12
There was a knock at the door as I was putting pancakes on the kids’ plates. It was silly that my heart still went into my throat two years later at a random knock, but it did. “I’ll just be a moment,” I told them, wiping my hands on my apron.
But instead of a police officer coming to deliver the worst news of my life, I found Eddie on the doorstep, holding a brown paper shopping bag. I looked at him, surprised, but Eddie was always a welcome surprise.
“Making deliveries now?” I asked with a smile. “Surely you can pay a kid to do that.”
“That can be Bobby’s job when he’s bigger,” Eddie said. “I’m sorry I didn’t call first.”
“Nothing to be sorry for,” I said mildly. “Come on in. Would you like some pancakes?”
“Thank you, no, I ate already.” I thought of his sister’s comment about their father’s complete inability to prepare a meal for himself and almost asked if he cooked for himself or if he had stopped at Hot Shoppes or Montgomery Donuts.
But I didn’t want to pry. Besides, Eddie was quite the eligible bachelor.
He probably had a line of women itching to bring over casseroles any chance they got.
Eddie followed me into the kitchen, where he greeted the children. “What’s in the bag?” Bobby asked, practically vibrating.
“Bobby,” I said warningly. “That’s rude. Mr. Greene doesn’t have to bring you something every time you see him.”
Eddie looked at me guiltily, then whispered, “Is it okay that I did bring them something?”
I laughed. He was incorrigible. “Who am I to stand in the way? Just their mother.”
He glanced at me quickly to make sure I was being facetious, then slipped Susie a pack of Tammy doll outfits and handed Bobby two Matchbox cars.
Both kids squealed with delight, Susie jumping up to get her doll and Bobby plopping himself onto the floor to play with his cars.
“Breakfast first,” I told them. They sat back in their seats and began eating pancakes as fast as their little mouths could chew.
I shook my head but was smiling at their excitement. “When you have kids of your own, you won’t spoil them half so much,” I told him.
Eddie shrugged. “ If I have kids of my own. But I like making them happy.”
“What brings you by?” I asked. “Or did you just want to make two kids smile before they go to school?” Heaven knew they could use all the joy they could get.
“Mrs. Feld—uh ... your mother-in-law stopped by the store yesterday,” he said, just as Pepper ran into the room, Ruth behind her.
Eddie’s face broke into a wide smile as he sat on the floor to greet the puppy.
Pepper went right to him and jumped onto his lap, putting her paws on his chest. Eddie pretended to be knocked over, and the kids laughed as Pepper licked his entire face while he lay on my kitchen floor.
“Pepper,” Ruth said sternly, and the puppy took a break from kissing her new friend to look up. Apparently she had already picked up her name and what that tone meant. She gave Eddie one more lick, then hopped down and trotted obediently to Ruth, who scooped her up.
“I see she’s made herself right at home, then,” Eddie said. He picked up the bag, which he had set on the counter. “I just thought I’d stop by with some supplies for her.” He pulled out a pink collar with a little bow on it, a matching leash, a set of food and water bowls, and a box of Milk-Bones.
“Eddie,” I said, “you didn’t have to do all this.”
“I know I didn’t,” he said, slipping the collar onto Pepper’s neck while she was still in Ruth’s arms. “But I wanted to. It’s not every day my favorite family gets a dog.” He glanced at me. “Don’t tell Janet I said that, please. But you know she loves cats and, well ... I’m a dog person, myself.”
“I can see that,” I said, as Pepper licked Eddie’s hand. “So far she prefers chewing on me.”
“You have to yelp like a hurt dog and then tell her no,” Ruth said. “That’s how they learn.”
“My mother-in-law, the dog trainer,” I said wryly.
“I enjoy dogs,” Ruth said. “They don’t argue.”
I counted to five in my head, then ten, to avoid taking the bait. “Maybe,” I said measuredly, “you should get another dog when you move home.”
She looked at me sharply for a long moment. “Maybe,” she said, then hesitated. “But for now, Pepper will have to do.”
That emphasis on maybe gave me pause, but there was no time to parse exactly what she meant with Eddie there.
“Eddie, this was very kind of you,” Ruth said, moving to pat his arm.
“Thank you, Mrs. Feldman. I just wanted to help.”
“Ruth,” she said. “Anyone who loves dogs is a friend of mine.” She looked at me pointedly. I fought the urge to put my hands on my hips. I didn’t want to be Ruth’s friend. And besides, the pup had grown on me already.
“I should be heading to the store,” Eddie said. “I just wanted to bring these things by. If there’s anything else you need for Pepper—or in general—just call. I’d be happy to swing it by on my way home.”
“Thank you,” I told him.
Eddie smiled at me, stopping to scratch Pepper behind the ears before he left.
“That’s a good one,” Ruth said once the door was closed behind him. “Dogs can always tell.”