“Who’s Gus?”
“Izzy, eat!”
“But my eggs are gone,” she protested.
“Then work on that French toast.”
“Gus is my dog,” he answered. Because Gus would always behisdog. They picked him out together as a family when he was a teenager, but the dog rode home in Logan’s lap. Slept at the foot of his bed despite his love of being outside. “He lives with my grandpa now.”
Abbie pushed her eggs around with her fork. “I hope he’s okay.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s not feeling well,” Logan explained. He hoped whatever was ailing the aging dog could be treated. He wasn’t ready to lose him, and despite his grandpa’s apparent lack of interest, he doubted he was either.
“Can we get a dog?”
“No.”
“You don’t need a dog,” Abbie said to her. “You can play with Gibbs whenever you want. He needs someone to keep him on his paws.”
“He does?”
The chocolate mass perked up from his spot on the floor beside Izzy’s seat. He’d had a pretty boring morning as Izzy hadn’t managed to drop any scraps yet. He licked the little girl’s bare foot, winning a giggle.
“Think you can do that?”
Izzy’s eyes locked on Gibbs, as though sizing him up as thoughts buzzed through that busy little mind. “Yeah.”
When Abbie’s phone rang, everyone looked her way, including the dog. He watched her smile fall into a more serious expression. “It’s Christy.” Scooting her chair back, she slipped into the hallway off the kitchen.
Guilt twisted inside him, knowing the news she was about to receive. She had her heart set on that house, and knowing his Abbie, she wanted to do it herself. But the low offer along with her current unemployment didn’t bode well for her, even if he hadn’t interfered.
“You know something.” Erin kept her voice low, but the sternness in that tone still managed to give him chills.
He watched the doorway for Abbie’s return, hoping it would be soon enough to avoid answering the question. Erin had a way with people that made it nearly impossible to get away with a lie. That Cliff had been able to keep Izzy’s sheep ride a secret was a miracle itself.
“You know she won’t get it.” He hoped to stay as neutral as possible. The last thing he wanted was to tell Erin of all people what he did. He’d rather face Abbie’s dad. “Mrs. Hampton doesn’t exactly have a soft spot for people and their disadvantages.”
Izzy slipped a piece of bacon off her plate and under the table. If Gibbs had been a little quieter inhaling it, she might’ve gotten away with it. But Erin didn’t seem to care at the moment. “I wish you were wrong, but I know you’re not.”
“Wish I were, too.”
“Well?” Erin asked when Abbie reentered the kitchen.
Abbie simply shook her head. Her head dipped down, hair curtaining her grim expression. “I’ve got a couple things to do,” she said, her voice cracking. He recognized her expression; tears would soon follow. “Let me know when the vet calls, okay?”
“Abbs—” But he let her go before she cried in front of them all.
“She didn’t have a chance,” Erin said when they could see Abbie walking across the back yard toward her cottage. She left so fast Gibbs hadn’t even had an opportunity to decideifhe wanted to go with her. But now the dog abandoned his spot near the table to watch her out the window and whine.
Logan’s resolve to keep his secret nearly broke. Maybe telling Erin what he did wouldn’t be so bad. It could work in his favor, after she cooled off about the unexpected news. But with Izzy in their company, the secret would never stay secret. “I’ll take Gibbs over in a few minutes.”
“If you’d stayed like you planned, you’d be buying that house.” Erin noisily stacked plates and silverware. “Together.”She marched to the sink. “Izzy, go wash your hands, please.”
Then again, the secret seemed better kept with him. It’d come out in a few days anyway, but for now, he didn’t feel like dealing with any grief he might receive. He set the tub of butter in the fridge and left the bottle of syrup on the counter beside the stove.
Erin braced herself on the edge of her farmhouse sink. “I meant what I said the first day you showed up. Don’t hurt her, Logan. She acts tough, but you should know better than anyone how fragile she can be.”
