Tiny Blessings

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

Nash finished the school day and headed to the vet. He was excited to see the new puppies. He knew Penny must miss him as much as he missed her. He parked his old, battered Ford next to a Porsche, not bothering to lock the doors.

“Hey there, Nash,” said Tiffany Thompson as soon as he walked through the door. She sprang out of a chair in the waiting room, heading toward him. “I knew I would find you here.”

It took Nash a minute to gather himself. What in the world was she doing here, of all places? he thought. Dread washed over him like a black cloud.

“I’m here to check on Penny,” he said.

“I heard she was here with her pups. You know how news travels in the Cove.”

He did. “And?” he said, not wanting to prolong the conversation longer than needed.

Tiffany Thompson was the epitome of the girl next door: blond, blue-eyed, with a perfect figure. Rather, she had been in high school. She hadn’t aged well; her blond hair now looked like brittle straw and she wore enough makeup for ten women. She’d been a thorn in Nash’s side since he’d returned to the Cove.

“And?” She tossed her long hair over her shoulder. “I thought you might let me have one of the puppies. I wanted to be the first to get one.”

“This isn’t an ice cream truck, Tiffany.” Nash couldn’t believe she thought he would give her a puppy. She was exactly as she’d been in high school: a spoiled brat who always got anything she wanted. Always had to be first.

She had the grace to look put off, but he knew her. She was just getting started.

“Nash, sweetie, do you think I don’t know the difference between a dog and ice cream?” she asked, her voice dripping with sugary sweetness.

If he were honest with himself—and he was—she probably didn’t. “Look, I’m not giving Penny’s puppies away now.”

“Then when? Because I want one. I would like to see them, so I can pick the one that’s best for me.”

Nash couldn’t stand much more of her childishness. “Even if I were to give you one of the puppies, they can’t leave their mother for at least eight weeks.” He stopped and cleared his throat. “I won’t be giving you a puppy now or anytime soon. Ask your dad. I’m sure he’ll be happy to accommodate you.”

“You’re an ass, Nash Kendrick! This isn’t the end of it,” she said. “Just wait and see.”

She would argue all day if he allowed her to. He waved her off and headed to the back of the clinic, where the animals were kept.

“Hey, Nash, sorry I wasn’t in the reception area. I heard Tiffany and didn’t want to interrupt,” Naomi, the vet tech, said with a grin. “Weren’t you two a thing back in the day?” she teased.

“No.”

Naomi rolled her eyes. “You want to see your new family?”

“I do,” he told her. “How’s Penny holding up?”

“Like a good mommy should. Follow me.”

The clinic had two private whelping areas suited for a dog’s specific needs. Penny and her four girls were sleeping when Nash tiptoed into the room. Naomi left him alone with the dachshunds. When Penny saw Nash, she wagged her tail but didn’t move away from her pups.

“So, how’s it feel to be a mom?” he asked, leaning down to pet her. She growled at him. “I know you’re just protecting the girls. It’s okay.” He spoke softly. The four little puppies were reddish brown, just like Penny. Henry’s black and brown genetics were nowhere to be seen. Nash couldn’t help but laugh. His mom would surely get a kick out of this when she saw them.

He sat on the floor beside the dogs, letting Penny know he was there and wouldn’t hurt her puppies. They were the cutest, with their closed eyes, tiny ears poking out, and chunky paws with sharp, tiny nails. He couldn’t wait to bring them home. He’d fixed up a whelping area in the spare room for them, plus a space for Penny to eat and drink. He knew she would need much more food than usual. He’d prepped just as the vet had told him to. He’d planned to take a few days off when he brought them home to establish a routine. When Penny started to doze, Nash quietly left the room, knowing sleep was essential to her new mommy life.

He saw Naomi was still in the back. “She still out there?” he asked.

“She left as soon as you went into the back room.”

“Good. So, what has Doc said about me bringing the pups home?”

“Another twenty-four hours and they’re all yours. You’re sure you have everything? I can pop over if you need me to.”

“I did everything Doc suggested. I may need you to help when I return to work.”

“Sure, I’d be happy to. On one condition.”

Nash rolled his eyes. Naomi graduated high school last year. She was in his math class. She’d taken this year off to work at the vet clinic before starting college at North Carolina State in Raleigh, where she would study with the best of the best.

“What’s that?”

“You’ll let me use your pool this summer. I want to get a perfect tan before I have to go up north. I don’t want to look all pasty, being from Florida, you know?”

“Of course. That was the first thing I thought of when I left for college.” He laughed. “You can use the pool anytime, kiddo.”

“I appreciate it, Mr. Nash,” she said. He insisted she call him by his first name now that she was no longer his student.

“You have my number,” he said before leaving.

“I promise to call if there’s a reason,” she reassured him.

Nash looked from side-to-side to ensure Tiffany wasn’t hiding behind the building. He wouldn’t put anything past her. They’d had a couple of dates in high school. On their second date he had her figured out and wanted no more of her. She insisted he take her as his date when he was nominated for prom king during their senior year. He refused and took his best friend, Sarah Lynn. Tiffany’s jealousy ruined their evening, and she didn’t let up for the rest of that year. He’d been relieved when he was accepted at Columbia University in New York, far enough away so she couldn’t stalk him.

It was hard to wrap his head around the fact that he was thirty-four years old and Tiffany still thought she had a chance with him. He wasn’t dense, but it was time to tell her enough was enough. Her behavior was juvenile, almost bordering on obsession. He thought about taking out a restraining order if she continued to bother him.

While he was in New York, he’d dated many women. A couple of those relationships had been halfway serious, but not so much so that he’d wanted to spend the rest of his life with either woman. When sparks flew, he would know. Maybe he was destined to be a bachelor. He’d always wanted to have a family, but he wouldn’t settle for just anyone.

Sparks. And a handshake.He thought of Emma.

He cranked the engine over on his truck, heading home. He hadn’t planned anything for the evening now that he’d caught up on grading papers. A swim would be nice. It’d been unusually hot for March and he hadn’t been in the pool for months. Maybe his new neighbor would be of the same mind and he’d see her there.

Nash parked across the street from the condo in front of George’s Barbershop. He and George had agreed he could park his truck there; Nash kept his vintage 1956 red-and-white Thunderbird in the garage. But Nash let George drive the vintage car once a month to ensure the engine stayed in tip-top shape.

He only took the T-Bird out on special occasions, so he was okay with George driving the car. It’d been a long time since he’d experienced anything that remotely qualified as a special occasion.

It might be time to create one of his own.