Page 61 of Always Almost You

Buddy pawed the door again.

Mike grabbed his keys and stepped into the garage as Buddy began to whine.

Mike got into the car. The whining escalated into loud, frantic barking. Mike pulled up the family room camera on his phone. Buddy was throwing his entire body against the door of the crate.

Mike sighed. “Okay,” he muttered. He got out of the car and hurried back into the house. “You’re definitely not crate trained,” he said, unlatching the door. “And forcing you into confinement tonight would be cruel.”

The door swung open, and Buddy burst out like a champagne cork. He sprinted one lap around the room, charged halfway up the stairs, galloped back down, then leapt onto the sofa and collapsed there, panting.

Mike sat beside him and rubbed his ears until his breathing slowed.

“Well,” Mike said, “I guess this is where you’re spending New Year’s Eve.”

Buddy rested his chin on Mike’s knee.

“If I’m going to this party,” Mike said, standing, “I’d better leave now.” He addressed his pup. “Like I said—I won’t be gone long.”

Buddy followed him with his eyes.

“And if you need me, I’ll come right home.” He smiled. “You’re my top priority now.”

CHAPTER 40

Lauren stepped into the dining room and selected a plate from the end of the long buffet table. A chef in a tall white hat staffed a carving station positioned in the far corner of the room. Two people waited in line for him to layer thin slivers of prime rib onto small French rolls and place them on their plates.

Lauren moved along the table, adding Caprese skewers, au gratin potato puffs, bacon-wrapped asparagus, and tiny triangles of spanakopita to her plate. She left room for one of the miniature French dip sandwiches. She picked up cutlery and a linen napkin at the end of the table and took her place in line for the carving station.

The couple in front of her was engaged in good-natured debate. “This is an incredible spread,” the woman said. “I don’t think there’s any risk of Mandy and Eric running out of food.”

“You know what they say,” her husband replied. “A bird in the hand and all that.” He glanced back at Lauren and smiled. “What do you think, young lady? Your plate looks almost as full as ours. Are you planning to come back for dessert later, or go for it now?”

Lauren laughed. “You read my mind. I was just considering that very question.”

The woman snapped her fingers. “I’ve had a brilliant idea.” She handed her plate to her husband. “I’ll go through the dessert buffet and load up a plate with a little of everything. We’ll take it outside and share.” She turned to Lauren. “All three of us, unless you’re here with someone.”

Lauren shook her head. “The only person I know here is my business partner, and she hasn’t arrived yet. So I’m on my own.”

“Not anymore,” the woman said warmly. “You’re with us now. We’ll find a spot where the three of us can sit together.” She stepped out of the carving line. “Anything in particular you’d like me to grab from the dessert buffet?” she asked Lauren.

“Surprise me,” Lauren said. “I have a serious sweet tooth.”

“Do you like chocolate?” the woman asked.

“Especially chocolate,” Lauren replied.

The woman nodded and headed for the sideboard. By the time she returned, carefully balancing a dessert plate piled high, the chef had assembled Lauren’s sandwich and placed it on her plate.

The three new friends carried their food outside and found seats at a round table under a palm tree.

Lauren started the conversation by asking how they knew the hosts. The husband turned out to be Eric’s uncle, and recounted Eric’s childhood mastery of Lincoln Logs with affection. As they ate, the conversation flowed to book recommendations, favorite television shows, and things they were looking forward to in the coming year.

The couple was expecting their first grandchild in the spring and spoke with joy about their plans to travel to Oregon for the birth, and to visit at least once a month afterward.

As the conversation continued, Lauren felt herself unwind, and realized that she was having a great time. When they finished their food, the wife slid the dessert plate toward the center of the table. Lauren selected a tiny chocolate éclair, and was taking her first bite, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Kathy behind her. “Hi!” Lauren said, covering her mouth as she chewed.

“Hi, yourself,” Kathy replied. “I’ve been looking for you for the last fifteen minutes. I almost thought you hadn’t come.”

Lauren swallowed the last bite and shook her head. “I got here early,” she said. “And I met these lovely people.” She introduced the couple to Kathy.