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“If you get those calendars, I’m framing October and hanging it in the living room.”
Pepper knew I despised posing, but it was for a good cause.
“I thought you’d take out a billboard,” I pouted.
Water hit my chest. Pepper giggled and sprayed again. Muffy tried to get a drink, and Ash joined in. Sadie looked annoyed.
“Give me that.” I lunged for Pepper.
She darted to the other side of the truck and aimed.
“I thought you were washing the truck today.” Beau strolled down the sidewalk with Lincoln in tow.
“And we thought you were bringing lunch. I don’t see anything that remotely looks like food,” Miss Adeline said.
“Pizza’s coming,” Beau said. “Impatient much?”
“More like starving.”
Woof.
Sadie stood.
“Does she know another S-word?” I asked.
“She knows the whole English language,” Pepper said.
“How aboutwill you marry me? Does she know that one?” I rested my arms on the side of the truck bed.
“I-I’m not sure.” The hose went limp in Pepper’s hands.
“Maybe if I get down on one knee? Would that help?” I rounded the truck and took the hose from her.
With her hand in mine, I led her to the sidewalk where we met. It had been four months since the fire, and Grey Paws had been demolished. Together we were planning our fresh start. And it seemed apt that my brother and sister were here for this moment. My family, altogether in one place. Safe.
I lowered to one knee. Ash, Muffy, and Sadie attacked me with licks and nudges, jockeying to be petted.
Pepper covered her mouth with her hand. Her eyes were bright and full of love as she looked down at me. “Yes.”
“What was that? I can’t hear you.” I struggled to keep a straight face.
She dropped her hand. “I saidyes.”
I slipped a diamond on her left ring finger, and my world clicked into place. She was my beginning and end. My life. My calm. My forever home.
“I told you she’d say yes.” Miss Adeline leaned back confidently.
“Did you know about this?” Pepper shook her finger at the old woman, who was now like a mother to both of us.
She buffed her nails. “Beats me.”
An SUV stopped in the street.
“Pizza’s here. Perfect timing,” Beau said.
“We probably should have had something a little more . . . celebratory.” I’d been so excited, I hadn’t thought it through.
“It’s perfect.” Pepper pecked me on the mouth.
A man in a suit with a skinny tie stepped onto the sidewalk. “Lincoln Hollingsworth?”
My brother didn’t move. “That’s me.”
The man lifted his dark aviator shades. “You’re under arrest for securities fraud and tax evasion.”
* * *
