18. Find A Way
CHAPTER 18
Find A Way
H eath was both relieved and pissed when nothing further happened during the night. He didn’t want anyone bothering Addy, but he also wanted to catch the jerk and put him behind bars.
Snow had fallen in earnest overnight, and there was almost a foot to be cleared from the driveway. Addy refused to stay inside where it was warm, so they both bundled up and headed outside to deal with it.
They brushed off the vehicles, cleared the paths, and used her snowblower to clear the driveway. The previous snow had melted completely earlier in the week, but from the last few days, there were snowbanks along either side of the road and her driveway. He wondered if this would melt again or if this amount would guarantee a white Christmas for them all.
It wasn’t far away. He hadn’t spent enough time planning out gifts for his girls. He knew one gift he wanted to give Addy for sure, but he needed some time to do some shopping, online and otherwise.
This was his first Christmas knowing he had a daughter and he had a dozen Christmases to make up for.
He also didn’t want to go overboard and embarrass either of them or himself. They’d spent years being smart and frugal, focusing on the important things in life. He refused to be like his parents and focus on buying them shiny things with no underlying meaning. He wanted to be a better partner and father than that.
Once they were back inside, Addy put the kettle on. “I’ve got to get at least a few hours in on my book.”
He nodded. “I’ve been taking up a lot of your time.”
That made her laugh. “You’re the very best kind of distraction.”
He grinned and kissed her until the kettle boiled. She patted his chest with a grin. “See. Distracting in a very good way.”
When she passed him a mug, he leaned back against the counter and studied her. “Do you want to stay here, or would you be comfortable writing at the farmhouse or somewhere in town?”
Those dark eyes studied him right back. “I don’t want to be the idiot in the horror movies, but I’d like to stay here and work. It’s my normal routine and I hope to sink into the work. I know you and the guys are meeting at the saloon to go over ideas for the brewery, but I’ll be fine here. Even if someone is targeting me, it’s been harassment-type things, nothing dangerous.”
But what if that changed? “What if we asked Kimi if she has a good guard dog?”
“What?”
He grinned at her confusion. “Nina is always talking about the dogs at Kimi’s. If you had one here, he could be your early warning system. You get so lost in your worlds that you need to set three timers in order to ensure you can emerge in time for what needs to be done.”
“I don’t have time to take care of a dog.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’m not thinking about a puppy. I’m thinking of a grown dog with good instincts. We can borrow one for the times you’d be alone.” He didn’t tell her he wouldn’t be able to leave her on her own, but she probably knew that.
“Sam said we could borrow the security equipment indefinitely. I’ll be fine here.”
But he could see her softening to the idea. She loved animals as much as Nina.
Addy’s phone rang with a call, and her eyebrows shot up at the name. She answered it and put the phone on speaker. “Hi Kimi. Heath and I were just talking about you.”
Kimi laughed. “That’s weird. I just got off the phone with Nina. She’s at school but asked permission to call me.”
“She’s okay?”
Another laugh. “Yes, or she would have called you, not me. Anyway, she’s worried about you being home alone, and she wants me to talk you into having Animosh stay with you.”
He watched Addy’s eyes soften as she chuckled. “She named one of them Animosh?”
“She did. Anyway, Mosh is a sweetie. She’s about five and friendly. I think she’s been trained as a guard dog because she always lets me know when someone is approaching the barn or the house. Nina told me someone is harassing you, and she’s worried. I agree with her that Mosh might be who you need. Can I bring her over for you to meet her?”
After Addy agreed and hung up, Heath held up his hands. “I wasn’t in on that. I promise.”
With a raised eyebrow, she nodded. “I believe you. But it amazes me how you and your daughter think alike.”
Which puffed him up like nothing else could do. “Thanks.”
She laughed and then sighed. “It’s going to make you both feel better, isn’t it?”
He nodded. “What does Animosh mean?”
She smiled. “It’s the Ojibwe word for dog. And I think it’s a sign that Nina wants this particular dog. We haven’t been able to afford one before, but maybe it’s time to make room for one in the budget. She would never ask but I know she’s always wanted a dog of her own.”
“Sounds like a perfect Christmas present to me.”
Addy laughed. “Yes, it does. She’ll be thrilled.” Then she sighed and slumped back against the table. “Looks like we’re getting a dog.”
He tapped her on the nose. “Don’t act like you don’t want a dog. I remember how much you always wanted one. And I know exactly how Nina came by her love for animals.”
That had her smiling. “All true.”
And she squared her shoulders, taking on the extra expense and work because it would help Nina feel better. And him. Addy still took care of everyone around her before she took care of herself.
Heath had never had to worry about money. Even when he’d been on his own, he’d had the privilege of a trust fund and an excellent education. He was well aware of his advantages. Addy didn’t realize it, but she never had to worry about money again. He wasn’t looking to take over, but it was officially his mission to make her life easier in every way.
I n deference to the situation, Addy didn’t put her phone on silent like she normally did when she was writing. She wanted both Heath and Nina to know they could call her if they needed to. She also felt better with it right beside her keyboard.
Despite her insistence on staying at home, she was nervous. But no creep was going to take her home from her. She was being sensible and taking all kinds of precautions, but she wasn’t being chased off.
Heath was going to text her regularly. She was going to keep one part of her brain in the real world and text back. Having a dog at her side would help her stay aware.
Animosh was a gorgeous German Shepherd mix. She was as friendly and easy-going as advertised. After a sniffing tour of the people and the house, she’d settled herself on the dog bed Kimi set up between Addy and Nina’s desks.
Kimi had left all the things the dog would need, from food to bowls to a few toys. “She’s good with a couple of walks a day, morning and night. Other than that, she’ll wander, play with her toys, and snooze the day away.”
So Addy now had a dog that Nina already loved. “You know she’s not going to let us give you back, don’t you?”
Animosh tilted her head as if to say D’uh, who could give me up?
“You are a cutie. You know I’m not going to be able to give you back, either.”
Mosh’s tongue lolled out the side before she flopped her head down on the bed. Addy laughed. Definitely adorable. The budget could handle it.
Before she dove into her words, she worked on her project for Heath’s Christmas present for a while. It was difficult to find time on her laptop without alerting him to the present.
She also did some online shopping for an extra present for Nina. The savings account could take it.
Smiling, she finally dove into Zigi’s world and watched her protagonist deal with animals the girl had never even heard of before. Deciding what was a predator and what was a potential ally took cunning and nerve. And a bit of help from a lazy wolf.
When her phone buzzed, Addy flinched, and Animosh lifted her head. Of course, it was Heath. She picked it up. “Hi.”
His deep voice sent a thrill through her, as it always did. “How’s your new companion treating you?”
“She’s adorable.”
His chuckle had her smiling. “You’re smitten.”
“Yes, I am. By the dog as well.”
“Good to hear. Because I am head over heels.”
Her heart fluttered, and they flirted for a few more minutes before they hung up, both going back to work.
The day continued like that without incident until Heath showed up to take her to pick up Nina from school. Animosh hopped into the car with them, eager for the ride.
When Nina spotted the dog sticking her head out of the window despite the frigid temperatures, she squealed and ran to the car. “Mosh. You got Mosh. Oh, I’m so glad. Did she help? I bet you did, didn’t you, Animosh? You’re the smartest girl in the world.”
Addy grinned as Nina climbed into the car and hugged the dog. “I think you just wanted a dog and found a way to sneak this cutie past my defenses.”
Nina smiled and leaned forward to hug Addy. “Just an added bonus. Did she help you feel safer at the house?”
She never lied to her daughter, so she nodded. “I still think I got suckered, but she’s a pretty amazing dog.”
They stopped in at Phail Phoods to pick up some things, then headed home like a family. As they passed the house beside the farmhouse, her eyes latched onto it. It really was a dream house for her. Cozy but big enough for a family and a dog. She’d love to tour inside one day. Maybe after all this mess was over with, she’d ask Troy. He knew everything about the town and would know who owned the property and if they wanted to sell.
She’d like more information before she talked to Nina about it. And she didn’t want any of them jumping into a decision because some jerk was harassing them.
Once home, they played in the snow with Animosh, who loved chasing snowballs they tossed in the air. It was fun and normal, but the worry refused to leave her brain alone.
After supper, they lounged in the living room, talking about normal things until Nina grew serious. “Are we safe? Are you safe, Mom? Whoever is doing this seems to be focused on you. You’ve never hurt anyone. Why would they target you?”
Addy’s heart shuddered. “I don’t know, Nina. I don’t know much about the kind of person who would do this. From my research, it might be someone who hates me. Someone who thinks I hurt them. Or someone who wants my attention and doesn’t know how to go about it the normal way.”
Beside her, Heath stiffened and sat up straight. “Excuse me for a minute. I’m going outside to make a call.”
He threw on his jacket without another word and headed outside. Nina moved over to sit beside her on the couch. “That was weird. Do you think he’s okay? Should we follow him?”
Nina shook her head slowly. “It was weird. Let’s give him some time to make his call. I don’t want to invade his privacy.”
Nina sighed and rested her head on Addy’s shoulder. She tucked her arm around her daughter, grateful the pre-teen still liked the contact. She knew that would likely change over the next few years and she grabbed onto every moment like this that she could.
After a few minutes, Nina spoke again. “Is Heath—Dad—is he going to stay with us tonight?”
“Would you feel safer if he did?”
Nina nodded as Animosh came over and laid her head on Nina’s knee. When she patted the couch, the dog leaped up to snuggle with her. “I know we’re strong and can handle anything, but three is better than two.”
Animosh lifted her head, making them both smile. Nina patted her. “Sorry, Mosh. Four. Four is better than three.”
Addy hugged her and hoped she was right.