Page 19 of Will Bark for Pizza
“Luke told you about the bookstore?” Connie asked, her expression fragile as she spread butter onto a pancake and slathered it in her homemade strawberry syrup. No one spoke it, but I pieced together that Connie hadn’t stepped foot inside her late daughter’s bookstore since her passing. I imagined it was too hard, but I didn’t know if seeing it sold would be harder.
“He mentioned it yesterday, when we were out at Ghost Lake.”
Instantly, the image of the feisty redhead in the wet T-shirt that clung to her skin trespassed across my thoughts. She was wearing a red lace bra underneath. Whether that was true, or now part of the fantasy I conjured up overnight, I was no longer sure. I spent the night tossing and turning, wondering what became of Red and her quirky dog with his sonar-capable ears. With any luck, they were a hundred miles down the road by now, and I’d have nothing more than her purple paddle to assure me the encounter was real.
“What did you think of the cabin?” Dale asked, obviously sensing his wife’s uneasiness about the bookstore, and moving the topic away from Joe. I felt like an ass, thinking about a woman I barely knew, instead of extending compassion in this delicate situation.
“It has good bones.”
“It’s never been updated,” Dale pointed out. “It would be another project, if Karl is even willing to sell it. He’s been known to change his mind.”
“Luke mentioned that.”
“You’re more than welcome to stay here as long as you like,” Connie said, her words almost a plea. “We love having you.”
“I appreciate that.”
My phone buzzed against the table again, and I shoved it into my jeans pocket without reading the new slew of texts my sister sent. I wasn’t going to offer up one of my rentals, but I wasn’t ready to have that argument with her, either. She’d beg me to give them a month—to buy them time until they found somewhere else to go. Or she’d offer to pay their rent, though I knew Kyle would quickly put a stopto that idea.
“You sure everything is all right?” Connie asked again.
“Yeah.” I didn’t share much about my family with anyone. Luke knew more than most, but even he didn’t know the brunt of it. I planned to keep it that way. After a lot of thinking last night, I could finally see myself settling in Bluebell Springs, at least for a good, long while. I didn’t need to taint that vision with toxic family baggage. “Just some family business. It can wait until after breakfast.”
“How’s Millie doing this morning?” Connie asked Dale of their rescue cow who’d been limping for the last two days.
“The same. Vet’s coming out later to check her out.”
I was thankful the breakfast table conversation shifted to farm topics as I cleaned my plate. Connie turned down my offer to wash the dishes, as she did most mornings. I promised to be back this evening for family dinner, and headed into town.
I knew Joeneededto sell his late wife’s bookstore, but I was equally sure he didn’twantto. This wasn’t going to be an easy conversation.
EIGHT
HUSKER
What’s that smell?
Is it popcorn?
It’s quiet.
Everyone’s sleeping.
I like sleeping.
Who made popcorn?
I like this bed.
I don’t want to get up.
But I like popcorn.
And I’m hungry.
Mom left me food, but she didn’t put anything good in my bowl.
Maybe I should wake her up.
