31. Kendra
31
KENDRA
K endra was sore and tired the next day, but could not help smiling ridiculously.
The cashier at BigMart actually noticed. “Did you get some good news?”
“You could say that!” Kendra gathered up her groceries and went to pack them into the tiny fridge.
Did a marriage proposal count as good news? Kendra realized she hadn’t actually answered that question. In fact, they had raised more matters than they’d solved. Where would they live? Did Alan really intend to work at Tiny Paws forever? What would it mean if Veronica Chase closed the day care? Cherry often mentioned how hard it was to find this kind of place, with a private back yard, in a commercial zone that allowed a care center the size of Tiny Paws.
On a whim, she left Rita in the Big Mart parking lot and walked to the real estate office down the block from the auto shop. Clarice was behind the desk, frowning at her computer, and Veronica’s door was shut.
“Oh, hello! Was it Kendra? Did you have a chance to look at that neighborhood?”
Had Kendra actually introduced herself? She hoped so, though she couldn’t remember, because she really didn’t want to assume anything ill of Clarice. She seemed so earnest and helpful. “I haven’t been over there yet, but I was just wondering if you had any news about that Tiny Paws contract. There’s a friend with a business venture who might be interested in the place.”
Clarice gave a nervous glance at Veronica’s door and lowered her voice. “Oh, it won’t be available. Veronica was on the phone after you left and when she came out, she said that she wanted to extend their contract with a lower lease, because they were such good tenants .”
Kendra didn’t need instinct to feel a twang of alarm.
That was a heck of a pivot, and she wasn’t convinced that Veronica could possibly be sincere about it. Clarice seemed to have the same reservations. “I don’t understand what happened,” she said in conspirator’s tones. “One minute she’s trying everything to break the lease, and now she’s almost ready to lose money to extend it. Sorry for your friend.”
“Oh, that’s okay. I’ll keep looking. For my friend.”
“I have a separate binder for commercial properties!” Clarice volunteered eagerly.
Not sure what else to do, Kendra took it, selected a few random listings, and got printouts for them.
She dropped them in the Tiny Paws trash when she went to pick up Amy. None of them were the slightest bit suitable for a secretive day care.
“Dinner tonight?” Alan suggested eagerly, bouncing Amy in his arms as he came to the gate to meet her.
“I was hoping you’d ask,” Kendra said shyly, remembering what he’d done to her body for most of the night before. “Would you like me to bring takeout again?”
“I was thinking I could dazzle you with my culinary skills and make spaghetti and garlic bread,” Alan counter-offered. “The sauce is from a jar and the garlic bread is premade and ready to reheat, but I boil a mean pot of noodles.”
Kendra’s phone buzzed. “Hang on,” she said. She often accepted calls after her listed hours to give phone advice or refer people to emergency vet services when necessary. She stepped a little ways away.
“This is Kendra,” she answered, because the number wasn’t familiar. Something made her feel leery, but she was never one to turn down someone who needed help.
“Kendra. Funny that the guy I sent to serve you found that your so-called home address was a laundromat.”
The blood froze in Kendra’s veins. “Charlie.” If that was even his name. “What do you want?”
“What’s mine,” Charlie said. “I’m suing you for custody.”