Page 111 of The Good Luck Cafe
“Mm-hmm. A life-changing surprise.”
Moira felt her eyes round. Her life had already gone through so many changes this year. Sweetie’s was gone. She’d dipped her toe in politics and joined the town council. And she was in a serious romantic relationship for the first time in her life. One thing that hadn’t changed was her job at the emergency dispatch, which she continued to love. No more following up on her callers’ lives though. Even though it was difficult, she trusted the system. Somerset’s emergency response team was amazing, and if there was ever anything she needed to know, Reva would be sure to get the word out. No doubt about that.
“Life changing?” Moira repeated. Maybe there was another proposal up Gil’s sleeve. Was he considering marriage? She wasn’t sure she was ready for that just yet.
“You’ll see,” Gil said in an upbeat tone. He turned the key and started the engine and then drove toward the outskirts of town while Moira’s imagination got the best of her. Finally, he pulled into a driveway that led to a log cabin home that sat on a creek.
“Have you guessed what your surprise is yet?” Gil asked, bringing the truck to a stop and cutting the engine.
“I am absolutely bewildered. Where are we?”
Gil pulled his keys from the ignition and dropped them in the middle console. “Beth Chimes’s house. She fosters.”
Moira shook her head, still not tracking. She had spent a lot of time volunteering with Beth and the rescue animals. She and Beth had become friends, although Moira had never come to her home. It was a beautiful place. “I’m still not following. Why are we here?”
Gil pushed his truck door open and stepped out. “Come on. Beth is waiting for us.”
Moira opened her truck door and stepped out. The ground was soft beneath her flats. She was dressed for a ceremonious occasion, not playing in the dirt or creek. Were they here to look at a dog? Moira stopped in her tracks. “Gil, I’m not ready for this.”
He reached for her hand. Before he could respond, Beth walked out of her home and headed in their direction. She was holding a leash with a blur of brown and white fur tugging at the end.
“Hey, you two!” Beth said excitedly. “Molly has been beside herself with anticipation. I think she knows what’s going on.”
Moira looked down and blinked. “That makes one of us.”
Beth looked at Gil, concern knitting the area between her eyes. “You didn’t tell her?”
He shook his head. “I wanted this to be a surprise. Hopefully, a happy one.”
Moira had to blink again because there were tears blurring her eyes. “Is this…Molly?”
“Surprise,” Gil said with a small smile.
Moira looked between him and Beth. “What is she doing here?”
Gil took the leash from Beth. “Thanks, Beth. I’ll take it from here.”
Beth gestured behind her. “I’ll just be out back with my other fosters if you need me. I’m going to give you two some time to discuss…things.” She winked at him and turned, leaving Moira and Gil alone.
Gil cleared his throat. “Molly’s owner ran into some unforeseen life changes. She needed to move, and she couldn’t take a pet with her. Turns out Molly here still needs a good home.”
Moira swallowed past a tight throat. “I can offer her a good home,” she said without even taking the time to consider the decision. She was leading with her heart, which she’d decided would never steer her wrong. If she’d led with her heart the first time she’d met Molly, she’d have taken this little puppy home months ago.
Gil shrugged. “The problem is, Goldie has already met Molly, and she’s grown a bit attached. You and I might have to compete to see which of us gets to take her.”
“Compete against each other?” Moira asked, jaw dropping. “Again?”
“Or,” Gil said, smile growing as he looked at her for a long moment—she could look at this man for a million years and never grow tired of his smile—“we could just join forces and raise our dogs together.”
Moira really liked the sound of that. “Dogs make us better humans, right? Isn’t that what you told me?”
“Something like that. All I know for sure is that you make me better.”
“Well, I’m not marrying you just for the sake of sharing a dog,” Moira said without thinking.
Gil tilted his head. There was a humorous glint in his gaze. “Who said anything about marriage?”
Moira felt her entire face flush. Ever since he’d said the P-word earlier, she’d had marriage on the brain. “Oh, I just…” She shook her head. “I only meant that a dog is no reason to commit to one another.”
