“He yapped until I got him.The customers all scooped up soap to purchase so they could come up to the counter and meet him.All they could do was fuss over him.I tried to find someone to adopt him, but none of them were interested.They all had one excuse or another.But I sold a lot of soap.A whole lot.”
Colin smiled.“See there.You have a new sales associate.”
“Is that what you call him?”She looked at Tater Tot and shook her head.“Even so, I think it’ll be better for him to find his ‘fur-ever’ home sooner rather than later.”
“And so, you’re helping the process?”
She shrugged.“I’m doing what I can.I told everyone to spread the word that he’s available for adoption, and they offered to help.Some even took a picture of him.”
There was a part of him that was hoping Holly would adopt Tater Tot.Colin couldn’t help but feel with her grandmother gone, Holly needed someone in her life.And as he knew from experience, a dog can make a great companion.Maybe what she needed was a bit more time.
He couldn’t shake the feeling that Merry had been doing a bit of matchmaking when she paired Holly with Tater Tot.A little smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.It seemed to be working out, whether Holly wanted to admit it or not.
“What are you smiling about?”She arched a brow.
He didn’t know that his thoughts had translated to his face.He glanced around the kitchen.“It looks like you’ve started a bakery.”He arched a brow.“Did you go and change the soap company to a bakery?”
“No, silly.This is for the Kringles’ Christmas party this weekend.”
His gaze scanned the kitchen.“She asked you to bake all of this?”
He knew Merry was concerned about Holly with this being her first holiday alone, but asking her to not only care for Tater Tot but also to bake, what?Six different types of cookies seemed like a lot.
“She didn’t ask me to do it.I volunteered.”
He was still taking in the dozens and dozens of cookies.“But why?”
“My grandmother did all of this for Merry’s party each year.I thought I would keep up the tradition.It’s what Gran would have wanted.”
He wondered if her grandmother would want her granddaughter taking on more responsibility.She had more than enough going on in her life with moving into a new place while keeping the soap business operating.
Colin opened the gate to let the puppy in the kitchen.Tater Tot ran over and jumped up on him.Colin leaned down and petted his head.“Hey, boy.”
“Tater, get down.”Holly’s voice had a firm tone to it.When the pup got down, she said, “Good boy.”
Colin was impressed.“Looks like you’ve been working on your training.”
“It was in the book Merry put with the supplies.I read it last night.”
“As in you read the whole book last night?”
She nodded.“I needed to know what I’m doing.”
He was impressed.Maybe the pup was the best medicine for her.But with all of this baking, he worried that she was overdoing it.He might have to have a word with Merry.
His gaze moved to the sink and the surrounding counter.There was a pile of mixing bowls, spatulas, and baking sheets.He might not know much about baking, but he could definitely help load the dishwasher.
The timer went off.While Holly got two trays of cookies from the oven, he rolled up his sleeves.He moved toward the sink.
Holly straightened and looked at him.“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to work on that stack of dishes.”
Her gaze moved from him to the overflowing sink and then returned to him.“Oh, no.I’ve got it.”
He was pretty certain that after working all day and then baking all of this, not to mention taking care of the puppy, that she was exhausted.“I don’t mind pitching in.I’ll have this cleaned up in no time.”
Once he had the dishwasher filled with the first load, he’d see what Holly wanted to eat for dinner.He glanced around.It was then he realized there was a hitch in his plan.
