Page 98 of Lorcan
“Do you need a hand?”
I considered. “We should be able to carry everything. If not, I can do two trips.” I had a wagon I used for when I stocked up on groceries. I didn’t care how silly I looked—the fewer trips the better.
“You know I can do it.”
I shook my head. “You’ll be settling Mei in her new home. I think you should be with her all the time for the first little while.”
“And you.” His eyes went wide in panic. “I’ve never had a dog.”
“Well, it just so happens I bought a book about rescuing dogs. She’s well-trained. We just need to keep up with that. Carter wrote it all out for us.”
He blinked. “You thought of everything.”
“No, that was Carter the writer.” I grinned. “We’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, I think we will.”
With an exchange of smiles, we got out of the car with our dog trotting alongside and headed upstairs for our first Christmas as a couple.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Lorcan
“You really do have such a lovely view.” Aunt Genessa stood by the glass wall that made up the balcony. During the summer, the top half could be opened. In the winter, Cody kept it closed.
“He brought me here on our first date.” Heat rushed to my cheeks. “Well, we walked around Heritage Park first. Then he coaxed me here with takeout from Fifties.”
“My nephew always was a smart man. Best burgers in Mission City.”
I hadn’t been able to form a picture of Cody’s aunt in my mind. He had photos of the two of them, but they were older—from years ago.Should I offer to take a new one of the two of them today?
Genessa was frailer than I would’ve thought. And, according to her,barely a day over seventy-five.
Mei stayed by my side—a little curious about the guest with the cane. She’d settled in right away last night and slept straight through the night—which really surprised me. We’d walked herthis morning and, as Carter had promised, she’d done all her business. I’d run her out again while Cody drove to pick up his aunt.
“The ham smells delicious. My favorite.” She offered another smile.
“Cody says you love pineapple.”
“Yes. Fruit cocktail, ham, pizza…anything I can get away adding pineapple to, I do.”
“Ah.”
“Not a fan?” She arched her eyebrow.
“No, ma’am.”
“It’s Genessa.” She wagged her finger at me. “I know you’re way younger than I am, but ma’am was my mother. My students called me Miss Litwin. You may call me Genessa.”
“I do believe I’m closer in age to you than your nephew.”
She waved me off. “I was the eldest of seven children. Cody’s dad was the youngest. Always was a brat. My brother—not Cody. And he believed all that religious claptrap. Threw away the best thing that ever happened to him.” She leaned closer. “I’m not going to be around forever. I like the idea of Cody having someone who loves him as much as I do.”
“Oh. We, uh, just moved in together.”
She squinted. “You strike me as a traditionalist.”
“Yes, ma— uh, Genessa.”
