“We thought it was a good time for a walk.”
“At noon?” Dorrie stopped and looked at her carefully for a moment. “Well, it is my favorite walking time. How’s my favorite beagle?” she asked when Frankie nudged her with his nose.
He sat down in a spot of grass beside her so she could give his head a rub—and so she could pull out a dog biscuit from a hidden pocket in her dress. Chomping away, he had the gall to look at Emma as if to say it was really too bad that she hadn’t ever learned about dog biscuits.
“Gut hund,” Dorrie murmured as Frankie crunched. When he wagged his tail, she gave him a pat and pointed to a small, shady spot under a tree in someone’s front yard. “Jah, it is a warm one. Hop up there and take a break where it’s nice and cool.”
Stunned, Emma watched Frankie do exactly as Dorrie suggested. She wasn’t sure if she was impressed or jealous of Frankie’s obedience. “How do you do it, Dorrie? Frankie doesn’t behave that well for anyone else in the world.”
“Nee?”
“You know he doesn’t.”
“Well, it’s all in the dog treats. I always carry one when I go for a walk, just in case I run into Frankie.”
“Hmm.” Maybe that was why Frankie was always on the loose.
Still looking pleased with herself, Dorrie continued. “I bake them myself, and from my own recipe, too. Dogs love them. They’re tasty.”
“Have you tried them?”
She grinned, showing off her dimples. “Of course I have. I give them to my pair.” Dorrie and her husband had two rescued greyhounds. Emma had long ago decided that those dogs were the luckiest in the state of Florida. “I just noticed that you are all alone. Where are Amber and Lace?”
“Ach, Amber was looking a little peaked this morning. I think one of her front legs is bothering her a bit.”
“I hope there’s nothing wrong?”
“Nothing that a little rest and a treat or two won’t help. Now, what are you doing out? I don’t care what you say, you walking out and about at noon is most unusual.”
“I need your help.”
Immediately her friend’s easygoing smile vanished. “Of course. Anything. What happened?”
“Jay Hilty is coming over tonight to take me to supper.”
Immediately her look of worry slipped into another beautiful smile. “Emma! Good for you!” She pulled her into a quick, fierce hug. “Isn’t that good news? The best! Wunderbaar.”
“It is. I mean, I think it is.”
Dorrie chuckled. “Oh, it is.”
“I would feel more positive if I wasn’t so nervous. I don’t know which dress to wear. Or what I should say or do. Or what I shouldn’t say or do.”
Her girlfriend looked her up and down, shaking her head in dismay. “Dear, you’re a mess.”
Emma wasn’t even going to try to say she wasn’t. “This is true. I am. I am a complete mess.”
Dorrie turned around, leading the way to Emma’s house. “Come on, Frankie,” she said. “Let’s get you out of the hot sun and settle your owner down.” As if Frankie understood every word she said, he woofed and trotted forward, leading the way home.
Once they walked inside, Dorrie went straight to Emma’s bedroom, scanned her seven dresses, and pulled the tangerine-colored one off the hanger. “This one.”
“Really?” She hardly ever wore that dress. Though she liked the bright color on her daughters, she’d always thought it was a bit too flashy for a woman like herself. She was a widow and a mother of three. Surely such women didn’t wear such shades of orange. “Um, I was thinking maybe the blue. Because of my eyes.”
“I’m sure he’s already discovered you have pretty blue eyes, Emma. This dress is happy. And you are always tan, so it looks pretty on you, too.”
“You don’t think he will think it a bit gaudy?”
“He will think you look fetching. Trust me, Emma. Tangerine.”
“Okay. Danke.” She carefully laid the dress on the bed. “Now, what do you think I should talk about with him?”
Her lips twitched. “Probably whatever you want to talk about, dear.”
Emma noticed that Dorrie was trying not to tease her. “I’m serious. I don’t know what men like to talk about on dates. What if I say the wrong thing?”
“If you say the wrong thing then he’s not the man for you.” Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she added, “I don’t think you have a thing to worry about. Don’t forget, you already are friends. He already knows you are sweet and kind.”