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“Dark Lady,” one of Cher’s hits, played from the radio. Miss Adeline sang and clapped along. When she caught us watching, she grinned.
Guessed I wasn’t the only one with Teague on the brain. The reminder was a little painful, especially given the strange phone call last night. I’d wondered if I’d ever see him again as he left the park. Then, he’d called.
Because he lost a friend. One he thought he’d saved. He sounded so desperate, in so much pain. I wished more than anything I could have been with him, but I knew that wasn’t possible. I knew what loss felt like.
“Are you going to stand there and stare or do something?” Miss Adeline’s eyes were light as they bored into me.
“You have it under control.” I turned to Vivian and Muriella. “Ladies, we can put our feet up and drink sangria.”
“I knew we forgot to bring something.” Vivian snapped her finger in front of her in adang itmove.
“Then I suppose we’ll have to chip in.” I slung an arm around Miss Adeline’s shoulders. “Who’s had breakfast?”
She pointed to the far end of kennels. “They have. And Sadie.”
Of course Sadie had.
“If you’re serious about walking them, I’ll grab leads. But if it’s too cold . . .”
“Not at all.”
The bell jangled over the front door. We hadn’t had this many visitors in forever.
As I took a step toward the lobby to see who was here—and why the door was unlocked—two familiar faces appeared.
“Told you we should’ve taken the subway,” Vivian said.
One of the men scowled. The other grinned.
“But drivin’ my truck around this town is so much fun,” he said good-naturedly. “It’s the parking that’s a problem.” He moved behind Muriella and wrapped his arms around her.
“Did you find a spot?” she asked.
He kissed the side of her temple. A pinch of jealousy nipped at my heart. Their affection was easy. The love radiated from them.
I’d never really thought about a partner until Teague barged into my world. Now it seemed he had one foot in and one foot out, which was worse than if he’d never been there at all.
Vivian patted her husband’s cheek. “Someday you’ll learn we’re always right, and you’re always wrong.”
Daniel Elliott grunted and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
“Well, this is a surprise. Four of our favorite people, in the flesh.” Miss Adeline raised the dog food scoop she held. “Why have you been such strangers?”
“Because Stone and M have a seven-month-old,” Vivian said.
“And she’s been pretending like she was the one pregnant,” Muriella volunteered.
She shrugged. “It worked. I got waited on hand and foot.”
“You always do, Princess,” Daniel growled.
He was scary, all business all the time, but had been incredibly kind to us.
“Did you pray for volunteers?” I whispered to Miss Adeline.
She appeared as baffled by these four showing up as I was.
I scooped up a few leads off the counter. “I try to walk to the park and let them wander around for a while.”
