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Sometimes it was like a lost cause trying to explain things, and this felt like one of them. He kneeled next to Joelle and gave her a hug, satisfied she was safe. “You threw it good, sweetheart. Maybe we should add that to our list of fun things to do.”
“Yay. I like to play ball. And chase. And hide-go-seek. Can we do those things at home, Daddy?”
“I don’t see why not.” He picked Joelle up, settling her on his hip. He turned to apologize to the pretty woman as the big red dog bounded in their direction.
***
The little girl had come out of nowhere, surprising Madison. Especially given she didn’t immediately see anyone racing after the child. Luckily, Freida was a bigger attraction than the pond. Madison hadn’t been able to stop the child from throwing the ball, but it would seem there was nothing to fret about.
Well, all except…“Watch out,” she called, trying to warn the man and his daughter as Frieda stopped next to them and dropped to roll on the ground. “She’s going to shake. Frieda, no!” The Irish Setter’s long hair would give a good dousing to anyone within distance if they didn’t give the dog a wide berth. A fact Madison knew from an earlier experience this week with Frieda while taking her out for one of their twice daily dog-walking sessions.
Startled, the man spun around and looked at her just in time to see the dog go into action, but not enough time to spin back around. Unfortunately, that also meant the pair of them got all muddy because of all the rain they’d had the past couple of days.
“Freida, come.” Madison moved to hook the leash on the dog’s collar. “I’m so sorry…” The rest of the words failed her as she recognized the man. Not just any man. Her childhood crush. Her friend’s husband. Correction…her friend’s widowed husband. Madison swallowed hard, willing the words to come forth.
“Any dog with that much fur should come with a warning sign,” he said, wiping a hand across his face and then trying to brush some of the mud from his daughter’s face. But instead of making things better, he only smeared the mud splotches. The dry tone of his voice sounded as though he were serious. It was just a little muddy water, for heaven’s sake. And the Caleb Duncan she remembered would have found humor in the situation.
“Probably. I’m so sorry.” She searched in her handbag for something to help him clean away the dirt. “Here.” Madison held out a couple of napkins she had stuffed there after her fast-food lunch. One never knew when extras would come in handy, and today, she was thankful for the old habit.
“Thanks.” He wiped his daughter’s face and then his own, but the napkins fell apart into little useless wet balls.
The little girl laughed. “You look funny, Daddy.”
Caleb grimaced. “I’m glad you think so. You’re not looking much better to tell you the truth.” He turned back to Madison, his brow lines deepening as though perplexed. “Don’t I know you?”
Madison shifted uncomfortably. “Sort of.” Considering she was the one who had introduced him to Lauren. True, the guy was only an acquaintance, but it hadn’t kept Madison from secretly having a crush on the slightly older, but oh, so handsome, son of Mr. Duncan. Caleb was at least five years older than they were, but to a high school senior he was Mr. Dreamy. Except, from the minute that she had introduced Lauren to Caleb, those two had eyes for no one else. Her friend never even knew Madison had a crush on Caleb, and of course, once those two were an item, the school-girl crush was put on secret lockdown…forever.
Instead, Madison faded out of sight, eventually moving to the city in search of a career filled with the promise of more excitement than a small town could ever offer. “I knew Lauren,” she said, figuring that was more than enough of a connection. “I’m so sorry about the mess,” Madison said, reaching out to use the cuff of her sleeve to wipe away a spot on his forehead that he missed.
Caleb frowned but hadn’t moved. It was the distant look in his expression that did her in. He hadn’t been able to place her identity, more than enough proof he had barely known of her existence. It had always been Lauren, and by the looks of things, still was, considering the wedding ring he wore a year and a half later.
“Madison Bradley. We met at your dad’s store once and then you came home from college and volunteered to chaperone the senior high school prom. I introduced you to Lauren there.”
“Oh, I remember you,” Caleb said, his voice laced with pain as though the mere mention of Lauren’s name had the power to hurt him.
“You knew my mommy?” Joelle asked, her blue eyes like wide saucers as she gazed up at Madison.
“I did. She was one of my friends in high school, and always the sunlight in a room.” Lauren had been one of those glass is half full people…a positive can-do attitude toward everything.
“I miss her.” Joelle pouted, tears welling in her eyes.
“I’m sure you do, honey. But your mommy is always in your heart, so look there next time you want to talk to her.” It was the same thing her mother had told Madison when her father had died. She turned to Caleb. “Listen, let me offer you some free dog-walking or pet-transportation services. It’s the least I can do to apologize.”
Caleb shook his head. “There’s only one problem. We don’t have a dog… or a pet. Besides, your apology is accepted.” His warm smile went straight to her heart, thrusting her back in time to make her feel like a giddy teenager again.
“I want a doggy, but Daddy keeps telling me no. You have a really big dog and I like him a lot because he loves to play.”
“Freida is rather large, but she isn’t my dog. I’ve just moved back to town from New York City, and I started offering pet sitting, dog walking, and animal transportation services. I’m trying to drum up some business,” Madison said, handing him a card. “Since you don’t have a dog, send me your dry-cleaning bill. I really am sorry about the mess.”
“Honestly, it’s not your fault. Joelle threw the ball into the water. We were just leaving before the rainstorm hits,” he said, glancing up at the sky.
“The rain could wash all the mud off,” Madison teased, trying to see the humor in the situation.
“It could, but I’d be more worried about a lightning storm popping up. We need to get to safety before that happens.” Caleb took Joelle by the hand, prepared to make a run for it if necessary.
“But they aren’t calling for thunder and lightning last I checked.”
“The meteorologists don’t always get it right. Better safe than sorry. It was nice running into you again.” Caleb was down to earth and practical. Starchy almost. And nothing like the adventure seeking pair he and Lauren had once been. It was as though Lauren’s death had sucked the life from him.
