Cupid licked Dan’s nose. Dan’s eyebrows lifted along with his grin. “I think we understand each other.”
“Are you sure you don’t like pets?” Brooke asked. Could you like me as much as I like you?
“It’s difficult not to like Cupid with his three legs and superior attitude.” Dan shifted Cupid and held him against his chest as if he’d been a longtime cat lover. “Besides, I never said I didn’t like cats. I just don’t have any.”
“You’re good with animals,” Brooke said. He was good with her, too.
But his training taught him to be compassionate, helpful and patient. All the things he’d been with her. Brooke was like an emergency call he took during one of his work shifts. Only she was living in his rental unit temporarily. She repeated the word: temporary. He was helping her enjoy the world around her again. Helping her rediscover her laughter.
Dan turned toward her. Surprise curved across his face, his mouth opened in a startled yet charming O.
Brooke smoothed a hand down her sheath dress. “Will this work?”
“You’re stunning.”
And Brooke wanted to start to dream again. To take the greatest risk of all again. With Dan.
Brooke climbed into the truck, determined to keep the conversation light and easy and away from the risk her heart wanted to take. Dan obliged, giving her a detailed layout of Kyle’s game room and the strengths and weaknesses of every guest at the party. She needed to avoid playing Skee-Ball with Ava, unless she was on her team. Pinball was a no go if Wyatt was playing. And Sophie could clear the pool table faster than a professional. Kyle crashed a lot on the racetrack games, while Mia pretended not to know what she was doing and always finished the race courses first.
Brooke followed Dan into the lobby and together they listed the games they could potentially take high score. The elevator up button blinked and Brooke stepped inside, ready for another evening of fun.
Dan stepped off the elevator, checked his phone and frowned. “Earl is being taken to the hospital.”
Brooke froze. “What happened?”
“Another fall.” Dan rubbed the back of his neck. “On the stairs.”
“Is he going to be okay?”
“We’ll know more in a few hours.” Dan stuck his phone in his pants pocket. “Cara texted that she’ll stay in touch.”
The worry in his voice underscored the lines around his eyes. She said, “But it’s not good.”
“Let’s not jump ahead.” Dan opened the suite door. “We’ll enjoy the party and wait until Cara texts us an update.”
Brooke nodded and stepped inside. Laughter, cheers and a buzz of celebration circled Brooke, challenging the unease within her.
Dan took her coat and her hand. “Earl wouldn’t want us to miss a good party.”
“You can’t walk into a party looking like you’ve arrived at a funeral,” Evie scolded Brooke and Dan.
Rick stepped beside Evie, blocking Brooke’s view of the partygoers. “No one passed away, right?”
“Not exactly,” Dan said.
Evie and Rick shared an alarmed look. Evie recovered first. “Then we can fix this.”
She guided Brooke and Dan to a large seating area.
Two sleek leather couches and two sets of chairs framed a steel-and-glass coffee table. Sequined throw pillows in every color of the rainbow splashed an inviting welcome on the dark leather. Brooke sat on the end of a couch across from Rick. Evie perched in the chair beside her. Dan dropped onto the couch next to Brooke.
Rick adjusted the ends of his silver-and-white sash embroidered with the words King of the Groom Squad and set his hands on his knees. “Couples argue. It’s how you resolve your differences that gives you staying power.”
Evie sipped from her champagne glass and nodded sagely.
Couple. She’d only just lectured her heart to stand down. “We aren’t...”
Dan set his hand over hers, distracting her. He whispered, “They’re just warming up.”
“What does that mean?” Brooke whispered back.
“We wait until they’ve gotten out what they feel they have to say.” Dan shifted his attention to Evie and his father.
“My late husband and I always ended every disagreement with a kiss, even if we hadn’t resolved anything.” Evie smoothed her fingers over her silver-and-white Queen of the Bride Squad sash. “A nice kiss makes it hard for both of you to hold on to your irritation.”
Rick and Evie eyed Brooke and Dan. Rick said, “You should try that.”
Brooke’s mouth dropped open. They wanted her to kiss Dan. Now. Just like that. She hadn’t kissed anyone since Phillip. Not like that. She hadn’t wanted to kiss anyone. Not like that. Until now.
“Okay. Stop.” Dan motioned between Brooke and himself. “We’re fine.”
But would they be better if they kissed? Cheers and hollers erupted from the arcade area, as if encouraging Brooke to kiss Dan. She stared at Evie’s champagne glass. Maybe a drink would help.
“You don’t look fine.” Evie wiped a napkin over her glasses, not bothering to remove them. “I’ve only had half a glass of champagne.”
“It’s not the champagne,” Rick said. “Evie, your eyesight is as good as ever.”
Evie crinkled the napkin and toasted Rick. “That’s a relief.”
Dan leaned forward. “Look. It’s about Earl Powell. He fell again and is being admitted to the hospital right now.”
Brooke scooted closer to the edge of the couch. “We don’t want to tell Sophie and ruin her night. She’ll worry about Sherlock.”
“Who is watching Sherlock?” Evie asked.
“His daughter for now,” Dan said.
“We’ll walk and feed him, too,” Brooke said. “Whatever she needs.”
“The problem is that I don’t think they’ll discharge Earl back home this time,” Dan said.
And that was what she’d seen in Dan’s face outside the suite. Concern for both the older gentleman and his dog. “Time is now up to find Sherlock a new family.”
“This is a somber group.” An elegant older woman pushed a wheelchair with another woman between the two chairs.
Evie offered quick introductions. The women’s silver-and-white sashes proclaimed them friends of Dan’s. Helen’s sash read: Mom of the Groom Squad. Helen indicated Brooke should move over, closer to Dan, and sat down.
Karen’s sash proclaimed: MOB in Training. She explained that stood for Mother of the Bride-to-Be and pointed at Ava with a wide smile.
“Now, really, who died?” Helen dropped a pink-and-gold sequined pillow on her lap as if she needed the cheer.
“No one passed away.” Karen swatted Helen’s knee. “Can’t you see that Dan and Brooke are having a quarrel?”
Helen tsked. “Seriously, one good kiss and you’ll win every argument.” She waved to Mia and Wyatt at the Ping-Pong table. “Already gave that advice to Mia to use on Wyatt. My poor son won’t ever win, but he’ll be happy about it every time.”
Evie clapped her hands. “That was exactly the advice I gave them.”
“We really should put together an advice column.” Helen drew a heart in the sequined pillow.
“Just in the Prime Timers crew alone we’ve got over a century of marriage experience,” Karen added. “That’s quite impressive.”
“When we need marriage advice, we’ll come to you.” Dan ran his hands over his dress pants.
A collective sigh passed through the Prime Timers as if they were disappointed there wouldn’t be a kiss. Brooke caught herself and her sigh before it escaped. She wasn’t disappointed about not kissing Dan. Although she was interested to know if their advice really worked.
She said, “We’re desperate to find a home for an eleven-year-old golden retriever. Special considerations attached.”
“Ava
and I have a pair of senior foster cats with us or we’d take the dog,” Karen offered.
Brooke smiled at Ava’s mom. “Thanks. We’ll figure something out. I don’t want any of you to worry.”
Dan nudged Brooke’s shoulder. “Getting overly involved is their form of fun.”
“Dan is right.” Helen set her hands on the pillow as if she was in court, preparing to swear on the Bible. “We’re going to figure this out together.”
“It’s what we do. Ask the kids.” Karen patted her curls into place and looked at Brooke. “Now, tell us what you’ve done. No sense repeating the hard work you’ve already put in.”
Brooke shifted her gaze around the group. Their expressions thoughtful, eager and sincere. Everyone wanted to help. The collective support wrapped around her like a bear hug. And she jumped in, unable to resist, detailing the last few days of her search.
Twenty minutes later, one cheese platter and more than thirty potential families discarded, Helen tapped her palm on the pillow. “Which assisted-living center does Charlene Leonard volunteer at?”
“Charlene is at Golden Sunrise Manor.” Evie pointed at her friends. “It’s one of the nicer facilities, but I’m not moving in there. Neither are any of you.”
“No one is moving anywhere.” Helen laughed and shook her head. “Charlene mentioned she wanted to adopt a pet at our most recent Second Winders gathering.”
Dan leaned into Brooke. “It’s supposed to be a group for widows and widowers. Except it’s really a poker night with appetizers, Evie’s Irish coffee and cash bets.”
Brooke wanted to join that widows club. She grinned. “How do I get an invite?”
“I’m sure they’ll take you.” He teased, “You’ve already admitted you aren’t good at poker.”
“Is that a requirement?”
Dan nodded. “Levels the playing field or so they claim.”
She definitely wanted to spend an evening or two playing poker with them. “Count me in.”
“That wasn’t Charlene you’re thinking of, Helen.” Karen wiped a napkin across her mouth, her words slow, as if she was running through a guest list in her head. “I believe it was Teresa Knowles.”
“Teresa missed our last gathering.” Evie built a cheese-and-cracker appetizer on a napkin and passed it over to Karen.
“That’s right.” Rick tapped his hand on his knee. “Teresa had to work late last week and couldn’t make it.”
“I remember now.” Helen snapped her fingers as if focusing her memory. “Charlene’s children want her to travel more. But the poor dear is scared to death to fly.”
“Her children only need to get more creative. A train ride or cruise ship or RV could be options,” Karen said. “But it was Teresa’s kids that want to buy her a puppy.”
“Teresa doesn’t want a puppy and the work involved raising one. Says she already raised enough kids.” Helen glanced at Brooke. “Not that I blame Teresa, given her work schedule.”
“Teresa works at Bright Heart Sanctuary,” Karen added. “She manages housekeeping and the kitchen for the entire center.”
That was the same assisted-living center Cara wanted Earl to move into. Excitement bounced around inside Brooke. She set her hand on Dan’s leg, stopping herself from jumping up to celebrate. Teresa Knowles could be the solution. She swallowed hard, reminding herself not to get too far ahead. “Would Teresa possibly consider a senior dog already housebroken and well trained?”
“We could ask her,” Karen said.
“What if the senior dog belongs to a patient that was going to become a new resident of Bright Heart Sanctuary?” Dan asked. “Would that help sway Teresa?”
“Earl Powell is moving into Bright Heart?” Evie clapped. “It’s almost too perfect.”
That made Brooke pause, not party.
Karen drummed her fingers on the armrest of her wheelchair. “Well, Teresa is quite darling with her contagious laugh and Midwestern accent.”
“She never wins. Not one hand.” Rick lifted his gaze toward the cheers erupting from the pinball machines. “Still, Teresa smiles and laughs the entire evening.”
Those were wonderful qualities for anyone. But Sherlock required more than that. Brooke asked, “But does Teresa want a dog?”
“There’s always this pause after one of Teresa’s deep laughs, as if she’s reaching for more laughter to keep the loneliness away.” Evie’s mouth turned down as if she hurt for the dear woman, too.
“I agree with her children.” Karen nodded. “A dog would give Teresa a companion.”
“Teresa needs a dog for the nights the laughter is hard to find.” Helen’s voice was pensive.
A collective hum of agreement flowed through the group. They all understood. They’d all been there. They all knew exactly how Teresa felt. Brooke knew, too. “I’m not sure what I would’ve done without my pets.”
Brooke glanced at Dan and Rick. Now she wondered what she would’ve done without the Sawyers after the wildfire.
“Now you have us.” Evie lifted her champagne glass toward Brooke. “Best of all, you don’t have to wait for a Second Winders gathering if you need us.”
“We’re right across the backyard,” Rick offered.
Dan was right across the backyard. She could walk onto his porch, kiss him good-night and run into her apartment before he could react. Brooke touched her mouth. She wasn’t running onto any porches. She wasn’t kissing anyone. “I’m more grateful than I can ever say.”
“That’s enough business for tonight.” Karen waved at Dan and Brooke. “You two need to get over there and join in. You’re missing out on some really good prizes.”
“Let us talk to Teresa in the next day or so.” Evie shooed them away. “Go have fun. There’s nothing more we can do for the moment.”
Rick grinned at Evie. “We can show these youngsters how to properly play Ping-Pong, Evie.”
“We can definitely do that.” Evie stood up and arranged her sash as if she’d just been announced the winner of a beauty pageant and awaited her crown. “We’ll give you two ten minutes to warm up and strategize.”
Dan held his hand out to Brooke. “Ready for this?”
She was ready to jump into the fun and games. Discover her laughter. The kissing—well, she’d bury that back inside her. She set her hand inside Dan’s and let him pull her off the couch. “Definitely.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
DAN STEPPED OFF the elevator on the third floor of Bay Water Medical, silenced his phone and tucked it in the leg pocket on his pants. He’d worked overtime two nights in a row. Then filled in on the day shift. His body wasn’t certain whether to sleep or accept the exhaustion as its new normal.
He hadn’t seen Brooke since their three-game losing streak on the Ping-Pong tables to his dad and Evie, followed by their indisputable victory on the basketball free throw game. Brooke had written their names in bold on the chalkboard standings wall and accepted their award at the trophy ceremony: his-and-hers fuzzy socks, chocolates with Wyatt’s and Mia’s initials and handkerchiefs embroidered with No Ugly Crying.
Brooke and Dan had sampled the chocolates on the drive home. He’d left her with both pairs of fuzzy socks, then grudgingly accepted his hankie and that his night with Brooke was over.
Dan waved to the nurses behind the desk, continued to Room 324 and discovered his first smile. Brooke waved to him outside Earl Powell’s hospital room. She’d texted him earlier to ask if he’d meet her there to talk to Earl about Sherlock.
Dan would’ve met Brooke even if Sherlock and Earl weren’t the topic. He just wanted to see her. He just wanted to be with her. Dan slowed and shoved his hands in his pockets. Otherwise he would’ve reached for Brooke and hugged her as if he’d always greeted her that way.
“Thanks for coming,” Brooke studied him. “You’re tired. You should�
�ve said no.”
Not likely. And he was less tired now standing there beside her. He opened the hospital-room door and motioned her inside. “I’m good. Let’s talk to Earl.”
Earl called out a greeting to Brooke and Dan, then pressed a button to raise the headboard. “Come in. Come in. I’d get up, but the nurses yell at me.”
Dan shook Earl’s hand. “You look good.”
“And you look exhausted,” Earl countered.
Brooke frowned at Dan, then hugged Earl. “It’s good to see you, Earl.”
Earl told them to sit and launched right to the point. “Cara brought Teresa Knowles over here during lunch today. Did you know Teresa told me that she’d only agree to take Sherlock if I gave her permission?”
Brooke smiled. “She was lovely to speak with over the phone.”
Earl shook his finger at Brooke. “I know you introduced Sherlock and Teresa.”
Dan leaned over and whispered, “You’ve been busy.”
“Just introductions.” Brooke’s voice barely lifted above the hum of the blood-pressure machine. She stepped closer to the hospital bed. “I hope you understand, Earl. If Sherlock and Teresa weren’t compatible, I wasn’t going to suggest that you meet her.”
What Brooke didn’t add was that time wasn’t on their side. Dan had talked to Cara that morning. A room would be available the day after next for Earl at Bright Heart Sanctuary. Willing or not, Earl would be discharged from the hospital to his new home. Without Sherlock.
“Well.” Earl’s bushy eyebrows lowered over his blue gaze. “You’ve got to tell me about their meeting.”
Dan moved the two chairs closer to the bed. This wasn’t going to be a short story. From the firm set of Earl’s wrinkles, he expected Brooke to give him every detail from the beginning to the end of the meeting.
“I walked Sherlock from The Pampered Pooch to Bits and Bites Pantry. It’s across the street from the pet store. Teresa and I planned to meet there.” Brooke leaned forward and touched Earl’s arm as if sharing a really good secret. “Sherlock was more than happy to escape the doggy day care. The Australian shepherd brothers, Lewis and Coop, were more rambunctious than usual. And every doggy in day care seems to believe Sherlock wants to play.”
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