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them. They’re real cute, and they’re soft and they don’t smell bad. Can’t we have a puppy? Please, Mom, can’t we?”
“Another one?” She opened her eyes wide, feigning shock. “Two aren’t enough?”
“What two?”
“Those two.”
And, another moment, she thought. The moment when she told herself whatever the puppies did, however many times she had to clean up after them, roll out of a warm bed to let them out, it would be a small price to pay for the look of stunned, radiant joy on her little boy’s face.
“They’re ours?” His whisper echoed with that same joy.
“Ask Beckett. He’s the one who got them—and wore me down.”
Three faces turned up to his while the puppies nipped and licked. “You got them for us?” Harry managed. “For us to keep?”
“Well, they’re brothers.”
“Like us!” Liam shouted.
“Yeah, and they needed a good home. They needed some friends who’d take care of them, feed them, play with them, love them.”
“I love them.” Murphy crawled over to hug Beckett’s leg. “I really, really do.”
“Love takes some work.” Beckett crouched down. “Even when you’re tired or busy. It means making sure they get enough to eat and drink, fresh air, company. Are you up for it?”
“I promise.”
“Well, I guess you get to keep them.”
“This is the best ever. Thanks.” Liam threw his arms around Beckett, then dashed to do the same to Clare. “Mom, we got puppies.”
“You got them for us,” Harry repeated, and finally gave Beckett his angel smile. “We’ll take good care of them, always.”
“I’m counting on it.”
“Why don’t you take them out back,” Clare suggested. “Show them the ropes.”
“Come with us.” Murphy tugged on Beckett’s hand. “We’re going to show them ropes. What are their names?”
“They need good ones, so you guys better think about that. I’ve got some stuff for them out in the truck. I’ll come out after I bring it in.”
“I’ll help you bring it in.” Harry got to his feet.
“I could use a hand.”
Liam and Murphy ran toward the back, calling the dogs to come, already trying out names while Harry walked out front with Beckett.
Clare stood, absorbing love—and, studying the scattered dog hair and little dribbles of pee on her floor, thought, yes. Yes, a very small price to pay.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
TWO DOGS.” AVERY ARRANGED CHEESE ON A PLATTER FOR the gift shop opening. “I can’t get over it. Zero to sixty, Clare, that’s you.”
“It feels like it. Yesterday morning all I had to do was get three kids ready for school, fed, lunches or lunch money distributed. This morning, after I found them all piled—three kids, two dogs—in Murphy’s bed, I had three kids to get ready for school, who all thought they really should stay home to take care of the dogs. That’s after getting up twice last night to let the dogs out.”
“Their bladders will get bigger.”
“Let’s hope. Then there’s the make sure they’re fed and watered, let them out, let them in, let them out. Then I feel guilty because we’re leaving them alone in the backyard, so I have to go check on them before I come to work, then again at lunch. Now Mazie’s dealing with all of them until I get home from the opening. I should probably run home to check again.”
“They’ll be fine. Kids and dogs, they’re a natural unit. I’m looking forward to meeting them. What are their names again?”
“I think, after much discussion, debate, false starts, we’ve settled on Ben—as in Kenobi—and Yoda.”
“Nice.”
“Sorry I’m later than I planned.” Hope hurried back to the kitchen. “We had more deliveries come in. You’re busy out there,” she said to Avery.
“Big Friday night crowd, punched up, I do believe, by the opening. People want to check it out, and figure they might as well grab dinner first.”
“Symbiotic, as desired. What can I do?”
“I guess we can start taking the trays down, that way Madeline can have everything in place.”
Trays in hand, they went out the back.
“I can’t believe it’s almost November.” Hope shook back her hair as the evening breeze caught at it. “I feel like I just moved to town.”
“We finish October with a bang with trick-or-treat night,” Avery reminded her.
“Then, bang again, it’s Thanksgiving, then Christmas.”
“Oh, don’t say Christmas.” Clare shut her eyes briefly. “I have so much left to do.”
“Then New Year’s,” Hope continued, “and we’ll be fussing with the opening for the inn. They’re really making progress with The Courtyard. Tile work, too. You need to see. Maybe we can run over before this starts.”
“I love this space.” Clare paused on the pretty patio behind the gift shop. It makes me wish I could do something like it at home.”
“Why don’t you?” Avery said.
“Money comes to mind first.” Clare waited while Avery balanced her trays to open the back door. “But I might just start a patio savings fund.”
As they went in, Madeline, chestnut hair tumbled, earrings swinging, strode down the short steps to the office. “Hi! Avery, this looks great. I’m so excited. My girls are up there—they’ll give you a hand putting everything where I’ve set up.”
“Madeline.” Clare took a deep breath. “It smells wonderful in here.”
“Between the candles and the diffusers—Inn BoonsBoro label there. We’re featuring the Marguerite and Percy pomegranate scent tonight; we can’t miss.”
“Oh, talk about looking great.” Clare paused in the kitchen nook. “It’s so clever. It makes me want to completely re-outfit my kitchen. I love that pitcher, oh, and these bowls! I’m going to be doing a lot of my holiday shopping here.”
She wandered through, passing off the tray, studying the pretty displays of jewelry, the vibrant art, the gleaming pottery. “You’ve done an amazing job.”
“I want this.” Hope stood in front of a painting where cherry blossoms in full bloom spread over a blue sky and reflected dreamily in a rippled pond. “I want this for my apartment. I want to look at spring every day.”
“I love it.” Avery glanced at Clare, got the nod. “It’s perfect, and sold. Clare and I want to give you a housewarming present when you take up residence at the inn.”
“Really? Oh boy. I’ll take it.” She wrapped her arms around their waists. “You’re the best.”
“I can put a red dot on the title card, noting it’s sold—if you’re sure.”
“Absolutely,” Clare told Madeline.
“First sale! That isn’t from me, my girls, Justine or Carolee. Ladies, we’re in business.”
“What else can we do—besides spend money?” Avery asked.
“Honestly, we’re pretty set. Nervous, excited, but set.”
Avery checked her watch. “We’ll come back in twenty, just in case. I’ve got my cell if you need anything sooner. Let’s run across the street so Hope can show off.”
“I’m already seeing a half a dozen things I know we’re going to want at the inn when we start accessorizing.” She was still trying to scan when Avery pulled her out the door. “I’m going to go back tomorrow with a notebook. Did you see that bamboo bowl? That’s perfect for the kitchen island.”
She dug out her keys. “We can go in the front. The doors should be in next week, and I got a look at the reclaimed teak benches Justine bought for the porch.”
She locked up behind them. “Let’s go up. They finished the tile in Nick and Nora. You’ve got to see it. I do a walk-through every night after the tile crew leaves. I know Beckett does one, but I feel like I should—plus I get to see everything that was done that day.”
“Have you . . .” Clare glanced toward Elizabeth and Darcy.
“I’ll catch her scent now and
then, or hear a little something. But I think she’s a bit shy around me yet. Just look at this. Isn’t it spectacular?”
The back wall shimmered with sea blue glass tiles, floor to ceiling, a stunning contrast for the chocolate brown floor. Large tiles of brown-on-brown tuxedo stripes added a touch of sophistication to the other walls.
“I never would have thought to put these colors together,” Clare realized. “They’re wonderful—elegant, modern, a little glitzy, I guess.”
“Exactly so, and it’ll play off the chocolate brown ceiling and soft blue walls in the bedroom. And the lights? Terrific. Crystal chandelier over the tub, crystal sconces flanking the mirror.”
Hope laid a hand on her heart. “I swear, I fall a little more in love with this place every day.”
“I’m in love with Beckett.” As her friends turned, Clare let out a half laugh. “Wow, that sort of blurted, didn’t it?”
“In love, love?” Avery asked. “Like the big L?”
“That’s the one.” As Hope had, she laid a hand on her heart. “I didn’t think—or believe—I’ d be in love again. Not all the way through. I guess I didn’t believe I could go all the way through twice. It’s not the same as it was with Clint. I don’t think it can be or should be. But it’s just as much, as deep, as real. I can’t believe how lucky I am.”
“You and Beckett.” Avery blinked damp blue eyes. “In big L love.”
“Oh, I don’t know about him. I think it’s safe to say little l on his part. We’re a lot to take on.”
“Clare, he’s been sweet on you forever.”
