by Leanne Tyler
“I don’t think the underground is the place to find his music. Maybe we’ll have to go somewhere a little more private for that.”
“Maybe.” She was much more pleasant tonight and he was enjoying their conversation so much he wondered if he’d made too quick of a judgment about her. He had a feeling he’d regret asking, but he did it anyway. “I don’t suppose you’d want to go find a place to listen to some Bublé?”
She angled a look at him that read loud and clear ‘you got to be kidding me’. But a moment later she surprised him when she reached for her purse and shrugged. “Why not.”
He smiled. “All right then. Let’s go.”
Sue got out of the booth and he followed.
“Where are you going?” Kimberly asked, looking alarmed.
“We’re going to go dance,” Sue explained. “I’ll see you later.”
“That sounds like fun.” Kimberly looked at Phil who shook his head. “But I guess we’ll stay here.”
“Count me out,” Brandon said, snagging the last of the appetizer.
“Are you good to get home?” Alex looked at Phil.
Phil grinned and turned to Kimberly. “Will you drive me home tonight?”
She nodded and kissed him on the cheek.
“Then we’ll see you folks later.”
Chapter Five
Alex led Sue to his truck and opened the door for her before running around to his side. He got in and started the engine, adjusting the AC to make it more comfortable for her. “Are you hungry?”
“A little.”
“Do you want to grab a pepperoni pizza? Go back to my place and check out my CD collection?”
She grinned. “That sounds good.”
“All right then. Have you ever met Duke?”
She shook her head. “Not in person. Pictures yes, but I’ve only heard about him.”
“Then I think it is high time that you meet the legend.”
She laughed. “Legend? I wouldn’t exactly call him one.”
“You wouldn’t? But he has a reputation, you know. Keely has told me tales of his antics while I was away. Surely you’ve heard them as well?”
“I have. I guess the funniest is where Duke dragged Keely through the bushes at the Fountain City Lake to get to Darren.”
“Ouch. She didn’t tell me about that one.”
“Could you blame her? If it had been me, I wouldn’t have shared that story with anyone because it would have been too embarrassing to admit that I let an overweight dog get the best of me. She had a few scrapes and bruises after that incident, but she faithfully took him back for his jogs.”
Alex glanced at her. “She did take good care of him, and it sounds like I owe her a lot more than I realized.”
“Yes, you do. But it wasn’t only Keely who looked after him. Jama shared in his care while Keely and Darren were on their honeymoon. Luckily Duke’s antics for her were only moaning at the moon and waking up the neighborhood. It kept Kyle coming over and that’s how they fell in love.”
Alex chuckled. “Are you suggesting that my dog is a matchmaker?”
She shrugged. “It did seem that way at times.”
“Then should I be worried now that I’m home?”
“Only if you want to be.”
He stopped at a red light and pulled out his cell. He punched in the number to a local pizza place and ordered for delivery. “It’s going to be about half an hour. So we’ll hang out with Duke for a while.”
“Sure. Friday night high school football games keep them busy I guess.”
“Yeah. I hadn’t thought about that.”
“So how big is your Bublé collection?”
Alex grinned. “I think I have every single release. There was this music store near where I worked in Alaska. I spent a great deal of time there in the evenings and on the weekends. The owner loved music and kept it stocked with some of the all-time legends. He had private listening booths so you could preview the music. That’s when I discovered I liked his music.”
“That sounds amazing. You don’t find music stores with listening booths anymore.”
“It was. And it kept me from being lonely not knowing many people in the area when I first moved there.”
She reached over and laid her hand on his. The gesture surprised him, but he found it nice.
“What about you?” He quickly glanced over at her. “Do you have many of his CDs?”
“A few, but I have an eclectic taste in music so I’m all over the spectrum.”
He turned off the main road to Cedar Lane, and they drove in silence for a few moments until he slowed to pull into the drive. Duke ran to the fence, jumped up standing on his back legs and began to bark.
“I didn’t know you had two dogs.”
“I don’t.” He turned off the engine.
“But what about the white one that was lying under the tree with Duke when we pulled up?”
“A white dog?” He opened the door, got out and hurried to her side of the truck to open the door for her, but she didn’t wait.
“Yeah. Didn’t you see it?”
“No. I didn’t, but I’ve seen flashes of white running across the yard before. I wasn’t really sure what I was seeing.”
“Could it be a neighbor’s dog?”
“Maybe.”
“Well I think Duke might have a friend.” She smiled and went over to the fence. “Hey, boy. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
The dog stopped barking and sniffed her hand before he licked it.
“I think he likes you.”
“I think you’re right.” She looked around. “So is this where you and Keely grew up?”
He nodded. “Yeah. This is it. Not much, but it was home.”
“And still is.”
“Right. I still live here.” He chuckled. “What does that say about me?”
“That you are bonded to your family roots. My parents sold their house when they moved to Florida. There wasn’t the option for Kimberly or me to live there.”
“Would you have wanted to?”
Sue shook her head. “No. I don’t believe so. I wasn’t ready for all that responsibility. A little apartment near the university was perfectly fine for me at the time.”
“What about your sister?”
“She went out of state to college only because they had the best program for what she was studying, but is she doing anything with that degree?”
“I take it she isn’t?”
“You got that right. My parents still get sore when they think about it so we don’t bring it up. But I’ve found it isn’t really what you study in college, but that you have a diploma that employers care about.”
“I doubt you went to college to be an administrative assistant.”
“No, I studied Advertising. But I’m not just a secretary. I truly am an assistant. It is like being an assistant editor at a publishing house. I may not bring in the clients or acquire the authors, but I do the important behind-the-scenes work to see that the clients are happy.”
“Didn’t you want to be an account executive?”
“Sure, but you have to start somewhere. And once I started working for your sister, I found that I could be very content doing what I do. That doesn’t mean I might not want to make a change later on, but right now I’m satisfied.”
He nodded. “That’s cool.”
“And less stressful. Your sister put up with some doozies for clients when we were at Jackson and Jackson. Don’t get me started on those or we’d be here all night.”
He laughed. “Come on inside and we’ll get something to drink. The pizza should be here soon.”
“All right.” She rubbed the dog on his head one more time before walking away. “Bye Duke.”
He jumped down and followed them along the fence toward the house, stopping at the gate. He howled a woeful sound.
“Will he be okay?” she asked.
“Sure. I think he’s just sad that you’ve stopped
petting him. He eats up female attention.”
She giggled. “Don’t all males.”
“Depends on the female.” He held open the door to the screened in porch for her. “Go on inside. The light switch is to the left of the door. I’m going to check on his water before coming in.”
“Okay.”
Alex hurried through the gate, turned on the water and drug the garden hose over to Duke’s bowl. “Now you behave yourself. I don’t want any howling at the moon tonight. We’re going to listen to music and we don’t need you serenading us. Is that clear?”
The dog trotted over to him, flopped down and rolled over until he was lying on his side and looked up at him.
Alex reached out and scratched Duke under his chin. “Don’t look so sad. She’s pretty, don’t you think? If we play our cards right she’ll want to come back.” Alex released the lever on the hose nozzle and hurried over to turn off the faucet.
When he entered the house, he found Sue studying the tiny figurines along the windowsill at the kitchen sink.
“Those belonged to my mom.”
Sue looked at him. “I didn’t think they were yours. Interesting assortment. Is this one of those ring holders for when you wash the dishes?”
She held up the little colored crystal trinket with spring flowers.
“Yeah, I got that for her one Mother’s Day when I was a kid. Saved up my pennies and dimes to get it.” He went to the sink and washed his hands. “What would you like to drink? I have sodas, water, tea?”
“A soda will be fine.”
“How much ice do you prefer?”
“What?”
“Some people like a lot, others like a little. Or would you rather have no ice?”
“I like ice. An average amount will be fine or whatever you put in yours.”
“Okay.” He got two glasses out of the cabinet and went over to the refrigerator to fill them. “Crushed or cubed?”
She laughed and shook her head. “You weren’t so concerned at the dinner last week.”
“I didn’t fill the glasses with ice. Phil did.”
“Oh. I see.” She walked over to the table and sat down. “Who decorated your kitchen?”
He grimaced. “Keely.”
“I thought it looked like her.”
“Yeah. She did it while I was away. It’s okay I guess. Not really my taste.”
“Then change it.”
He shrugged, bringing the glasses and a two-liter drink over to the table. “I might.”
“It’s only paint. I don’t think she’ll mind if that is what you are worried about.”
“I’m not worried, but I don’t want to upset her either. She is pregnant. Don’t pregnant women get emotional easy?”
“I wouldn’t know personally, but it seems like I’ve heard that.”
“Well I don’t want to rock the boat over paint color.”
A knock sounded at the front door. “That must be the pizza. Will you grab two plates from the cabinet nearest the sink? I’ll be right back.”
“Sure.”
Sue got the plates and looked out the window, seeing the white dog with Duke again. It was lying under the tree. She set the plates on the counter. “Hey Alex, that dog is back.”
He didn’t answer so she slipped out of the back door. The white dog’s head popped up and it was on its feet within seconds before it took off running as fast as it could across the fenced yard.
“No. Don’t run away.” Sue hurried off the screened porch and into the fenced yard. “Come back.”
Duke jumped up when she came into the fenced area. He loped over toward her and howled.
“Sorry boy. I didn’t mean to run your friend off.”
The screened porch door banged closed and Alex came outside. “What’s going on?”
She turned around. “I saw the white dog again and I thought I could get close enough to see if it had a dog tag, but it ran off when I came out the door.”
“Maybe it will come back before it gets too late.”
“Maybe.” She walked back through the gate and to the screened porch.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure it must be a neighbor’s dog that has found a hole in our fence. I’ll check tomorrow for a hole.”
“Okay. I just hate for a dog as pretty as it is to be lost and wandering around trying to get home.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “If it is, then you can take comfort that the nights haven’t started getting too cold yet.”
“True.”
“Come on back inside. Our pizza is getting cold.”
She nodded, surprised by him putting his arm around her shoulders. It felt nice and she leaned into him as they went back into the house.
Chapter Six
Alex tossed a Frisbee toward Duke the next morning, remembering sharing the pizza with Sue before dancing in the living room until nearly midnight. She was very good at it and her ability put him to shame. When the yellow orb landed at the dog’s paws, he flopped down beside it and yawned. Drool seeped from his flews onto the plastic toy.
“Hey, that’s not how it works, pal. You’re supposed to catch it and bring it back to me. You remember? We’re playing fetch.” Alex scowled as he jogged over to his pet and stooped down to look the dog in the eye. “What’s wrong with you? I’ve been home over a week now and you act as if you hardly know me.”
Duke yawned and rolled over onto his side, but sprang up on all fours with his ears perked up and ran over to the fence as a car pulled into the drive.
Still frowning, Alex shielded his eyes from the early morning glare trying to see who it was. He didn’t recognize the vehicle right away, but when the car door opened he saw his brother-in-law get out so he jogged over to the fence.
“Hey,” Darren called. “How’s it going?”
“Not bad. How about yourself?”
Darren shrugged. “About the same.”
Duke jumped up on the fence and wagged his tail, whimpering until Darren rubbed his head.
“What brings you out this way? Did Keely forget another vital cooking utensil?”
“No.” He grinned. “But I am here for her. She woke this morning convinced something wasn’t right in the world. She couldn’t shake the feeling and finally decided it had to involve you, but when she tried calling…you didn’t answer the phone.”
“Sorry. I’ve been doing yard work this morning. Trying to keep a handle on the few leaves that have started to fall. I’m fine. You didn’t have to come all this way to check on me.”
“I know, but if I didn’t Keely would have come herself even though the doctor has her on bed rest today.”
“What? Is anything wrong?”
“Don’t get alarmed. It isn’t anything major or I wouldn’t have left her no matter how much she complained. Her ankles were really swollen this morning when she got up so she has to keep them elevated and eat more protein until the swelling subsides. The doctor assured us this is one of the many complications of pregnancy.”
“Oh…okay.” Alex let out the breath he hadn’t realized he held. “I guess her strange feeling and not being able to reach me made it even more of an issue.”
“You got that right. I was afraid if I didn’t come over her blood pressure would rise too. Let me give her a quick call to put her mind at ease. I left her in the recliner watching her favorite Audrey Hepburn movie, but she made me promise to call as soon as I got here.”
Alex shook his head. His sister was always the worrier when it came to him. Not that there was anything to worry over. He was perfectly fine. His dog, on the other hand, was a different story. “Come on, Duke, let’s go chase that bird.”
The dog glanced at him and jumped down from the fence. He loped toward the sugar maple and laid down in the shade.
“I said bird, not tree. What is wrong with you today?”
Duke yawned, laid his head on his front paws, and closed his eyes.
Alex planted his hands on his hips
and shook his head. There was definitely something up with his dog. He’d always been indifferent and downright lazy, but before Alex went to Alaska he felt the dog enjoyed being around him. Now he had to wonder. Had he been gone long enough that Duke was no longer his dog? Could he miss Keely so much that he was unhappy?
Darren walked over to the tree as well. “I’m standing right here with him, Keely. He’s fine. Concerned about you, but otherwise fine.”
Hearing Darren’s approach he turned his attention to the phone conversation.
“Okay. If you insist.” He reached Alex his cell phone. “She wants to talk to you.”
Alex took it and grinned. “Hey sis, what’s up?”
“My anxiety. Did you have a good time last night?”
“Yes.”
“Did anything unusual happen?”
“No. Nothing.”
“What about the potion? Do you still have the bottle with you?”
“Sure. It’s in my pocket.” He reached his hand into his front jeans pocket and felt the small glass vial. “I’m fine. Really I am. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“If you are sure?”
He laughed. “I am.”
“Okay then. Come over this afternoon. We’ll order take out.”
“I would if I could, Keels, but I have to go rent my tux for Phil’s wedding. Then Brandon and I are going hiking.”
“Hiking? No. You can’t go. Something bad might happen. Do it next Saturday. Not today.”
He laughed again, but remembered what Darren said about her blood pressure rising and thought better of it. “If it will make you feel better. I’ll see if Brandon has a problem changing our plans.”
“It will.”
“Okay. I’m handing the phone back to Darren now. I’ll check in on you later.”
As soon as Sue got into her sister’s car to go for the dress fitting, Kimberly pounced on her. “Spill it. I want to hear every detail about last night.”
“There really isn’t anything major to tell.” She settled into the seat and fastened the belt. “He ordered us a pizza and we went back to his place. I got to meet his dog and we danced in his living room.”
