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Cameron paused. “Take a breath, girl. You’re okay.”
Her eyes welled. “Thank you.”
“Tell your family I said hello.”
“I will.”
Cameron’s next stop was the supermarket, but the gathering clouds looked like imminent rain, which meant no time to waste. He wanted to finish and go home, and the thought of having someone to go home to left an immediate lump in his throat.
He reached the parking lot, found a spot close to the entrance, and left Ghost in the Jeep, then locked him in. Not so much to protect the dog but to protect anyone who might be stupid enough to think about opening the door with Ghost on guard.
He grabbed a cart, checked the list, and then started shopping. He was in and out in less than twenty minutes. Ghost was asleep in the passenger seat and woke up when Cameron put the groceries in the back. The clouds were growing darker and he could hear thunder rumbling.
Ghost whined as he got in.
“I know. I heard it. It’s thunder, not bombs. You’re fine,” he said, and stroked the big dog’s head. “Next stop, Granny Annie’s Bakery.”
As luck would have it, there were several empty parking spaces in front of the store. Cameron wheeled in to the curb and parked, then got out on the run.
His aunt was in the back of the bakery and Laurel, her oldest daughter, was waiting on customers. He walked straight up to Laurel while other customers were still scanning the bakery case.
“Hi, Cam!”
“Hey, Cuz… I have an order to pick up.”
“I think Mom has it ready to go. Just a sec,” she said, and went into the kitchen. She came back moments later with a sack.
“A sour-cream brownie cake with chocolate ganache?”
“That’s it,” Cameron said, and handed her a card.
Laurel looked over his shoulder as she swiped the bank card. “Looks like it’s gonna rain. Drive safe going home.”
“I will, thanks. My best to Doug and the girls,” he said as Laurel returned his card and scooted the sack across the counter.
Moments later he was out the door and running for the Jeep, and none too soon. A big clap of thunder announced the storm’s arrival.
Ghost whined and then turned and jumped into the back set and lay down on the floor.
Cameron sighed. “You’re okay, buddy. Just one more stop and we’ll be done.”
Emory’s Barbeque was the last public business at the foot of the mountain and it had a drive-through. It was already beginning to rain as Cameron pulled up to the speaker.
“Welcome to Emory’s. How can I help you?”
“This is Cameron Pope. I’m picking up an order to go.”
“Yes, sir. Drive on through.”
Cameron turned on the windshield wipers as he stopped at the pickup window with his card in his hand. After he’d paid, he set the bag of food on the front floorboard and sped away.
The rain was really coming down now but they were headed home.
Ghost was sitting up in the back seat, and as Cameron glanced up in the rearview mirror and saw the glint in the dog’s eyes and the way his ears were on alert, he laughed.
“Smells good in here, doesn’t it, boy? Let’s go see Rusty. We don’t want to keep our girl waiting, right?”
Ghost barked.
