“Right. Well, did you know she was keeping up Grandma’s yard for us? Tending the rosebushes and all that?”
“No, I didn’t,” my dad said. “That was very nice of her.”
“She and Grandma got pretty close these last few years, apparently.”
“I do remember your grandma talking about her, now that you mention it,” Dad said. “I think they walked their dogs together. But how did Taylor convince you to take in a litter of puppies?”
“She works at the shelter, and she was in a jam with this pregnant dog. Anyway, it’s just for a few weeks while I’m here.”
“Won’t they pee all over the place?” Dad asked. “I can’t rent out a cabin that smells like dog pee.”
“I’ve got the laminate flooring in now, which should help, and I’ll keep them confined in an area with pee pads if I’m still here when they get to that stage.”
He sighed. “I don’t like it. You should have talked to me about this before you agreed to it.”
I rubbed my brow. “I’m sorry, Dad. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing.”
“Is it too late to send them back?”
“Pretty sure it is,” I told him.
“Do you want me to give the shelter a call? I’m sure I could convince someone to take those dogs back.”
“No,” I said quickly. I was twenty-nine years old, for crying out loud. When was my dad going to stop trying to fight my battles? “I agreed to this, and I’m going to see it through.”
“Well, all right, but make sure they don’t ruin anything.”
“I’ll be sure. Hey, I do have something to ask you, though,” I said, remembering the reason for my call.
“Anything.”
“I know you’re pretty set on using the cabin as a rental property, but Taylor really wants to buy it. I just wanted to run it past you.”
“It’s not for sale,” my dad responded automatically, as I’d known he would.
“I know, but just think about it, will you? She really loves this place, and it’s right up the street from her parents’ house. I know Grandma would have approved.”
“You’re probably right about that,” Dad said. “But I want to keep it in the family so we can use it as a vacation home. I love that house too.”
“Just think about it, please? It would really mean a lot to Taylor to have this place. I’m sure there are plenty of other rentals in the area you could stay in for a vacation.”
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll think about it.”
“Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it.”
But when I ended the call a few minutes later, I didn’t feel as happy as I should. When I looked around the living room with its newly gleaming laminate floors and roses blooming outside the windows, I felt a pang of regret.
Even if my dad agreed to sell, was I really ready to say goodbye to this house? Would I regret it if my family sold the cabin to Taylor?
18
Taylor
As I walked up the steps to Phoebe’s front door on Friday evening, a funny tingle gripped my stomach. This felt uncomfortably like a date, and while I was looking forward to the chance to spend time with her and strengthen our newly rekindled friendship, I was awfully afraid these pesky sparks between us were going to be a problem before the end of the night.
I lifted my hand and knocked. From inside the house, I heard a bark and then the click of shoes on the floor as Phoebe approached the door. She opened it, wearing a knee-length purple dress and strappy black sandals. Her hair was down, and her eyes were wide.
“I think that’s the first time I’ve heard Violet bark,” she said. “And hi.”
