Seven
Itake Trooper back from my Dad and hook my arm through his as we walk from the living room toward the dining room.
The familiar scent of celery, carrots, onions, and something baking in the oven rushes through me, and instantly carries me back to Sunday dinners, birthday celebrations, and every ordinary evening that Mom made feels extraordinary.
Trooper lifts his nose, sniffing the air with obvious interest. His tiny tail whips me with hopeful wags.
At least one of us has no idea what’s waiting on the other side of his meeting my mother.
“Hey, Mom. I’m home.”
“I see that.”
I turn at hearing her voice. I had no idea she was behind us.
She pauses. “Hi, hon. How was your flight?”
“It was good.”
Her fawn brown eyes soften as she fixes them on me, and her expression softens the instant our gazes meet.
The years between us seem to disappear as I cross the room.
I throw my free arm around her, tears stinging my eyes before I can stop them.
“I missed you so much.” She says, hugging me tightly, and for one beautiful moment, I’m simply a daughter who’s welcomed home—and then, she pulls back.
Mom’s gaze and attention drift downward and Trooper chooses that exact moment to stretch his neck, exposing his little face from the crook of my arm. The look in her eyes changes instantly, but the smile stays plastered in place “What do you have here, Charity?”
Well… that didn’t take long.
“I found him at the airport.” I gently reposition Trooper so she can see the little white marking. “Somebody dumped him.”
“And you had to bring it home.” Her tone flattens. She looks up, noting Dave and Dad watching her. After a long moment she reaches out to stroke the top of his head.
“He’s adorable.” her fingertips lingering against his soft fur. Then she steels her gaze. I recognize that look. “But we can’t keep him.”
The words don’t surprise me and yet they sting.
“I know,” I say carefully. “I’ll figure something out.”
“You’re going to get attached. You always do.
” Her voice isn’t cruel. If anything, it carries the weary certainty of someone who’s been through this before.
We have, many times, but she’s already convinced she knows how this story ends.
“I need to concentrate on your father’s recovery.
I don’t have the time or the energy to take care of a dog, especially when you’ll be going back to base. ”
Before I get defensive and debate the issue, Dave steps beside me and lifts Trooper from my arms. The puppy settles against his chest without protest, and Dave absently scratches behind his ears while looking down at him.
What is it about a man holding a puppy that’s so damn sexy?
A lock of hair has fallen, relaxing against his forehead and he’s wearing the same gentle smile he wore at the airport. I reach into my pocket for my wallet. “If I give you some money…”
His brows pinch in the middle. “For what?”
I shrug. “The ride home…and I was going to ask if you would take me to get some food for Trooper.”
Before I can pull the billfold all the way out, Dave stops me by putting his hand on my arm. His touch hits me in an unexpected way. My gaze lifts, meeting his eyes, and for just a second the room fades away.
He pauses and can see the connection hit him too. He clears his throat before speaking.
“I’ve got it.”
Yes, you do.
Three simple words shouldn’t make my heart stumble the way it does.
“I’ll run to one of those pet stores that has a vet attached and see if I can make an appointment. I can get him some food, water bowls, a bone … whatever else he needs.”
He releases my hand. The warmth of his fingers lingers on my skin. “You stay here. Visit with your parents.”
Mom folds her arms across her chest. “Now, Daaaa-vid. Don’t encourage her.”
Dave smiles politely. “No, ma’am. I’m simply trying to follow Charity’s example and help an abandoned animal.” He looks down as Trooper licks his chin, then chuckles softly. “He found us. We help him. It’s as simple as that.”
His tone is neither defensive nor disrespectful, so much so that the word is said so naturally, I nearly miss it.
Us.
Mom shakes her head, though I notice the corners of her mouth trying very hard to maintain her smile. “Stay for dinner, David. It’ll be ready in about an hour.”
“Thanks,” Dave replies. “I’ll do this run for Charity and the pup and I’ll be back.”
He goes to the door with Trooper tucked safely in his arm.
I follow him out onto the porch. The air feels cooler now that the sun isn’t bearing down on this side of the street.
as early evening approaches, and it carries the scent of freshly cut grass and my mother’s flowers.
Dave stops beside his truck, hands Trooper to me, and looks back at the house.
“You okay?”
Automatically, I nod.
He waits and studies me. The silence stretches just long as the disbelief furrows his brow, enough that my pretending feels pointless.
“She always makes me feel as if I disappoint her.” An eye roll accompanies a deep sigh. “And because I take offensive to it, I feel that disappoints him.” I glance toward the puppy. “Dad doesn’t need this.”
Dave studies me for a moment before offering the smallest smile. “Do you know what I see?”
I shrug. “What?”
“That trying to keep the peace ruins you. Can’t you just let whatever it is play out, instead of trying to fix everything?”
Emotion catches me completely off guard that he can see me so clearly. “I don’t always know how.”
“I know.” His voice goes to a low rumble again. “It’s going to break you one day, but it’s another one of the things I love about you.” He winks. “The list is growing.”
For a heartbeat, I can’t move and can barely breathe. The afternoon sun catches in his silver eyes, and he’s standing close enough for me to catch the clean scent of soap mixed with cedar.
“I’ll be back,” he says softly.
I simply nod, because trusting my voice feels like a terrible idea.
After he climbs into the truck, I walk back to the porch with Trooper and watch until the truck disappears. Dad comes out and stands beside me, slipping his hands into his pockets. I think he was watching the exchange.
“He’s a good man,” he says.
“Yeah. I know.” A sad, but wistful note mixed in my tone.
Dad quirks his brow without looking at me. “Do you? I wasn’t sure you noticed.”
I keep my eyes on the empty street where Dave’s truck disappeared. “Maybe not.” The admission catches in my throat. “But before today I’d only thought of him as a boy.”