“I’m glad you didn’t lose it.”
She hurried behind the counter and washed her hands. “What can I get you? And how are you this morning? Did you see Ford? He just left. He was in with a big order for the station.”
Franny raised one eyebrow as if asking why she was babbling. “I’ll have a chai tea latte and a butter pecan tart, please, and thank you.” Franny had impeccable manners.
Drinda heated the milk for the drink and when she turned around, Franny had vanished. Where in the world?
“Did you know there’s a dog in here?” Franny asked. She knelt by the bench and cooed at Oscar.
“Don’t tell anyone. He snuck in when Ford left. I was trying to catch him when you came in. Do you recognize him?”
“Can’t say that I do, not with him all huddled up like that. Do you have some meat or cheese? Maybe we can lure him out and see if he has tags.”
“No tags,” Drinda said with a sigh. “I checked earlier.” She pulled some ham from the kitchen cooler and joined Franny on the floor. “I can’t have him in here. I’ll fail an inspection and lose my business.”
“Shall we take him to the town office? Turn him in and hope someone claims him?”
“No!”
Franny stared at her.
“What if they take him to a shelter that isn’t no-kill?” she whispered. “He’s just a puppy.” She waved the ham at the end of the bench. Oscar whimpered and inched closer.
“Oh, good. He’s coming out.” Franny edged back.
“Get ready to grab him so we can put him outside.” She expected the immaculately dressedolder woman to balk at the idea, but she looked eager to help. “Here, boy. Come on, Oscar. We won’t hurt you.”
“You know his name?” Franny gave her a puzzled look.
“I sort of named him when I first saw him.” Heat filled her face.
“You’re just a big softie. You should take him home with you.”
“I can’t. My landlord, your grandson, has a no pet rule.” Oh, how she wished it were that easy. She’d love to have a pet. Of course, it wouldn’t be fair to Oscar to leave him kenneled up all day.
An idea started forming in the back of her mind.
The pup wiggled close enough that she was able to grab him and cuddle him to her chest. “Good boy,” she crooned as he nibbled the bacon. He snuggled against her and even though it nearly broke her heart, she set him outside the back door. “You stay out now. Go home. Go on. Go home, Oscar.” She waved him away, but he just sat there, his eyes looking up at her, beseechingly.
There was no way in the world she was going to let Oscar end up in a shelter. She just had to figure out what to do with him. Maybe she could sneak him into her house without Ford noticing.
Chapter Seven
Ford snuggled his winter cap lower on his head and tightened his scarf as he stood in the chilly air outside Drinda’s door. “How did I get talked into this?” he muttered before he knocked.
Grammie L. That’s how. Grammie had a way of adopting people and pulling them into the family. His grandmother always got what she wanted and today, she wanted a family dinner, with Drinda there.
Even more confusing was why Drinda agreed. He shook his head and knocked. The door opened immediately. “Are you ready?” he asked.
“Two seconds. I was just putting on my jacket.” She shivered. “Come inside, it’s freezing. Let me grab a scarf and warmer mitts.” She dug through a small wicker basket under a cherry table near the door.
He stepped in and shut the door behind him. Her home mirrored his, but the effect was entirely different. Her fabric sofas looked soft, warm, andinviting in comparison to his pair of leather recliners. She had decorative pillows on the plush loveseats. Her coffee table held a bushy fern and several fat candles. A dim light glowed in the kitchen as if inviting him to come in for tea. The entire place whisperedcome in and rest.
He'd rather do just that than go to his grandmother’s for dinner. Grammie L. loved a crowd at dinner. A nice private evening with his attractive neighbor was more his speed.
Drinda’s place even smelled nice. Peppermint and something sweet. “Were you baking?” he asked.
“Not really. I made some white chocolate peppermint bark to bring. Franny loves peppermint.”
