He pursed his lips. He'd called the shelter this afternoon—and confused the girl he'd spoken to at first by using the name Homer. It’d taken him a moment to remember they called him Scruffy. The dog was still there. But he couldn't go making promises to Zia. Not until he'd talked to Alara about it. And if he wasn't going to promise, the best he could do was keep his mouth shut.
"Things are kind of busy this week. I promise we'll go and see him when we can, okay?"
She nodded sadly. "Thank you."
He took her hand as they walked back around the house. "Come on, cheer up, little buddy. We'll do what we can. And he's okay there."
"I'm okay. And I know he's okay, really." She looked up into his eyes. "But being okay is different from being happy, isn't it?"
Her words landed square in his chest.
"It's not the same, no. But being okay is all right. Until you can figure out how to be happy."
"I know. That's why I'm trying to figure out how to make Homer happy. It's hard to be happy when you don't know where home is. And he deserves a home."
"Everyone deserves a home, Z."
~ ~ ~
Charles set his glass down with a sigh, and Alara tried to look at him without turning her head. They'd been sitting in the quiet for a while, and she didn't want to intrude on his thoughts.
"Sorry," he said with a small smile. "That was a little melodramatic, wasn't it? I'm afraid I always feel that way when the last of the sunlight has gone for the day." He turned to her. "I'm not going to worry about feeling foolish. I know that with your artist's eye, you'll understand."
"I do. I love the light here." She smiled as the thought struck her. "I'd like to capture it—paint it." She nodded as it came together in her head. She'd wanted to paint the view from here since the first day she arrived. And now she had reason to. "I'd like to paint it for you, Charles. And if you like it, you can hang it in your study. That way you'll always be able to see the light, even on gray days. Or after the sun's gone down."
He reached across to give her arm a squeeze, his gnarled hand still strong, but gentle. "Thank you, Alara. I'd like that very much."
She covered his hand with her own. "I'll enjoy doing it for you." She glanced back out at the view. "I'll capture the light. And the house. I'll do it justice for you."
"I have no doubt." His eyebrows drew together. "And on the subject of you being able to do justice to things I care about—I have a request."
"Anything. Whatever you want, I'll do it, Charles."
"I'd rather you took your time to consider it first."
She let out a short laugh. "I will, if you want me to. But I'll still say yes."
He gave her a wry smile. "See if you still feel that way after I ask."
She leaned forward, eager to hear what he wanted. "Then fire away."
"The house." They both turned to look at it for a moment. "I've known for a long time that I need to do something about it. Now, I know what that something is." He picked his glass back up. "It's been kept up. Jeff, who runs the cellar for me, keeps an eye on it, makes sure everything's in working order. But it needs redecorating." He smiled. "Refurbishing. I honestly don't remember what's in there, but whatever's left has been there for years. I'm sure the kitchen and bathrooms will need updating. But…"
She nodded eagerly. "You want me to do it for you? Charles, I'd love to." She wasn't about to tell him, but she'd always dreamed of being able to fix up a house. Considering she couldn't even afford to live in one, she'd figured that updating one would have to stay a dream. She smiled at him. "You could use it as an Airbnb, if you wanted. I'm sure that'd bring in good money. People love to come and stay in Napa."
She bit down on her lip when she saw the look on his face. It seemed he hadn't been thinking about turning it into a vacation rental.
"Or whatever you want," she added hurriedly. "If you want long-term renters in there, we can set it up for that too. But—listen to me. I shouldn't be spouting ideas. You tell me exactly what you want it for, and that's what I'll make it."
He smiled slowly. "I don't think I'd want vacationers over there. Although it was a very good idea. I was thinking more along the lines of you making it a home."
She should have known. It had been his first home with Marguerite. He'd want it to be that for whoever lived there next.
"I think that's perfect, Charles. I can make it into a home."
He chuckled. "That's my hope."
"I need to make the branding a priority. Although, Delaney thinks that we have enough to satisfy Aaron and Caleb already. So, I'd love to go and take a look around the place as soon as I can."
