quite a pretty late-summer show when the blooms had been in their prime. The flower beds were demarcated by countless rocks and a large fenced-in area appeared to contain what had undoubtedly been a productive vegetable garden that was now mostly done for the season.

  Mia got out, walked up to the door, and knocked. A commotion came from within, and as the tall skinny woman opened the door, a cat zipped by her, past Mia, and out into the rain. Mia smiled weakly. “Gwen? I’m Mia. We talked earlier.”

  “Yes, come in.” She stepped aside and gestured toward the interior. “In about five minutes, that foolish cat will be crying at the window wanting to come back inside.”

  Mia walked inside the house and glanced at Gwen and then the compact space. Every wall was covered with paneling that was a distant echo of the worst of early seventies decor. It had been painted white and the interior was filled with homey little knickknacks. Although the exterior was ugly, it was obvious Gwen had put a lot of effort into rehabilitating and remodeling the interior space.

  The trailer was wider than Mia’s old Airstream, but similarly configured with a long hallway that undoubtedly led to the other rooms. It also had the same feeling of being off the ground, so the thump of her footsteps caused a vibration on the floor. It made her feel like an elephant stomping around. Attempting to tiptoe, she followed Gwen into the small kitchen area.

  Something skittered across the floor next to her and Mia shrieked and swirled around. “What was that?”

  Gwen scowled and ran her fingers through her dark hair. She had a short pixie haircut that made her brown eyes seem unusually large. “It’s a squirrel. He showed up this morning and I can’t get him to leave. I’m naming him Potty Mouth.”

  Mia tried not to giggle, but couldn’t suppress a smile. “Potty Mouth? Um, that’s interesting. I guess this is the squirrel situation you mentioned.”

  “If you can help me get rid of him, I’ll be forever grateful. I’m really late for work.”

  “How did he get inside?”

  Gwen gestured toward the hallway. “I think he got in through a hole in the bathroom wall somewhere. After I ate breakfast, I went to the bathroom. There aren’t any windows in there and I never bother turning on the light. It’s not like I can’t figure out where the toilet is in such a small space.”

  Mia nodded, not sure how to respond. She didn’t like where the story was headed.

  “Anyway I sit down and get ready to, well, you know. But then something splashed my butt from down below.”

  Mia’s eyes widened. “I hate to ask, but…”

  “Well, isn’t it obvious?” Gwen waved her arms. “There was a whole chattering, splashy commotion and I jumped up off that toilet seat like it was on fire, screaming bloody murder. I’m tripping on my pants, but I slapped the light switch on the wall. When the light comes on, that squirrel shoots himself out of the toilet and launches out of the bathroom.”

  Mia looked around. “So it’s the same squirrel I just saw?”

  Gwen put her hands on her hips. “How many squirrels do you think I have in my potty?”

  Mia shook her head. “Maybe we should open the door or the windows so he can get back outside.”

  “I tried that already. He’s not having anything to do with the great outdoors because it’s pouring out there. Squirrels are smarter than you might think. I’m lucky he didn’t decide to bite me. Can you imagine explaining that to your doctor? ‘Well, doctor, it was like this: nature called and then it bit me in the butt.’”

  Mia bit down on her lip to keep from bursting into laughter, which, given her current mood, Gwen probably would not appreciate. Mia said evenly, “Maybe I can help you look for him. He must be here somewhere. We could try shooing him outside.”

  “That’s what I was trying to do when you called. Potty Mouth doesn’t shoo easily.”

  “Do you have a broom?”

  “Hey, that’s a good idea!” Gwen went to a narrow closet, pulled out a broom, and shoved an ironing board back inside before she slammed the door closed. “Maybe we can sweep him out of here.”

  The two women got down on their hands and knees and began peering under the furniture for the telltale glow of eyes. Gwen swished the broom under the sofa and the small mammal scurried out. She jumped up after him. “Potty Mouth! Get out, you nasty varmint. I have to go to work.”

  Mia ran to the front door and opened it. “Over here! Sweep him over here.”

  After several fits of frantic sweeping, Gwen finally managed to encourage Potty Mouth to vacate the mobile home. Mia slammed the door behind the squirrel and took a deep breath. That was way more excitement than she had expected on this visit.

  Gwen put the broom back in the closet, again shoving back the ironing board that was trying to jump out. She turned around and smiled. “Thank heavens that’s over. Let’s hope Potty Mouth stays in the forest from now on. I need to check the paneling in the bathroom for holes. I have to get going soon, but can I get you something to drink? I need some tea.”

  “That would be nice. I’m hoping you have a minute to chomp…I mean chat.”

  “Yeah, I figured you’d get around to that sooner or later.”

  Mia sat down at the old Formica table, which sported a speckled green table top with metal edges. It was somewhat reminiscent of the decor at the Enchanted Moose diner. Maybe the green vinyl-covered chairs were cast-offs from some long-ago Alpine Grove eating establishment.

  Gwen handed her a mug with steaming hot water and a tea bag. “Here you go. I’m always cold, so I drink a lot of tea.”

  “Thank you very much.” Mia clasped the warm mug with her palms and swished the tea bag around. “I guess my father told you I might contact you.”

  “Yes, although I was wondering what happened. I talked to him months ago. He said he was sending you a letter for your birthday.”

  “I think my dog ate it.”

  A corner of Gwen’s mouth twitched. “I suppose he ate your homework too.”

  “I didn’t realize there must have been a letter in the package he sent until I got another letter from him the other day. It implied he’d already written to me. I just thought he sent me a bunch of postcards before. And I wasn’t sure they were even from him because Gizmo—that’s my dog—he ate the return address on the envelope too.”

  “That’s quite a dog you’ve got there.”

  Mia sighed. “I know. He’s a great dog, but he eats everything. I still miss him, anyway. Right now Gizmo is at Kat’s boarding kennel.”

  “You mentioned that. How’s Kat doing? I haven’t seen her in a while.”

  “Fine, I think.”

  “She seems nice enough, but I miss Abigail. We were neighbors for so long, and I couldn’t believe it when she died. Nothing has been the same since then. She was like family to me. We used to joke that we must be cousins—we just couldn’t figure out how we were related.”

  “It sounds like Kat misses her too. She said you’re thinking of moving.”

  “I want to be closer to my daughter. And I never want to shovel snow again. Heather lives in a condo complex where the rent is reasonable. I’ll miss my garden, but I can’t handle another winter like last year.”

  Mia cleared her throat. It was time to get to the point. “So I guess you know my father. Why did he want me to contact you?”

  “Well, he tried to reach Abigail, but she’d already died. So he tracked me down instead and talked me into it.”

  “Into what?”

  “Letting him give you my phone number so I could convince you that he really brought that dog here to Alpine Grove. He said you never forgave him for taking
away that golden retriever you had.”

  “Rusty?” Mia’s eyes widened and she turned her head to look around the small kitchen. “Was this his new home? My dad said he found him a home in the country, but I was convinced he was lying.”

  “No, he didn’t bring the dog here. The dog lived at Abigail’s house.”

  “Rusty lived there? I can’t believe it.” Mia clasped her hands together in her lap. “That’s wonderful. Gizmo loves Kat’s place. So Rusty really did get a wonderful home in the country. I was absolutely positive it was just a stupid story to make me stop crying.”

  “Dan didn’t think you’d believed him. That’s why he sent the postcards.”

  “But they don’t make any sense. I didn’t understand the messages.” Mia hurriedly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “Who is ‘CA’?”

  “Cousin Abigail.” Gwen smiled. “Dan called her that too. They got along from the second they met each other, and he thought the whole cousins–who-weren’t-related thing was cute.”

  “Abigail wrote the cards? She kept talking about babies. Did she have a lot of kids?”

  “No, but she had a lot of dogs and cats. Rusty wasn’t the only homeless animal she took in. She referred to her critters as her ‘babies’ all the time.”

  “Well, that explains a lot.” Mia was momentarily at a loss for words. She really needed to talk to her father. “Did you see my dad? Do you know where he is? The last letter was mailed from Santa Barbara, but it’s a post office box.”

  “No, I haven’t seen him, but I talked to him on the phone. He tracked me down after he found out Abigail was dead.” With a small sigh, Gwen glanced out the window. “We have a complicated past, so the conversation was a little strained.”

  “How do you know him? I didn’t know he’d ever been to Alpine Grove.”

  “Well, he brought Rusty. But we met before that too. I was a freshman in college in New York City, and we met during the blackout. The one in 1965, not 1977.”