Page 45 of Lakehouse Promises

“Take this to Stanley. Tell him I hope he gets better soon.”

“I wouldn’t worry about Stanley. He’s enjoying his time off. He’s binge-watching Family Feud.” He took the container she held out to him. “Thanks for this. I’m sure he’ll enjoy it.”

She walked him to the door. When she opened it, the black dog was sitting there waiting for her.

Thomas laughed. “Here’s your friend. Have you given him a name yet?”

“No. I keep thinking he belongs to someone and they’ll show up for him.”

“I wouldn’t count on it. Go ahead and name him. I’m pretty sure he’s your dog now.”

“I suppose so. I guess I’ll have to come up with a name.” She bit her lip.

“Don’t overthink it.” He looked at her.

“Okay, well how about Phoenix?”

“Like a phoenix rising?”

“Yeah. Maybe we are both getting a new beginning. You know, rising from the ashes.”

Chapter 25

Carolina woke early the next day. It was Thursday which meant a half day at the nursery. She had run some decorating ideas by Bernice, to make people more apt to get their landscape and front porch decorated for fall.

The old lady narrowed her eyes at her. “I don’t think that will help sales. People don’t decorate much in the fall.”

“But they do,” Carolina argued. “Some of the lake house owners put out some really cute porch décor.”

Bernice waved her off. “You should take some of your own advice and decorate your house. It’s becoming an eyesore.”

She sighed and reminded her boss. “It’s on my list to do. Once I get some extra funds.”

“Didn’t you get alimony in the divorce?” She pointed her trowel at her. She’d been repotting a miniature Christmas tree that had outgrown its container.

“I did. But I don’t know if it’s going to be on time. It’s hard to put my trust in that.”

Bernice waved the trowel in the air. “Don’t ever trust a man to make good on his promise. They’re all snakes.”

“All of them?”

“Yes, all of them.”

Maybe Bernice was right.

“We only have a few more minutes before we close and we need to move these pumpkins inside. We’ve got some mischievous kids that like to steal them.”

“Really? I had no idea. I’ll get the wheelbarrow.” She pointed to a group of dying mums under a tree. “What are you going to do with those?”

“Dump them. I got too many in and those didn’t get my attention.”

“Do you mind if I take them?”

Bernice lifted her eyebrows. “Take them home? To plant?”

“Yeah. Maybe I can get them to grow. I was going to buy some of your pumpkins and those ferns as well. Maybe someone driving by will see and ask who did it. I can refer your business.”

Bernice barked out a laugh. “You may be good with plants but no one isthatgood. Take all those dying mums and the ferns. It saves me the energy from throwing them away. And I’ll sell you the pumpkins at cost.”

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