Page 6 of Until Joy

“I have to admit, Miss Laverne, this is better than Great Aunt Patty’s, but I’d never tell her that.” Joy’s eyes sparkled like the summer sun glinting off a lake. It lit up some of the dark places inside of me.

The older lady patted her hand. “I wouldn’t expect you to, honey. I think it’s time for us to clear the dishes and get dessert. I’ve been hankering for a piece of your cake since you took it out of the oven.” She turned to me. “What about you, Graham? Didn’t Joy’s cake smell sweet?”

“Definitely,” I drawled. “Joy and her cake are all kinds of sweet.”

Joy shot me a startled glance, then she stood up to clear the table.

“Uh-uh,” I said as I stood up. “You two cooked and set the table, it’s my job to clear and clean.” I soon had the table cleaned off, and the cake set on the table with small plates, forks and a knife.

Joy stood up and cut three slices. She didn’t need to be told to cut only a small slice for Miss Laverne and a large slice for me.

“Are you sure I can eat all this?” I teased.

“If you’re anything like my brothers, you’ll probably be back for seconds. Not necessarily because it’s good, just because it’s food,” she laughed.

She had a warm laugh that washed over me like her accent, sparking an immediate smile out of me. Come to think of it, I’d been smiling all through the meal. Joy was just like her name, she spread it around, making me happier than I’d been in a long time.

I took a bite of her cake and let the warm goodness settle on my tongue before swallowing. “Damn, that’s great. Girl, you really can cook.”

“Bake,” Joy corrected. “I can bake. I’m only fair to middling when it comes to cooking.”

“You’re coming along, honey.” Miss Laverne smiled at her.

“So how long have you been in town, Joy?” I wanted to know.

“I arrived a month ago. I’m working at July Silver’s veterinary hospital,” she said proudly. “I really like it there.”

“I know July, she’s quite a lady.”

Joy nodded her head vigorously. “I’ve gotten to watch her operate. She’s amazing.”

“What do you do there?”

“I’m a kennel assistant, and it doesn’t get any better than that. I get to pet dogs and cats every day. Make sure they feel loved.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. “I’m sure there’s more to it than that.”

“Well, sure, I have to keep them fed and watered, and make sure that they don’t scratch their incisions. Sometimes they’re coming out of sedation, and I have to really watch them. Since I work the night shift, I don’t get to take them outside and play, which is a bummer. But when they’re lonely or scared, I take them out of their cages for a cuddle.”

“How did you get the job?”

“My great-grandmother hooked me up. She’s a friend of Alice Mayson and Miss Laverne. That’s how come I’m living here.”

“Esperance and I have known each other forever. I knew Joy would be good people.”

Joy giggled. “I hardly ever hear people call her Esperance. She’s known as Little Grandma by everyone in Jasper Creek.”

“Is that where you come from?” I asked.

“Born and raised. What about you?”

“Bangor, Maine.”

“You’re a long way from home.” Joy sounded surprised.

“I wandered a lot after I got out of the service.”

“Oh. How long have you been here in Murfreesboro?”