“Hi Jonah!” Delta cheers, and the girls race to let him in before I can.
That’s when I see Yogi next to him, all one hundred and eighty pounds of slightly discolored white fluff, with bandages on his front paws. The puzzle piece clicks into place.
“What happened to Yogi?” Delta asks, and both boys step in.
“I’m not sure, but I found him this morning in the barn with all these cuts on his feet and a dew claw gone. We just got back from the vet.”
Both girls wrap their arms around the dog and he wags his tail. “Poor buddy,” Delta coos.
My heart does break for the big guy, far worse than any of the damage to the garden. I can’t help rubbing his ears and pouting over him too.
But I sigh and catch Jonah’s eye. “I think I know what happened. Follow me.”
Jonah has to cover his mouth when I show him the damning evidence. “I’m so sorry, Renée. I’ll get this fixed, I promise.” He apologizes so sincerely—like this is my property, not his.
“It’s okay. We’ll figure it out.” I look down at the dog who has followed us with his ears tucked and head low. “But I would like to know what the heck is so special about our pumpkins,Yogi.”
“Hey I know I just left,” Jonah says into the phone he’snow holding to his ear. “But it looks like he tore up Renée’s garden. Yeah, he climbed under the fence and ate all their pumpkins. Is he going to be okay?” He scans the graveyard of gourds. “He ate... a lot of them.”
We all stand by waiting for a sign of relief, but he chews on his bottom lip and inspects the bits and pieces left. "Doesn't look like it,” he replies. “Okay. Thanks bro. Love you. I said I love you, Dane! Say it back,” he says petulantly, and eventually smiles. “That’s better. I’ll see you later.”
“Is he gonna be okay?” I ask.
He pockets his phone and sighs. “He should be fine. It doesn’t look like he ate the stems or leaves, which is good. If he doesn't poop for a while I’ll have to bring him in. But he should be fine once his paws heal.” He claps his hands and turns his sunshine on the girls. “Okay, who wants to help me make a little recovery center in the barn for this goober?”
They both raise their hands as if there’s an entire audience behind them hoping to be picked.
I chuckle and nod to Jonah. “Go ahead. I’m gonna finish up here and I’ll be right over.”
The girls race out of the garden and beeline for the barn, with the dog limping behind them.
I shake my head watching him walk off. “Poor guy.”
“I’m sorry he ate your pumpkins,” Jonah repeats. “I’ll get the fence repaired before the snow falls.”
I could argue with him. I could stand my ground and reject his offer. But I remember his words that night after the bluegrass festival, as he knelt before me with my hands in his.I’d very much like to take care of you, and that might be hard for you to accept. I just want you to be happy.
Greg promised me that same thing in a manner of speaking. As a twenty-two year old, what did I know? I questioned nothing. I had no reason to believe he’d lie to me, or that anything bad would ever happen.
Jonah on the other hand... he’s nothing like my ex-husband. Generational differences aside, their personalities and demeanor are night and day. I don’t think Jonah’s even capable of saying harsh words. I mean what kind of man cares for old, sickly, and unwanted animals because he feels bad for them? Because he wants his dogs to have friends? That’s a four hundred-level class in Good Boy Behavior.
So no, I’m not going to argue with him about who will pay for the fence repair. I’m going to brush my hands of the task and he’s going to handle it.
“Okay,” I say, and temporarily lose myself in his gaze. “Thank you for taking care of it.”
He sneaks a glance over his shoulder toward the barn where the girls have run inside and when he turns back, a grin crawls over his face and he eyes me head to toe. “You look so pretty today,” he says, before sectioning off a long length of my hair and combing his fingers down to the ends. “I like when your hair is kinda... half-up, half-down like this.”
I’m wearing jeans and an embroidered short sleeve blouse that has seen better days—but I don’t think I have. “Thank you. Now give me a kiss before they come out looking for you.”
I’m caught off guard when he lays one on me so fast it takes a second for me to catch up. Then he peppers me with a dozen more in rapid succession all over my face. Giggling like a school girl, I’m left standing there in a cloud of his sage and citrus as he runs away to make a recovery bed for his dog.
Once everything’s harvested, I take it all inside for a good scrub. Every vase, pitcher, and jar I own are suddenly filled with flowers, and the scent takes over our home. When I’m finished, I head back to Jonah’s and place one of the arrangements on his outdoor table before checking on their progress in the barn.
Sure enough, they’ve essentially made Yogi a pillow fortin the hay. The girls have made signs featuring a giant red cross and another that saysShhh!There’s even a first aid kit nearby with all his medical supplies. Of course Yogi simply lays there, soaking up every ounce of affection he’s given.
On his porch, the four of us have a late lunch of simple sandwiches and apple slices. Blind as she is, Ginger—with her super-horse powers—can smell the apples all the way from her paddock and neighs until the girls bring her a special delivery.
Jonah and I clean up, and he hands me a couple beers for the porch and directs me to relax. “I’ll be right back,” he says, before dashing back into the house and reappearing a minute later with his guitar and mandolin. He’s already staring at me with a mischievous grin like he knows the outcome.
