He and Von would have some long days that would bleed into long evenings during reno, especially if The PX was going to open by Veterans Day. He would have to set an alarm to remind him to pick Puddin’ up by six. It wouldn’t hurt the dog to be locked up at the Bywater house for a couple of hours in one of the rooms they weren’t working on.
Thad could hear his grandmother’s voice in his head, cursing him out in the broken creole French she’d learned as a child just for him thinking it would be okay to leave her precious Puddin’ locked in a room.
“Do I need to sign anything before leaving him right now, or is everything in here?” he asked, holding up the folder.
“That’s everything. You can leave a credit card on file, or fill out paperwork so that we can do an automatic deduction from your bank account.”
Yeah, right. That’s all he needed, to wake up and find his account overdrawn because Puddin’ wanted extra high-priceddog treats. He reached in his back pocket for his wallet. He handed the card to the woman behind the desk, his eyes narrowing as he caught the two dogs getting a little too comfortable with each other. They’d been the same way on Saturday.
“Hey, are they both fixed? Because they look like they need a room.”
“All dogs must be spayed or neutered in order to board. And they’re just friendly,” Ashanti said. “Puddin’ and Duchess have been best friends since the day they met.”
“Looks a bit more than just friendly to me,” Thad said. “Looks like Puddin’ has a better love life than I do.”
“Probably because he’s more approachable,” she said.
The receptionist gasped.
“Did I say that out loud?” Ashanti asked. Thad nodded. So did the receptionist. She sighed and shook her head. “I’m sorry. That was mean and inappropriate and unprofessional.”
“Three things that you are not,” the receptionist said. She looked to Thad. “She’s actually the nicest person I know.”
“I’m always nice,” Ashanti said. “You’re bringing out the worst in me today.”
And wasn’t that just his luck. Bringing out the worst in her was the exact opposite of what he wanted. But maybe it was for the best.
“It’s probably because he bought the house you’ve coveted for your new location,” offered the receptionist.
Ashanti tipped her head to the side, studying him. “That’s part of it, but I disliked him even before he bought my house.”
“Actually, it’s my house,” Thad said without thinking. She shot him an irritated look.
Thisis why she didn’t like him.
“I’ll be here to get Puddin’ by six,” Thad said. “I promisedmy grandmother I would bring him by today, even though he’s only supposed to visit on the weekends. She’s already sweet-talked the director into giving her special treatment. This is the second midweek visit since I got him.”
“That sounds like Mrs. Frances,” Ashanti said. She was smiling now. He vastly preferred that to her scowl. Although, even her scowl was cute.
“How is she doing? I’m not being nosy,” she interjected. “It’s just that I never got the full story about what happened to her. We sent her updates about Puddin’ but didn’t get any about her.”
Thad didn’t see the harm in sharing. She was obviously concerned, and he could tell she cared about his grandmother.
“Grams broke her hip and her ankle. Surgery repaired both, but rehab is going to take some time. We got together as a family and decided it was better that she move into an assisted living facility where she can do rehab and then transition into permanent living.”
“And she was okay with that?”
He shrugged. “Her biggest issue was having to give up Puddin’. Once I agreed to move back to New Orleans and take care of the dog, she was in it one hundred percent. Honestly, I think she’s been lonely in that house. She’s already making friends at this new place.”
“That doesn’t surprise me one bit. Your grandmother is one of the sweetest people I know. Please let her know I’m praying for her.”
There was no artifice in her words. She genuinely cared; Thad could see it in her expression.
“I will,” he said.
“Thank you.”
His reaction to her soft smile was a clear indication that he needed to get out of here. Thad turned to leave, but Ashanti’s voice stopped him.
