by Lyn Cote
Then the parade began with the dogs—the barking dogs. The barking ranged from low “ruffs” and high-pitched “yips” to “booms” that seemed to come all the way from the dogs’ tails. The barking enveloped the audience in a delicious cacophony. Adding an occasional “woof” to the mix, Bummer trotted beside Jake.
Scanning the bleachers, Jeannie recognized Ginny and Mike in the audience and then realized that Brooke, in a bright blue active-wear outfit, was marching in the parade with “Poo” in her arms. Then Brooke must have seen her, because she waved. Jeannie waved back at her, wondering how Brooke had been invited to the school event. Jeannie looked around to see if Dan had accompanied her and was surprised to see him just behind Mike. How had she missed him the first time she scanned the crowd?
While the dogs belonging to students were being applauded and then given prizes, including ones for being the biggest, the smallest and for having the longest tail, Brooke climbed up the bleachers and halted next to Jeannie. She leaned close to her and said, “Hi! My nephew doesn’t have a dog, so he asked me to bring Charmeur. Come back and sit with us.”
In the midst of excited applause for one of the winners, Jeannie hesitated. But not wanting to be rude, she went with Brooke. Letting Brooke sit beside Dan, Jeannie settled beside Ginny. After considerable commotion during the distribution of ribbons, the dogs left the floor of the gym. The absence of dogs seemed to calm the cats. The gym quieted—relatively speaking.
There was a brief parade of the more unusual pets and an other flurry of awards. Then it was time for the final parade, the cats.
Jeannie, with one kitten in each hand, paraded around the gym, waving to her girls. The kittens, who definitely did not like being in a crowd, trembled against Jeannie. She stroked them with her thumbs, silently promising them a special treat for suffering this for their girls.
After Jeannie completed the parade, she headed toward her seat again. But then she noticed her girls moving toward the podium. Jeannie paused, thinking they were going to receive some crazy award for the kittens.
The principal called everyone to order. “Today is supposed to be fun. But also, we have asked someone here in order to give a special honor.”
Jeannie beamed. That was why Jake had been invited. The school was going to honor him for his donated services at the animal shelter. She tingled with excitement. Oh, how wonderful. And now she knew why Dan had come, too. Annie must have told him. She nearly bounced on the balls of her feet like her girls often did.
She saw Jake reenter with Bummer. Jake’s beaming smile spread good cheer over the gym. Calls of “Hey! Dr. Jake! Hey! Bummer!” ricocheted off the cement-block walls. Bummer trotted proudly at his side.
“Will Ms. Jeannie Broussard join me at the podium?” the principal said.
Jeannie froze in her tracks. Jake was going to receive an award and maybe the girls’ kittens. Not me.
“Mom! Mom!”
She could hear her girls calling her. But she couldn’t move. She couldn’t go to the front where everyone would look at her. Walking in a parade with a lot of people and animals, she could do that. But go to the podium? No way.
Then someone came close and took her arm. “I’ll walk with you.” She glanced up and Dan was there, coaxing her along. He leaned close and murmured in her ear, “Come on. You’re holding up the show.”
She allowed him to draw her along to the front. Halfway there, her twins ran forward and claimed their kitties. Dan let go of her arm and she followed the girls the rest of the way to the front.
The principal was holding the microphone. He motioned for Jeannie to come closer. The girls led her to him till she stood beside Jake and Bummer, too. What was going on? She was certain Annie had told her that Jake was to receive recognition, not her.
The principal cleared his throat. “Now, Mimi and Cindy’s teacher let me know that these two young ladies have quite a story to tell about how they rescued their kittens on a cold winter night. Girls, can you tell us what happened?” He lowered the microphone.
Bummer crowded close to the girls. Mimi put her mouth directly against the microphone. “We were going to the potluck and we found our kitties—Twinkie and Peanutbutter.”
“Out in the snow,” Cindy interrupted. “And it was cold that night.”
Mimi nodded her head in agreement. “So we picked them up and took them inside. And Dr. Jake—”
Cindy took her turn, pressing her lips against the microphone. “Dr. Jake told us how to take care of them.”
“But what was real exciting was this!” Mimi exclaimed. She set her kitten on the floor in front of Bummer. Cindy quickly did the same.
Bummer immediately began licking the kittens. They rushed closer to him, mewing. With his chin, he shepherded them under him protectively.
There was a moment of stunned silence. Then shouts, squeals and applause burst forth. The audience loved it.
Her twins bounced on their toes, yelling into the microphone, “Bummer was there and he adopted them! And they think he’s their daddy!”
More laughter and clapping. The principal joined in. Jeannie had never felt more proud of her girls. After a few moments, the principal motioned for quiet. The audience calmed down—though a few parakeets squawked and a few cats meowed.
“We want to thank you, Ms. Broussard, for letting the girls adopt these kittens.”
Jeannie nodded, hoping this was all that would be required of her.
“I hope,” the principal continued, “all you children take a lesson from this. Dogs and cats are not supposed to get along. But look at this dog and these kittens. Bummer, Dr. Jake’s basset hound, looked past the little kittens’ fur and whiskers and saw instead their need for love and care. This is a lesson in love for all of us.”
At that moment, Bummer noted a spot on a kitten that needed grooming and got down to it. This added even more zest to the applause that followed the principal’s words.
Once again, the principal raised his hands for silence. “Most of you with pets know Dr. Jake McClure. He is Bummer’s faithful companion.” The principal grinned. “We all know that Dr. McClure donates services and supplies to keep our no-kill animal shelter going. Let’s have a round of applause for Dr. Jake McClure! And listen to the specifics of the special Adopt-a-Pet Program we’re holding today!”
Jeannie beamed. This was Jake’s surprise. She couldn’t wait for his reaction!
Chapter Nine
Jake stood, stunned. He hadn’t been prepared for this. Then small hands pulled his arms, leading him closer to the podium. The principal handed him the microphone and said, “Say a few words to our students, Dr. Jake.”
Jake gripped the microphone and could not think of one word to say.
“Jake, why don’t you tell them about what you do at the animal shelter?”
Jake recognized Jeannie’s voice. He repeated what she’d just said silently and then cleared his throat. “I’m glad that we have a no-kill animal shelter. I’m happy to help out with neutering or spaying dogs and cats so that we slow down our stray-pet population.”
Perspiration wet his forehead. He plunged on. “I also vaccinate cats and dogs against distemper and rabies, two deadly diseases that we can prevent. I hope all of you will visit the animal shelter and adopt a rescued animal and/or make a generous donation. If you don’t have the funds, please come and volunteer. There is work there for everyone who loves animals. Thank you.”
He handed the microphone to the principal, as spent as if he’d just sprinted in a race. He glanced over to see that his father stood behind Jeannie. He prepared himself for a look of disdain from his dad. Nationally known surgeon versus rural vet. However, his dad didn’t wear a sneer. He looked as if he was thinking something over.
“You did fine.”
At catching Jeannie’s words of approval amid the hubbub of the students returning to their classes, Jake experienced a burst of gratitude. He threw his arms around her. “Thanks for telling me what to say
,” he whispered in her ear. Then he realized that he’d just hugged Jeannie in front of most of the parents in town. He released her and tried to look as if it had just been a friendly gesture.
His eyes met and connected with Brooke’s. She stood behind Jeannie. Her gaze told him that she had not been fooled. But in that moment he saw himself plainly. And he recognized his misconception about what kind of woman he thought he attracted and the kind of woman he was attracted to undeniably. Jeannie isn’t anything like Sheila. And if I want to hug Jeannie, I will. If Jeannie wants me to, that is.
“Congratulations, Son,” his father said, appearing beside Jake.
“Thanks, Dad.” Jake’s throat closed after those two words. He couldn’t recall the last time his dad had anything good to say to him. Then he recalled the letter from the lab in Madison in his pocket. The letter suddenly took on weight, hauling his happiness downward.
Jake had trouble focusing on people addressing him. He hadn’t opened the letter, putting it off till the end of the day, not wanting it to interfere with his work. He wrenched himself back to face the present.
Catching Jake off guard, Jeannie brushed against him with her kittens in hand. His senses went into hyperdrive. Fortunately, no one expected anything of him. “Here’s Annie. Listen,” Jeannie said.
Annie had the microphone and was explaining about the overcrowding of the animal shelter, the pipes freezing and the move to Jake’s barn. Then she launched into an impassioned plea for the parents whose children did not have a pet to come to each classroom to meet animals who needed families of their own. Listening to Annie’s persuasive voice, he almost thought he needed to adopt another pet. I already have six dogs and three cats. What am I thinking?
The principal ended the program and invited the families to meet and greet the pets in need of families and then come to the cafeteria for refreshments.
Jeannie smiled up at Jake, drawing him to her irresistibly. “Let’s go see if we can ‘help’ some deserving moms see the advantages of adopting a pet.”
He chuckled. “Jeannie, you’re something else.” Something great. He needed her close today. And she gave him just what he needed to open his lab tests—as soon as this event ended.
For once, Jeannie didn’t try to distance herself from him. The two of them, plus the girls, their kittens and Bummer, roamed from room to room, watching parents and children getting to know pets. Jake reveled in their closeness.
A few times a parent would nod and a child would jump up and down or hug the parent. Across one of the classrooms, Jake glimpsed the litter of kittens he and Jeannie had rescued. He recalled holding Jeannie for the first time as she wept over these little ones. He kept his arms to himself so he wouldn’t reach for her now. But he remembered how soft she’d felt wrapped within his arms.
A family was choosing one of the kittens. Brooke walked up to the family and began a conversation. Soon the mother nodded, and the children chose a second one from the litter. Smiling and chatting, Brooke accompanied them to the door. They left with friendly waves.
Jake motioned for Brooke to come over. “I get the feeling that you talked that woman into taking two instead of one.”
“I just told her that the kitten would be better behaved if it had another kitten to keep it company,” Brooke replied.
Jake’s father entered the room and waved to Brooke. She smiled and joined him.
“Well, those two may appear happier because they have someone to keep them company, too,” Jeannie murmured, watching Dan and Brooke speaking to each other. “Everybody needs love.”
Yes, Jeannie, everybody needs love, he thought, holding her gaze for a moment.
Finally, near the crowded school entrance, Jake and Jeannie prepared to go back to help Sandy close up the clinic for the day. Comfortable with Jeannie by his side near the school’s entrance, Jake ignored the speculative glances sent their way by people leaving the school. He even felt pride at having someone special like Jeannie at his side.
“Mom! Mom!” The twins caught up with them as they were about to leave. “Can we ask Dr. Jake to come to our house for supper on Friday?”
“Yeah, he did good today and a lot of animals got adopted,” Cindy added.
Since Jake stood right beside Jeannie, he wondered how she would handle this. “Sorry, Jake,” she murmured for his ears only, “but I must teach them how to behave.” The she raised her voice, “Girls, while I would love to have Dr. Jake come for supper on Friday, this is not the way you ask.”
“How should we ask?” Mimi tilted her head like a sparrow.
“You should have asked me in private if we had any plans for Friday night and if I’d like to invite Dr. Jake to share a meal with us. That way if we do have other plans, we won’t end up like this—in an awkward situation. You have issued an invitation that I might have to take back.”
Cindy looked thoughtful. “We can’t ask you in private now. Dr. Jake heard us.”
“Exactly. Now do you see how this should have been done the polite way?”
The twins nodded, looking solemn.
Jeannie shook her head. Then she turned to Jake. “We don’t have any big plans for supper on Friday night and if you don’t either, why don’t you, Mike and Dan come over to our house?”
He nearly chuckled at the expressions on the twins’ faces. They clearly didn’t want all three to arrive for supper. Their attempts at matchmaking should have made him uncomfortable, but he only felt happy to be invited, to be wanted. “I’ll see what the rest of them say. But I think I’m available. And Bummer, of course.”
Jeannie chuckled, grinning at him. “Okay, girls, now go back to your teacher till the bell rings. Mike and Ginny will wait to take you home. Shoo.” Jeannie waved them away.
“But is Dr. Jake coming on Friday?” Mimi insisted.
Jeannie shooed them again.
The bright sunlight from the windows of the vestibule highlighted Jeannie, making him examine her more closely than usual. He found it harder and harder to hold the professional line between him and his pretty, caring office manager. Their lives had become entwined. And he longed to tell her how even the faded denim blouse she wore made her eyes a warmer brown, an inviting and comforting shade.
As usual around Jeannie, he tried to hold back—but what he really wanted to say came out regardless. “I’d hoped you’d known about their invitation in advance and had told them to ask.”
“You did?”
“I don’t like to feel as if I’d been forced on you.” His heart pounded. “If you don’t want me to come, just tell me.”
A moment of charged silence pulsed between them.
She smiled suddenly. “I guess it’s good you accepted, because I want you to come very much.”
Jake clamped down on his self-control. Yet ignoring how much he wanted to be with her and the girls had become nearly undeniable. “I needed a lift.” And you always give that to me. He pulled the envelope with his lab results out of his pocket, opened it and read it.
“I recognize that envelope from this morning’s mail. Care to share your test results?” she asked, her tone cautious.
“Yes, it looks like I don’t have HCM.” Relief radiated from him like warmth from a wood stove.
“Jake!” She threw her arms around him. “I’m so glad.”
“I thought you two weren’t dating.” Annie appeared in the vestibule, half scolding them with a prim and proper expression.
“We’re not. Jake’s tests came back negative for HCM. I’m just happy.”
“Well, I am, too.” Annie hugged Jake. “Now will you help me and the other volunteers load up the animals to go back to the shelter?”
As Jeannie and Jake moved to help her, Jake asked, “How many animals were adopted today, Annie?”
“We had six kittens, three puppies and an older female dog adopted. And a few more people were interested but needed to talk to spouses before making a decision.”
“Wonderful!” Jeannie exc
laimed.
Finally Annie left and Jake and Jeannie were out in the frigid sunshine by her van. “What would you like for supper when you come Friday?” Jeannie asked.
“Maybe you should ask the twins.” He grinned. “They may have the menu all planned.”
She laughed out loud. “Yes, leave it to my twins.”
He let himself gaze at her, drink in the glow of her ivory skin, the way her hair waved slightly around her face. Old, bad reflections of the pain Sheila had caused and the stresses from his dad’s illness tried to bob up. He blocked them. I have supper at Jeannie’s to look forward to. It would give him a dose of Jeannie’s peace, what he needed most, wanted most.
On Friday Jeannie tried to keep her anticipation of dinner with Jake under control, yet she couldn’t contain her excitement. Her lingering fears of no man being able to accept her girls as his own kept bumping into the reality of what a kind, caring man Jake McClure was. Tonight she wouldn’t worry about Jake becoming closer and dearer to her. Tonight, nothing could go wrong.
The telltale sound of Jake’s truck pulling up to her back door made the hair on the nape of her neck tingle. She rubbed her neck, trying to subdue this response. One knock and she opened the door.
“Come in.” Her voice sounded funny to her own ears.
He grinned and hurried inside. “How’s Bummer? Did he behave himself today?
“Of course.”
He opened his jacket. And she saw that again under his jacket, he’d sheltered a bouquet of flowers—a mix of cut flowers, yellow, white and pink, with a few red sweetheart roses.
She accepted them, her heart fluttering against her breastbone. “You didn’t need to bring flowers again.”
“I enjoyed it again.”
The list of all this man had set in motion for her benefit streamed through her mind—flashes of her working at the clinic, of his gentle hands examining an animal, of helping her on moving day. She tried to reel in the gratitude and affection they sparked without success. Jake, you are so good to me, to us.
