He appreciated that she had helped with Lacy’s turnabout regarding their disagreement.He ate his cinnamon roll and drank his coffee.
Lacy refilled his cup.“Do you want anything else?”
About then, some other customers arrived.
“No.I’m good.Thanks, Lacy.”
“What are you going to do for the rest of the day?”
“Go shopping.I need something to wear to a Christmas dance.”
She smiled.“I know.I was thinking the same.I didn’t expect to be going to anything like that when I arrived here.”
“You’ll save me a dance?”
“I sure will.”Then Lacy took orders from the customers at two other tables.
He drank the rest of his coffee, then left to check out of the motel.He needed to do it by ten, and then he would just keep his bags in his car and go shopping.
He was so glad Lacy had called him and let him know where she was and that she was safe.He respected Florence’s training and knew she would keep his granddaughter safe.He was glad she had taken her under her wing.
Once he checked out of the motel, he found a shop that was carrying formal and informal wear for women and men.He was really impressed that cougars seemed to run everything here.
“What are you looking for?Can I help?I’m the owner, Iris Hawthorn.”
“Frank Everest.I’m visiting my granddaughter, Lacy.I need something to wear to the Christmas dance.I have no idea what everyone wears to it.Is it formal?Casual?”
“Casual.Though some dress semi-formally.But everyone’s there to visit, enjoy the Christmas spirit, and have fun.Now, for the New Year’s party, that’s formal.”
“It must be nice to have so many cougars in town.”
“I love it.I came here a short while ago and opened my shop, and found everyone so welcoming and kind.Deputy Sheriff Chase Buchanan and his lovely wife, Shannon, opened their home to me for Thanksgiving, though several other families also offered.They invited me first, so I accepted their offer.I’ve heard Lacy is here because of the trouble she had with an abusive ex-boyfriend.”
“She is.”
“Well, we have his picture, and if any of us see him, we will report him.”
“That’s great.”He was amazed at how the cougars stuck together like that.He’d never lived any place like it.
He was considering moving here, particularly if Lacy was staying here.He wanted to be part of her life and enjoy seeing her as she married and had kids, so he could spoil them.She was all he had left in the world.
“Will you be taking Lacy to the dance?”
“Uhm, no, she’s going with Rory.”
“Oh, he’s so cute, charming, a real nice guy.”
“I’m going with Florence Fitzgerald.We worked together in the FBI years ago.”
“Oh, my, how wonderful.Well, Mrs.Fitz wears wool skirts and sweaters, sometimes red or green sweater dresses for the dances, if that helps you to decide what to wear.”
He was glad Iris could help him decide what to wear.He hadn’t gone to anything like this since he’d lost his mate.
He ended up picking out a red wool sweater and dress pants.He decided to go whole hog and bought a pair of Western boots and a ten-gallon hat.
“Enjoy the dance.”
“Are you going?”he asked.
