“Have you always loved animals this much?”
Something so melancholy, it seemed like every bittersweet song he wrote balled up into one was reflected in his eyes.
“My dad was a K9 cop,” he said.
“Was?”I asked cautiously.
He drew in so much breath, his chest expanded with it.
And then he released.
“He died.”
“God, honey, I’m so sorry.You were obviously close.”
“He was the best man I ever knew.”
“Is your mom still around?”
I felt a strong tremor run through him that I didn’t like at all.
But he just said, “No.”
Okay, I was curious.Wildly curious about that reaction when mentioning his mom.
But obviously, considering his current mood and that tremor, story time about that later.
I gave him a shake.“Okay, so, that big tote I brought in earlier had homemade cream of mushroom soup in it, and you’re my taste tester for these herb rolls I tried.And don’t panic when you see them.They’re white, but I used white whole wheat flour.They’re vegan and clean, nothing refined or artificial.I’m going to admit, I tasted one, and I was shocked it was super good.That said, I brought butter for me.You can have some if you’re very nice to me later.”
He frowned.
“Really, I swear, nothing refined,” I promised.
“I thought that tote had your toothbrush and clean panties in it.”
Now I was experiencing a tremor, but for a vastly different reason.
“I sense you’re a man who can tell the different shapes of a Tupperware and a toothbrush.”
His lips curled up.
Shoo.
Good.
A smile.
Then he frowned again.
“But that tote had your toothbrush and clean panties in it,” he stated firmly.
I rolled my eyes.“My cat is in your house too.Since I had so much to carry, and you were busy, my overnighter is still in the truck.”
He lifted his free hand, palm up to the sky, toward me.“Keys.”
I hoped this meant we’d get out of the cold, go in and eat, and maybe I could make him smile again.
“The keys are in the house.”
