Patrick gave him a wry glance. “Braces, contacts, and a healthy diet.”
“Well, you look great.”
“Thanks. I’d heard you were back in town. I sure hated to miss Viola’s funeral, but I had an emergency call.” He squatted down and held out his hand for the dog. “Hey there, buddy. I hear you might be lost.” He glanced at Gray. “I don’t recognize him. Cute little guy though. Seems like a terrier mix.”
The canine sniffed his hand and gazed up at him with that familiar woeful look.
“Well, let’s get you up on the table and see if you’re chipped.”
Gray lifted the reluctant dog onto the table and comforted him with a few strokes behind the ears while Patrick grabbed a scanner from the countertop.
“What have you been up to since you left town?” Patrick asked.
“I did three years in the Army, then went to UNC for my bachelor’s in business. I’m a project manager and bookkeeper with a construction company in Riverbend Gap.”
“That’s great. I always wondered what became of you.”
“The local grapevine didn’t keep you up to speed?”
He ran the scanner over the dog. “Yeah, that’s about as accurate as the supermarket tabloids.”
“It’s good to see you doing well. A veterinarian. That must’ve taken a lot of schooling.”
“And student loans, I’m afraid. But I wouldn’t trade it.” He set the scanner down and scratched the dog behind the ears. “Well, I’m afraid this guy’s not chipped.”
Gray’s spirits drooped. “Not what I was hoping to hear.” Now what would he do? He’d thought of getting a dog one day when his work absorbed less of his time or he got married and had a family. He’d definitely been thinking something a little manlier: a black Lab or a German shepherd.
Patrick was already checking the dog’s chest with the stethoscope. After that he palpated the neck and abdomen. Checked his paws, his ears. A few minutes later he gave the dog a good scratch. “Good job, buddy. Well, he’s a little thin but he’s bright and alert and seems to be in pretty good health overall. You thinking about taking him back home with you?”
“I really hadn’t thought beyond returning him to his owners. I’m staying at my lake cottage, which is now an Airbnb. I don’t even allow my guests to bring pets. I don’t suppose you’d know someone who might like to adopt him?”
“Sadly, there’s an overabundance of dogs in the area, which is why I recommend spaying and neutering. How long will you be in town?”
“That’s a little up in the air right now.”
“Well, if you could foster him for a bit, I could keep my eyes open for a good home. He’d make someone a great pet.”
Gray sighed as he scooped up the dog and set him on the floor. He really had no idea whether he’d be driving home later today or settlingin for a couple months. But it seemed like he was stuck with the dog, at least for the time being.
“I’d appreciate that. Thanks. I’ll let you know if I end up going back home sooner than later.”
“Sounds good.” Patrick extended his hand. “I’ll give you a call if I find a home for this guy. And hey, if you stay awhile we should grab coffee, catch up.”
Gray shook his hand, smiling at the thought. “That’d be great, Patrick.”
Chapter 14
Shouts, laughter, and the clamor of crashing pins dominated the Lakeview Lanes Bowling Alley, but Shelby was a million miles away. Or really only a few miles away, back at Gram’s bookstore.
Gram’s dying bookstore.
The pizza she and Logan had eaten earlier churned in her stomach. The store had been busy today. It was hard to reconcile that with the news Gray had delivered last night.
How was she going to turn things around quickly enough to save the store? Even if she could get a couple months’ grace from her landlord, how would she ever catch up on rent? She had yet to even read Gray’s tutorials on keeping the books. And her efforts to find someone to take Gram’s place had been futile so far.
Gray must’ve taken her at her word and gone home—she hadn’t heard from him all day. That he’d left without so much as a good-bye should’ve come as no surprise. But somehow it had left her feeling abandoned yet again.
So much for all that therapy.
