Try anyway.
The bistro glowed warmly, the only bright spot on Main Street this early in the morning. Snow had stopped falling at some point over the night, but the wind was still strong, sending gusts of fresh white powder over the plowed roads.
My stomach dipped as I drove closer, seeing Toby’s Outback parked at the curb. Slowing, I pulled up behind him and shutoff the ignition. Beside me, Marlowe wiggled in excitement, his large body filling the entire bench seat.
“We’re going, we’re going,” I told him fondly, and he answered with a whine.
When I turned back to shut the passenger door, he was there, filling the open space, his tail beating the dash frantically. “So much for going around to the passenger side,” I said, leaning in to scoop his large, furry body into my arms. Usually, I would let him jump down but not with his paw.
It was well on its way to healing, but after his adventures on the farm last night, I figured it was best not to push our luck.
Once he was gently on the ground, he bounded around the truck and onto the sidewalk, nose in the air and working overtime. Guess that meant whatever Bab already had in the oven was Marlowe-approved.
I grabbed the large blanket I’d brought along and went to the front door, which Marlowe bolted through without even pausing. I hollered for him again, but he didn’t listen, racing behind the counter and toward the back.
He let out a bark, and I hurried after him, cursing beneath my breath. “Haven’t even had any coffee yet,” I grumbled, hitching the blanket higher so I didn’t trip.
I only made it as far as the doorway when I stopped, heart squeezing at the sight waiting for me. Toby was smiling ear to ear and down on one knee in front of Marlowe with his hands buried in the fur on his neck.
“What a good boy,” he crooned, itching behind his ear and making Marlowe’s back paw thump against the floor. Marlowe whined and licked Toby’s face, making him laugh.
Suddenly, trying to outlast forever didn’t seem like such a difficult task.
“I see we have a special visitor this morning,” Bab called from across the kitchen.
I walked the rest of the way into the kitchen and put down the blanket against the wall. Turning to Bab, I said, “He’s been restless with his injured paw, and I haven’t been at the farm as much… I didn’t have the heart to make him get out of the truck this morning when he leaped in and wagged his tail. I can take him out in the dining room?—”
Bab made a sound and waved my words away. “He’s fine. Just keep him over there away from the food.”
Relieved, I called for Marlowe and got him settled on the blanket. “Stay,” I instructed and then went to where Bab was filling eggnog cream puffs.
“Thanks, Bab,” I said, leaning in and kissing her cheek.
She laughed and shooed me away. “Thank me by finishing the gingerbread.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said dutifully while leaning around and snagging a fresh pastry.
“Archer Hodge, just what do you think you’re doing?” she scolded, hand on her apron-clad hip.
“I didn’t get breakfast. Do you want me to starve?”
Her lips pursed. “You don’t even like eggnog.”
In a town as small as Winterbury, it was hard to have secrets.
Eyes twinkling, I whispered, “But it’s Toby’s favorite.”
She giggled under her breath, and I winked.
“Go on,” she shooed.
Just finished washing his hands, Toby turned from the sink, a brown paper towel in his hand. He looked at me and flushed, eyes darting away before coming back.
Is he nervous too?
Funny how that made me feel a lot more confident.
Strolling over, I sidled up beside him at the island, so close we almost touched. “I got you something,” I whispered in his ear as I lifted the cream puff under his nose.
