In Dog We Trust

by Beth Kendrick

  “Yes, but read on.” Jocelyn slapped the contract down on the desktop. “According to this clause right here, I can void the terms of this agreement if I pay you back your deposit. And I just so happen to have my checkbook burning a hole in my pocket.”

  The Derridges both gaped at her.

  “You can’t do this!” Polly exclaimed.

  “And yet I’m doing it.” Jocelyn started writing the check.

  “This is ridiculous,” Roger said. “And I’m not taking a personal check from a woman who goes back on her word like this.”

  Jocelyn put down the pen. “Fine. I’ll give you a cashier’s check. Expect it from FedEx tomorrow.”

  “You’re making a big mistake,” Polly warned her as Jocelyn escorted them to the front door. “The biggest mistake of your life.”

  “Don’t exaggerate.” Jocelyn had to laugh. “I make bigger mistakes than this on a daily basis.”

  * * *

  • • •

  Jocelyn was reassuring Hester that her puppies would not be going to live with the Miss Hannigans of the dog show world when her cell phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number, so she let it go to voice mail.

  It rang and rang and rang some more. She relented and answered, “Hello?”

  A shrill, loud feminine voice sliced into her eardrum. “What just happened?”

  “Um, who is this?” Jocelyn frowned and pulled the phone away from her head.

  “It’s Lois Gunther. Your dog handler.”

  Jocelyn frowned. “How did you get through? I thought I blocked your number after you called my lawyer to complain about me.”

  Lois ignored this and launched into a tirade. “How could you turn away the Derridges?”

  “It was easy,” Jocelyn said. “They were talking smack about J. K. Rowling.”

  “Once again, you have no idea what you’re doing.” Lois stopped haranguing and started hissing. “The Derridges know everything and everybody in the Labrador world, and Mr. Allardyce promised them the pick of the litter!”

  “I know, but I didn’t like them, and I don’t think Hester did, either.” Jocelyn sat down in the comfy leather chair and spun around, propping her feet on the desk. “So I went with my gut.”

  “You can’t go with your gut. You have to go with the contract.”

  “The contract says that I can rescind the offer as long as I return their deposit. Which I will. We don’t have a problem here.”

  “We certainly do. Polly and Roger are dear friends of mine.”

  “They were going to make Hester’s baby girl do an IQ test! Did they tell you that? Your ‘dear friends’ are elitist snobs.”

  “That’s why they’re the best. They demand the highest standards of the breed. Anyone else would be honored to sell them a puppy.”

  “Well.” Jocelyn shrugged. “Good to know.”

  There was a short pause while Lois gnashed her teeth. “That’s all you’re going to say?”

  “Yep.”

  “You cannot do this. You cannot just take over the Allardyce Labrador legacy and—”

  “I can do whatever I want. They’re my dogs.”

  “Not for long.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Jocelyn wished she had a glass of scotch and a cigar. There was something about this office that made her feel like Don Draper. “Are you going to call my lawyer again?”

  Lois responded by hanging up.

  “Don’t worry.” Jocelyn addressed Hester as she swung her feet back onto the floor. “I would never hand over your precious babies to such coldhearted cutthroats.”

  Hester, who was simultaneously nursing three out of four puppies, looked harassed but grateful.

  Jocelyn knelt down to kiss the tip of Hester’s nose. “But, just between you and me, I’m not sure any of you guys could pass the Derridge IQ test.”

  Hester gave her a big, goofy dog smile and a slobbery lick on the cheek.

  “I know, I know, you think you can get by on your good looks and your charm. Well, as long as I’m in charge, you can. Don’t you worry about a thing.”

  chapter 31

  While Jocelyn spent the morning fending off the Derridges, giving Curtis a refresher course in how to stack without giving his handler a bear hug, and taking Carmen for a playdate (emphasis on “date”) with her beloved boyfriend Friday, Liam started putting together a formal loan proposal. Nora, despite her insistence that she was going to get out of everyone’s way in a matter of minutes, stayed on at the Allardyce house and did, well, basically everything.

  “You weeded the front garden?” Jocelyn marveled upon returning from the beach with Carmen. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “Only took a minute.” Nora, who was elbow deep in soapy water at the sink, barely glanced up. “I just got the big ones.”

  “We have a landscaper who comes once a week.” Jocelyn was scandalized. “And a housekeeper who comes twice a week. Stop doing the dishes. You’re my guest.”

  “I showed up unannounced at your doorstep. That’s not exactly a guest.”

  That’s when Jocelyn noticed the smell of freshly baked chocolatey goodness. “Did you make brownies, too?”

  “Coming out of the oven in five minutes.” Nora redoubled her efforts to scrub the mixing bowl. “My grandmother’s recipe.”

  “And why is the vacuum out?” Jocelyn demanded.

  “Stop fussing,” Nora said. “I’m just cleaning up the dog hair before I start lunch.”

  When Liam entered the room, Jocelyn said, “Tell your mom to chill.”

  “Ranch life doesn’t allow for chill.” Liam lifted his head and sniffed the air. “Is that brownies?”

  “Your great-grandmother’s recipe, apparently. How’s the paperwork coming along?”

  “So far, so good. I think we can get the initial documents finalized by next week. I’ll make an appointment to talk to your attorney and the co-trustee in the next few days.”

  “We will make an appointment,” Jocelyn said. “Curtis included.”

  Liam smiled at the fluffy jester of a dog. “Curtis is a good negotiator?”

  “Look at that face. Who could say no?”

  “I see your point.”

  “Besides, it’s his money, really.”

  “Then I better keep giving him treats.” Liam fished yet another biscuit from his pocket. Curtis raced to his side.

  “Don’t give him any more of those. He’s got to be slim and trim for the dog show next month.” Jocelyn sighed. “Or maybe not. I think his best-in-show days might be behind him.” She filled Liam in on the Derridge drama.

  “You did the right thing,” Liam said.

  “I don’t know,” she admitted. “It felt right at the time, but now . . . What if I’ve made a huge mistake?”

  “You haven’t.” He took her hand.

  “What if we’re blacklisted forever?”

  “Who cares?” He pulled her toward him.

  Jocelyn startled as the dryer buzzer sounded. “Those are the sheets. I’d better get them out and folded before the wrinkles set. My mom will be here to pick these up any minute.”

  “It’ll be great to meet her,” Liam said.

  Jocelyn froze, nearly tripping him in the hallway. “Oh, I don’t know if today is a good day for official introductions. She’s pretty busy and, um . . .” And she wants me to date a nice local boy with a steady job and a stable family instead of a fast-talking, house-flipping love child of the richest, stingiest old man Black Dog Bay has ever seen.

  “No big deal.” Liam remained totally relaxed. “She can have a brownie. Just a few minutes.”

  “She’s not a huge fan of the dogs, either,” Jocelyn hedged. “Except George Clooney.”

  “Jocelyn.” Liam placed both hands on her shoulders and turned her around to face him. “Are you
worried about what she’ll think of me or what I’ll think of her?”

  “Neither.” Jocelyn cast her gaze downward. “Both. It’s just that she has some preconceived ideas about guys who show up for tourist season, and I don’t want you to take it personally.”

  “I’m not here for tourist season. I’m here for going-fifty-rounds-with-my-dead-father’s-estate season.”

  “Yes, well, I’m not sure she’s going to make that distinction.” Jocelyn turned her focus to the ceiling. “My last boyfriend—”

  “Was clearly dumber than Curtis.” Liam glanced back at the dog. “Sorry, buddy, but it’s true.”

  “Be that as it may . . .”

  The doorbell chimed.

  “Don’t worry.” Liam pivoted and headed for the door. “It’ll be great.”

  Amid Jocelyn’s protests, he opened the door and offered a handshake. “Hi, I’m Liam Sheridan.”

  “Oh,” was Rachel’s reply. Jocelyn cringed inwardly.

  “Here, let me take that from you.” Liam helped himself to the empty laundry basket Rachel held in her arms. “Come on in. Would you like a brownie?”

  “Jocelyn?” Rachel called. “Are you in here?”

  “Yes, Mom.” Jocelyn rushed into the foyer. “I’m here. And you really should have a brownie.”

  Rachel sidestepped around Liam, eyeing him as though he might pull out a shiv at any moment. “I didn’t know you had company.”

  “Things have gotten a little crazy over the last twenty-four hours.” Jocelyn gave her mother a hug and a kiss. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m fine.” Rachel shook her off. “You don’t have to treat me like some kind of invalid.” She looked at the way Liam was looking at her daughter and narrowed her eyes. “I thought you were going out with that nice local boy Bree found for you.”

  “I tried. Didn’t take.”

  Liam pretended not to hear Rachel’s pointed remark. “Would you like some lemonade, Ms. Hillier? Or water?”

  Rachel nudged Jocelyn’s ribs and whispered. “What is going on? Isn’t this the guy who’s trying to take your house away?”

  “Well, actually, it’s a funny story,” Jocelyn started. But Rachel wasn’t listening anymore. She’d spotted Nora in the kitchen.

  “I don’t believe we’ve met.” Icicles dripped from every syllable.

  “You must be Jocelyn’s mother.” Nora tossed her dish towel on the counter. “You’re the spitting image!” She rounded the counter and went in for a hug.

  Rachel was having none of it. “Yes. I’m Rachel Hillier.” She offered a stiff, formal handshake.

  “I’m Liam’s mom,” Nora explained. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you. Jocelyn’s told me all about you. She’s very proud of you.”

  Rachel’s gaze darted back to her daughter. “Really?”

  “Of course, Mom.”

  “You should be proud of her, too.” Nora swept back her blond hair. “She’s a force to be reckoned with.”

  Rachel tilted her head, assessing Nora. “You’re very comfortable in this house. How did you know Mr. Allardyce?”

  “Mother.” Jocelyn gave her a look.

  But Nora just laughed. “If I’m going to unpack that whole suitcase of scandal, you’d better sit down with a brownie and a glass of milk.”

  Liam pulled out a chair.

  “No, thank you.” Rachel backed out of the kitchen. “I have to go.”

  “Mom.” Jocelyn followed her back to the foyer. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “Nothing’s wrong with me.” Her mother sounded furious. “What’s wrong with you?”

  Jocelyn frowned. “Is this a trick question?”

  “I told you that money would change you.” Rachel’s words were angry but her tone and expression were exhausted. “I told you that it changes the way you treat other people and the way they treat you, and here we are.”

  Jocelyn glanced around. “Doing laundry and eating brownies?”

  “Rubbing elbows with rich people.”

  “Mom.”

  “Let me finish. I know you think I’m still bitter and angry with your father, and who knows, maybe I am, but there’s a reason I always told you to avoid the Shoreline Drive crowd. They’re not like us, Joss. They think about people in terms of money and opportunities. If you lost all this tomorrow”—she opened her arms to encompass the house and its contents—“you’d never hear from them again. I know it’s hard to hear, but it’s true. Think about how easily your father walked away from us. How easily your boyfriend left.”

  Suddenly, Jocelyn felt exhausted, too. “Can we not drag my father into this? Please?”

  “It’s all about money. Image. Things.” Rachel’s eyes welled. “I know I have not always been a great mother. I spent your whole childhood being tired and busy and cranky.”

  “Mom—”

  Rachel held up her hand. “Let me finish. I was not perfect, I am not perfect, but at least I tried. I showed up every day.” She dabbed at her eyes with the sleeve of her threadbare T-shirt. “And I know you’d rather have grown up with some pretty blond princess who made brownies every day, but you got me instead.”

  “And I’m so glad.” Jocelyn hugged her. “I would never want another mom.”

  “You’re in here playing house with her!” Rachel’s voice was almost inaudible. “Have you looked at her fingernails? That woman does not do laundry for a living.”

  Jocelyn grinned at the irony of this. “You’re right about that.”

  “That’s the kind of woman who would be your stepmother, if your father had ever bothered to introduce you to his family.”

  “Which he didn’t,” Jocelyn finished for her. “And you know what? That’s okay. We’ve got each other. The two of us against the world, Mom.”

  Rachel looked more drained and tired than Jocelyn had ever seen her, as if the worry and strain and doubt of the last twenty-seven years were slamming into her all at once. “I could have done better.”

  “Wrong.” Jocelyn stepped back and spun around under the chandelier. “I’m living proof of your excellent parenting.”

  Rachel relaxed just a bit. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. The only thing that could have improved my childhood was having a dog.”

  “Speaking of which, where’s George?”

  “Right where you left him, ready for you to continue to spoil him rotten.”

  Rachel smiled. “That is my right as his grandmother.”

  “Come in for ten minutes and snuggle your grandpuppy and have a brownie,” Jocelyn pleaded. She tilted her head back toward the kitchen. “If it makes you feel better, those two don’t have Shoreline Drive money.”

  “Are you sure?” Rachel furrowed her brow. “Blondie definitely has the old-money look about her.”

  “Her name is Nora,” Jocelyn said. “And she did grow up wealthy, but now she’s basically broke.”

  “What happened?” her mother whispered.

  Jocelyn couldn’t betray Nora’s confidence. “Long story short, Mr. Allardyce happened. Liam and I both have the same deal with our dads.”

  Rachel softened. “Why didn’t you tell me that before?”

  “I would have, but you were too busy assuming the worst.”

  Jocelyn put an arm around her mother’s shoulder and ushered her back to the kitchen. “We’re back and we’re famished.”

  Liam pulled out the chair again and this time, Rachel sat down.

  “Have you met the puppies yet?” Liam asked.

  “I not only met them, I named them.” Rachel rattled off the puppies’ names. The puppies responded by yipping from their whelping box. “It was either that or John Taylor, Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes, and Roger Taylor.”

  “Duran Duran!” Nora served up a huge brownie on a fine china plate. “I love i
t.”

  Rachel regarded Nora with renewed interest. “You like Duran Duran?”

  “I love Duran Duran.” Nora clasped her hands, a middle-aged fangirl with a big brass belt buckle. “And what about Andy Taylor?”

  “Next litter,” Rachel said.

  “Don’t forget Andy Wickett and Stephen Duffy.”

  And with that, two soul mates found each other. While Nora and Rachel chatted about the music video for “Rio,” Jocelyn cut herself a tiny sliver of brownie, tasted it, and then cut a bigger piece.

  “This is delicious,” she told Liam through a mouthful of crumbs.

  “I know. These were the highlight of my childhood.”

  “You want one?”

  “I’ll wait until you three finish and see if there’s any left,” he said.

  Rachel pulled out her phone and started blasting “A View to a Kill.”

  “We should leave now, before karaoke starts,” Liam advised.

  “I kind of like this one,” Jocelyn admitted.

  Liam looked at her for a moment, then said, “It’s no ‘New Moon on Monday.’”

  As if on cue, Curtis started to howl. Carmen joined in, followed by Hester.

  “Canine karaoke.” Liam stepped back from the island. “Let’s go. I’ll grab the sheets and we’ll take them wherever you need to go.”

  “Oh, you don’t want to do that,” Jocelyn said. “We had some midweek checkouts. I have to spend the next four hours putting sheets, blankets, and pillowcases on a bunch of mattresses with stains that don’t bear thinking about.”

  “It’ll only take two hours if I help you.”

  Jocelyn turned to him. “Really?”

  “Sure. Why not?”

  “I don’t know.” She’d never had a romantic prospect offer to help make beds with her. And she’d certainly never asked. “It’s not very glamorous.”

  “I’m not a glamorous guy,” he said. “And I bet putting on pillowcases is way better than deworming a calf or tracking down gators in the watering hole.”

  “Haven’t lost a finger yet.” Jocelyn brightened. “Plus, I bet you’ve seen some horrific stuff flipping houses.”

  “The carpet situations alone would give you nightmares.”