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"I’d love to, Mom, but you know Sadie hates flying."
A light, infectious chuckle resonated from the other end of the line. "That dog is more spoiled than my grandchildren. You know, if you had a kid—"
"No, Mom, we are not having the grandkids conversation again," I interrupted her, laughing as I envisioned the horrified look on her face.
Before she could retort, I heard a gruff voice in the background. "Give me the phone, Barb," my father’s voice boomed through the speaker.
"Dad!" I exclaimed, grinning widely. "Are you eavesdropping on us?"
"In my own house? Never," he replied, his deep laughter echoing through the phone. "But I do agree with your mother, Jude. We'd love to have you home for the holidays."
I sighed dramatically, a smile still lingering on my lips. "Alright, alright. Let me think about it."
A triumphant cheer sounded from the other side. "That's my girl!" Dad exclaimed. "We'll be looking forward to seeing you."
“But I didn’t…” I chuckled again, shaking my head as I realized they were taking my consideration of the issue as a probable yes. “Anyway, I should get going. Love you guys.”
Even though Mom and Dad could be overwhelming at times, I loved my family and wouldn't trade them for anything. And while the logistics of travel with Sadie were daunting, I found myself looking forward to the idea of spending Christmas back in Oregon, surrounded by my loving, if somewhat overbearing, family.
After changing into casual clothes, I stretched out on the couch, about to close my eyes when a soft whine from Sadie jerked me back into the moment. I glanced down to see a big-eyed dog, her face nuzzled against my leg. "What's up, girl?" I asked, stroking her fluffy head. The answer came to me in a heartbeat when I followed her gaze to her empty food bowl.
"Oh, hell," I muttered, glancing at my barren kitchen. "I completely forgot about groceries." I sighed. The idea of venturing out to do a full-on grocery shop was about as appealing as a root canal.
I quickly pulled out my phone and opened the app for The Corner Deli, a local market that I frequented. It was only a few blocks down from my home and served a killer Reuben sandwich that I'd been craving all day. Not to mention they stocked essentials, including Sadie's favorite brand of dog food. I swiftly typed in my order: a couple of their famous Reubens, a bag of Sadie’s dog food, milk, bread, a packet of the delicious oatmeal cookies they made in-house, and a few other odds and ends.
After confirming the order, I stood, stretched my arms above my head, and picked up Sadie's leash. "Alright, Sadie. Walk and pickup time."
She thumped her tail excitedly against the hardwood floor before getting up and bounding toward me. I clicked the leash onto her collar, grabbed my little trolley cart, and opened the door. As we headed out into the cool evening air, her enthusiasm ignited a spark of excitement in me. The bright Christmas lights strung up along the streets gave the neighborhood a festive glow that seeped into my mood.
I tugged my scarf a little tighter around my neck as we headed toward The Corner Deli. The air was brisk, a distinct edge to it that hinted at snow in the near future. The festive decorations adorning the shops and houses we passed cast a warm, colorful glow on the frost-kissed sidewalks, infusing the night with an undeniable holiday spirit.
Sadie happily trotted along beside me, her breath puffing out in little clouds as she took in all the exciting smells and sounds of the street. I couldn't help but smile at her pure joy.
Once we arrived at the deli, I tied Sadie to the bike rack just outside, promising her I'd be quick. As I stepped inside, I was immediately enveloped in the rich, mouth watering aromas of freshly baked bread, warm deli meats, and rich coffee.
A couple of familiar faces behind the counter greeted me with cheery hellos. The two brothers who owned the place, Mike and Tim, were part of the reason I enjoyed the deli so much. Always up for some banter and full of jokes, they made every visit enjoyable.
"Well look who finally decided to grace us with her presence," Mike called out, a teasing grin on his face.
"It's been a whole three days, Jude," Tim chimed in, pretending to wipe away a tear. "We were about to send out a search party."
I laughed, returning their joking with a light-hearted roll of my eyes. "I knew I should have gone to that new place down the street instead."
After our laughter subsided, I collected my order and thanked the guys. Turning to leave, I was suddenly brought to a halt as I nearly walked straight into a solid and familiar body. A surprised gasp escaped my lips as I looked up into Tony’s smiling face.
"I'm sorry!" I blurted out, stepping back hastily to put some space between us. Once I had recomposed myself, I cocked an eyebrow at him. "Are you following me, Dr. Montivais?"
Tony let out a rich, hearty laugh that filled me with warmth. "Actually, I live in the neighborhood," he explained, his eyes twinkling. "This place has the best pastrami on rye around."
“You better believe it!” Mike called out from behind the counter, his words accompanied by a wink.
"I had no idea we were neighbors," I said to Tony, pleasantly surprised.
Tony shrugged nonchalantly as he picked up his to-go order and paid for his food. "Guess we learn something new every day."
As we stepped back into the chilly night, Tony didn't hesitate to reach down and lavish attention on Sadie, who wagged her tail enthusiastically, nuzzling her head into his hand. I watched, a soft smile playing on my lips. Despite the complexity of our situation, I found myself charmed by the sight. It seemed Sadie had a pretty good taste in men after all.
Chapter 16
