Owen gave Rex a final pat. “He’s cute, toilet trained, and not a puppy. What more could you want?”
“That’s what I thought, too. How’s Harper doing?” Steve asked, his tone shifting. “I heard Benjamin’s being transferred to a care facility.”
Owen nodded. “If all goes well, he’ll move there on Monday. Harper’s managing okay, but it’s a lot to deal with. Benjamin’s stroke has hit them hard. Carrie, Harper’s mom, is trying to stay positive, but the uncertainty’s pretty hard to handle.”
Steve frowned. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“There’s not a lot anyone can do,” Owen admitted. “But Harper and her mom appreciate the support they’ve received. I was just about to have a cup of coffee. Would you like one?”
Steve nodded. “I’d love one.” He followed Owen into the kitchen and smiled when a bowl of water appeared in front of Rex. “You know what that means, don’t you?”
“Yeah,” Owen told him. “You’re on dog walking duties in about twenty minutes. There are plenty of plants in my backyard that don’t mind being watered.”
With a contented Rex sitting at Steve’s feet, and a cup of coffee in front of each of them, Owen studied the dark circles under his friend’s eyes. “You aren’t sleeping.”
Steve ran his hand along his jaw. “Is it that obvious?”
“Only if you look closely,” Owen told him. “What’s going on?”
Steve reached for his coffee. “My nightmares are back. I just hope I don’t scare Rex when I leap out of bed in the middle of the night.”
Owen knew how upsetting his friend’s nightmares could be. “It’s better than screaming. Your neighbors would be banging on your door to make sure you’re all right.”
Steve looked away. “They’re used to me making too much noise.”
Owen’s eyebrows rose. Steve hated it when people treated him differently because he had PTSD. What he failed to appreciate was that half the people in the tiny home village were dealing with the same issue. “It’s just as well you live in the tiny home village, then.”
“That’s what Pastor John told me,” Steve muttered.
At least he’d talked to John. “Do you have a plan if you need help?”
Steve nodded. “All sorted. I’m hoping Rex will distract me from everything that’s running through my head.”
Looking at the adorable dog with black eyes and a button nose, Owen couldn’t imagine a better way of being distracted. “Well, if you need someone to call, remember me.”
“You’re at the top of my list.” Steve looked down at his sneakers. Rex was enjoying playing with his laces, tugging them with all the might of a furball that was smaller than most cats. “Are you on track to open your studio at the end of the month?”
“I’m still pushing forward with opening on Fridays and Saturdays. Everything just feels overshadowed right now.”
Steve shrugged. “You know what life can be like, but you’re doing the right thing. If you want to grow your business, more people need to see your work.”
“You’re right,” Owen conceded, managing a small smile. Rex padded over and nudged Owen’s hand with his nose. “And having Rex here is a great distraction.”
“Animals have a way of doing that.” Steve watched Rex settle at Owen’s feet. “If you ever need a break, you could always take Rex for a walk. He enjoys chasing the birds around the lake.”
Owen rubbed his hand along Rex’s soft fur. “I’d be terrified the birds would attack him.”
Steve picked up his coffee cup. “He’s tougher than he looks—a lot like you.”
Owen laughed at that comparison. “Maybe we’re all scrappy survivors,” he mused, looking down at Rex, who seemed perfectly content with the world.
“As long as you don’t start eating socks, I think we’ll manage. Tell me where you’re at with opening your studio.”
Owen told Steve about the pieces he still had to finish and the launch of his new website. It was an exciting time, but he wished Harper was here to enjoy it.
The strain of not knowing what would happen with her granddad worried everyone. Benjamin’s recovery would be long and slow, and Owen didn’t know what that meant for Harper. She’d come back to Sapphire Bay to look after her granddad. But if Benjamin stayed in the care facility in Polson, what would she do?
Harper parkedher bicycle outside Owen’s studio. The sun was just beginning to set, casting long shadows across the gravel path that led to the entrance. She felt a weight on her chest—a mix of exhaustion from the day and the constant concern for her granddad.
