1225 Christmas Tree Lane - Debbie Macomber [70]
“It’s a help to me, too.”
Bailey smiled. Apparently, her mother was using the senior citizens to help her with dog training. Beth claimed this provided two benefits in one: not only did the older people get a form of therapy spending time with the dogs, they also got a sense of purpose from it. The Reading with Rover program at the library was another of her successes.
Beth slipped an arm around Kent’s waist. “I have to admit that getting those dogs to Sanford Suites can be a bit of an ordeal.”
“You won’t need to do it alone anymore,” Kent told her and, leaning over, gave her a quick kiss.
Seeing her parents like this, so openly in love, Bailey almost forgot her job.
“Since Olivia isn’t having cake, you can give me a bigger slice,” Jack whispered. Bailey threw him a conspirator’s smile and willingly complied.
“I heard that, Jack Griffin,” the judge said from the other side of the room.
“How’s Beau?” Sophie asked.
“I believe he’s the smartest dog I’ve ever owned,” Grace said, beaming with pride. She entertained them all for several minutes with stories of the puppy’s antics.
The sound of another car pulling into the driveway attracted everyone’s attention. “Oh, good,” Sophie said, peering out the window. “It’s the couple who owns the bed-and-breakfast where Dad stayed during Christmas,” she announced. “Oh, and look! They brought their dog.”
“They named her Millie,” Beth said. “I’ve been doing dog obedience classes with her and four of her siblings over the past two months.”
Bob and Peggy Beldon sat down for cake and coffee just as the Griffins and Hardings left. Millie lay contentedly at Peggy’s feet.
Bailey hurried into the kitchen for a doggie treat, returning just in time to hear Bob Beldon say to her father, “Welcome back to Cedar Cove.” Bob dug into the white cake with raspberry filling.
“You’ll never guess who we heard from,” Peggy said conversationally and then, before anyone could guess, she answered her own question. “Danielle!”
Bailey was all ears. Sophie, too. Her sister set down the coffeepot and waited for the punch line.
“And?” Their dad frowned; clearly, Danielle wasn’t a good memory.
“She sent a check to pay for the damage she did and wrote a letter of apology.”
“I’m glad she apologized,” Kent said. “She caused quite a scene.”
“I’ll say,” Bob muttered between bites of cake. “I’ve been in theater for twenty years, and I’ve never seen more of a drama queen than that woman.”
“But she had a broken heart,” Sophie said, looking at Bailey. “Right?”
Her younger sister was far more charitable than Bailey was inclined to be. She had a point, though. They could afford to be generous. Their parents were together again, and, after all, Danielle’s plan to make their mother jealous had started out as a misguided favor to their dad.
“In my opinion, the sailor who dumped her made a lucky escape.”
“Bob,” Peggy said pointedly. “Be kind.”
“Okay, okay. At least she was responsible enough to pay for the damages and send us a note of apology.”
“I still feel bad about all of that,” Kent said. “I had no idea she’d react the way she did.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Bob told him. “We appreciated your offer to pay for the damages, but you weren’t the one who created the mess. We mailed Danielle a letter after the first of the year, and three weeks later the check arrived.” They chatted for another twenty minutes, and then the Beldons went home, with Millie heeling very nicely.
The Flemmings and their two sons stopped by next, passing the Beldons in the driveway. The dogs were at home, but Matthew and Mark spoke animatedly about their puppies whom they’d named Charlie and Sam. It was obvious that the boys had taken very successfully to dog ownership. Bailey remembered when she and Sophie had become dog owners for the first time. Watching the two brothers reminded her of the summer their parents had allowed them each to choose a puppy at the local animal shelter. Bailey got a beagle and Sophie had an Australian shepherd. They’d named them Barney and Fi Fi, and those dogs