“Just a little longer, squirt,” he replied, glancing back at her, the sight of her bursting with energy easing some of the tension in his shoulders. “Are you excited to see your Grandma Dolly?”
“Yes!” she exclaimed, bouncing a little, making Pudge wiggle dangerously close to the edge of her lap. Charlotte hugged her tight and brought the cat back into her embrace. "I can't wait for Grandma to see Pudge."
“Well, just remember, she’s got a dog too. So it’ll be a bit of a party.”
“Pixie's just a little poodle. I can’t wait to see her, too! She's so cute! Do you think Pudge will like her?”
“I think they’ll get along just fine,” Lyle said, his mind briefly wandering to how well Charlotte had adapted to caring for the little kitten. And fostering the four puppies. The kid was definitely an animal lover, and the animals in turn seemed to be easing her spirit.
As they rounded a gentle bend in the road, Lyle spotted the familiar pumpernickel brown house that had been a fixture in his life since childhood. It was an old farmhouse but held memories that felt fresh every time he returned, memories of him and Frank and Jeff skipping rocks in the creek behind the house or riding the cows next door. When Jeff and Sherry had married, they'd held the reception here at his mother's house.
The last time he'd been here had been right after the funeral, when he'd come to collect Charlotte. That had been a difficult day, explaining to a six-year-old why she couldn't stay with her grandmother and instead was moving to a ranch with four cowboys--one of which she hadn't seen in over a year.
“Here we go,” he said, pulling into the gravel driveway that led to the front door and parking next to a well-kept flowerbed. It was small but vibrant, a testament to Dolly’s love for nature, even amidst her ongoing illness.
“Okay!” she chirped, clambering out of the truck and following Lyle to the front door.
As he approached, the worries buzzing around his head began to settle. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door, a sense of anticipation settling over him. A moment later, it creaked open, revealing a petite woman with a gentle smile that instantly warmed his heart, even though the pale complexion and signs of exhaustion on her face made him worry.
“Lyle!” she exclaimed, rushing forward in a burst of laughter that only made the tears well in her eyes. Despite her frail condition, Dolly enveloped him in a warm, tight hug. "Thank you for bringing her!"
Charlotte raced around him, Pudge in arms. “Grandma Dolly!” She shouted, rushing forward in a flurry of curls and exuberance.
"Careful!" Lyle cautioned lest she knock over her grandmother.
“Breathe, my sweet girl!” Dolly laughed, arms opening wide to embrace Charlotte as they collided. Pudge mewed in protest at the sudden motion, but Dolly’s loving touch didn’t deter Charlotte.
“Oh, I’ve missed you so much!” Charlotte squealed, giving her grandmother the biggest hug she could muster without squishing the cat she still held in one arm.
The sight warmed Lyle’s heart, but a familiar prick of concern crested the back of his mind. Charlotte would take comfort in this reunion, but he knew the layers of emotion would come rushing back, and it wasn’t long before he noticed the crinkle in Dolly’s brow as she embraced the little girl.
"I've missed you, too, my love."
“This is Pudge," Charlotte said proudly, thrusting the kitten forward. "I'm training her to be a helper kitty. Miss Heather is helping me. She trains dogs, you know."
“You don't say.” Dolly said, tilting her head, a radiant blend of pride and humor shimmering in her eyes. "She looks like a very fine, obedient kitty."
“Do you want to hold her? She's very sweet.” Charlotte offered up the kitten, and both Dolly and Pudge found themselves bonding in slow blinks.
“I would love that,” Dolly said gently. "Both of you come in." She moved into the front room and sat in a well-worn recliner chair. Charlotte followed and carefully placed Pudge into her grandmother’s lap. “Is she a good little helper?”
“Yep! She cuddles with all the puppies!” Charlotte beamed with pride, moving beside her grandmother and looking up at Lyle as if seeking his approval. "We fostered four of them. But Buttercup got adopted. I cried."
"Oh, no."
"We still have the other puppies. There's Pepper--she's kinda wild. And then Coco and Sherry."
"Sherry?" Dolly asked, raising a brow and looking at Lyle before giving her attention back to her granddaughter.
"Yes. I named her after mom because she has yellow hair."
"Oh, hon. That was very sweet."
"Is Pixie here?" Charlotte asked.
"Yes, she's over in her bed. I'm afraid she's feeling a little stiff these days. She's gotten pretty grumpy about walking lately."
“Grumpy?” Charlotte echoed, her brow furrowing. “Is she getting old?”
