1105 Yakima Street - Debbie Macomber [87]
Bending down, Jolene scooped the small dog into her arms. The puppy started to lick her chin. Squinting, Jolene laughed and held him away from her face.
“Beau,” Grace called out as she hurried toward them. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Jolene said. “He’s just so cute.”
“He’s a darn nuisance. I keep forgetting to close the office door behind me. This is the second time today.” She reached for Beau, but Jolene continued to hold him.
“Would it be all right if I petted him for a while?” she asked, looking up at the librarian.
Grace glanced at Rachel as though to get her permission.
“Fine with me,” Rachel said.
Grace lingered a moment. “When are you coming back to the salon, Rachel?” she asked. “With both you and Teri gone, I’ve had a heck of a time finding someone to cut my hair the way I like.”
“I…won’t be coming back.”
“That’s a shame.” She paused. “And I bet that’s how all your clients feel.”
She didn’t know what to say. Rachel had heard via Jane that a number of her clients were looking for her. She hated to disappoint anyone but she seriously doubted they’d follow her to Portland or wherever she landed.
“Bring Beau back to me when you’re tired of playing with him,” Grace said.
“Okay.” Beau had settled down in Jolene’s lap and chewed on her finger until she moved her hand just out of his range.
Rachel enjoyed watching Jolene with the puppy. Several minutes later, she stood to leave but Jolene asked, “Could you stay a little longer?”
“Okay.” She waited, unsure if Jolene had something else to say. She leaned down and petted the puppy, who immediately tried to chew on her finger, too.
“Be careful, he’s got sharp little teeth.”
Rachel had discovered that. “Ouch.” She jerked her hand away and examined her finger to see if he’d drawn blood. Thankfully he hadn’t.
“I never had a dog,” Jolene said. “I wanted one but Dad said we’d have to leave him alone all day, and that didn’t seem right.”
“I never had one, either.” Her aunt hadn’t been keen on pets, although Rachel had longed for a dog.
“Too messy?” Jolene guessed.
“Too messy,” she confirmed, and offered her step-daughter a tentative smile.
Jolene cuddled the small dog as though that required her undivided attention.
“Rachel,” she whispered after several minutes. “Don’t move to Portland.”
“You want me to go someplace else?” She frowned, a little confused.
“No.”
“Another town farther away?”
“No,” Jolene repeated emphatically. “I don’t want you to move at all.”
Rachel didn’t say anything, afraid she might be reading more into this than warranted. “Are you asking me to stay in Cedar Cove?”
“I…I don’t know.”
That wasn’t the answer she’d hoped to hear.
“All I can say is I don’t know what my dad will do when he finds out you’re leaving the area.”
Rachel realized her decision would be hard on Bruce, but she didn’t feel she had any choice.
“I…don’t want you to go, either,” Jolene said.
Perhaps that was a start.
Twenty-Seven
Is Thursday still your day off? Gloria texted Chad. It was less intimidating than phoning.
She didn’t have long to wait for a reply. Yes.
She bit her lip and texted back. Could you come over?
Now?
Anytime.
His reply was almost instantaneous. On my way.
Gloria hoped, prayed, she was doing the right thing.
Forty minutes later her doorbell chimed. Nervously wiping her palms on her maternity-front pants, she opened the door.
“Everything okay?” Chad immediately asked.
“Yes.”
“You wanted to see me?”
She nodded, realizing she’d left him standing outside, and let him into her apartment.
Chad walked in and looked around as if this was the first time he’d ever been there. “What’s up?”
“I need some help,” she said.
“Okay.”
Gloria had gotten in touch with him on impulse. She did need help, which she knew Mack or Roy would’ve been happy to provide. But she couldn’t resist asking Chad, although she was afraid it might be too late for them.
“What do you need?”
“I…purchased a crib.”
His gaze met hers. “So did I.”
“Oh.