“They’re very strategic,” Saint observed.
“They’ve had three years of practice,” I said.“They think sitting quietly earns them things.”
Saint glanced down at Salt.“Does it?”
Salt scooted forward an inch and huffed at Saint.
Saint chuckled and slid him a French fry.“Guess it does.”
The way Saint was with Salt and Pepper made my heart flip.Salt and Pepper were more than just dogs to me.They were like my family.
We talked while we ate.Easy things.Bakery chaos.His work at the body shop in town.Stories about Pepper and Salt’s ongoing vendetta against the vacuum cleaner.
At one point, Saint leaned back slightly and said, “I dropped the gingerbread house off at my mom’s.”
I smiled.“How did she like it?”
His eyes softened.“She loved it.Stood there for ten minutes just looking at it like it was a museum piece.”
I laughed.“Yeah, I would say that means she liked it.”
“She took pictures,” he added.“Sent them to three people.One of them twice.”
“That tracks.”
“She said it was the final piece to make the house feel like Christmas again,” Saint said quietly.
Something warm bloomed behind my ribs.“I’m glad.”
“What about your family?”Saint asked.“You’ve already met my mom, so you need to tell me at least your parents’ names.”
I shifted back onto the couch, and Pepper hopped up next to me.He lay down in my lap and sighed contentedly.It was hard work begging and eating French fries.“Uh, well, my mom’s name was Kate.She died when I was nine.”
“I’m sorry, babe.”
I stroked Pepper’s head.“It’s okay.”
“What about your dad?”Saint asked.
“Well, I know he’s not dead, but I don’t know much more than that.The last time I talked to him was about a year ago.”
“That long?Something happened between you two?”
I stroked Pepper’s head and wondered how much I should tell Saint.My problems weren’t his.“My dad just was not making good choices.Drinking too much.Gambling away his paychecks, and then I had to pay his bills.”
“Sounds like you were more of the parent than he was.”
I laughed flatly.“Yeah, you would be correct.”
“So, nothing from him for a year?”he asked.
I sighed.“Not from him.”
He eyed me closely.“So everything is good then, right?”
It wasn’t.Not even close.
“Belle,” he called.
