Chapter 6
Caitlin felt as if she’d been sitting on a keg of dynamite all day and couldn’t explain why. The feeling propelled her through her day, excitement building inside her.
“For what?” Random thoughts went zinging through her brain in time with the pulse beat of something a bit more primal than her heart—and Jack Gannon was the reason.
Hurrying through her shower, she ran through the recipes stored in her head and decided on pasta primavera. “Quick, easy, and inexpensive.” If she was going to be adding dog food and treats to her budget, she’d better start economizing now.
The urge to wear something pretty was vetoed by the need to wear something durable. After all, she’d probably be sitting on the floor with Jamie once she got dinner started. But just because she had to be practical didn’t mean she couldn’t wear her good jeans with a body-hugging top.
Rifling through her drawers, she found the one she was looking for. Pulling the butter yellow scoop-neck shirt over her head, she frowned at the super-snug fit. “I know I haven’t gained any weight—oh crap. Grace did the laundry last.”
Note to self: yell at Grace later and remind her to use cold water and low heat to keep from shrinking my clothes.
Fifteen minutes later, she was pulling up in front of Murphy’s Market. List in hand, she opened the door to see Mary Murphy flirting with her father by the counter. When she heard her father’s soft laughter, she smiled.
“Hi, Mary,” she called out. “Hi, Pop.”
“Caitlin,” Mary replied. “You look lovely in that color. Are you going out tonight?”
“She hasn’t gone out since Meg cut back her hours at the shop,” her father chimed in as he smiled down at her. “Mary’s right. I like you in yellow.”
“I’m helping Jack take care of Jamie—”
“He’s the little puppy they found last night,” her father told Mary.
Cait enjoyed watching the subtle emotions flitting across Mary’s face whenever Cait’s dad spoke. The Mulcahy sisters were in wholehearted agreement on the subject of Mary and their dad continuing to date—and how their dad seemed to be moving just a little too slowly. “I just need to pick up a few things. Talk to you later, Pop.”
“Let me help you,” Mary offered. “Be right back, Joseph.”
Mary trailed her fingertips along her father’s shoulder, down to his elbow. Maybe he isn’t moving as slowly as I thought. Cait would be calling Meg the first chance she got to give her the update.
“What do you need?”
“Fresh veggies and pasta.”
“Right this way.”
Cait thanked Mary for her help and waved to her dad as he closed the door behind her. Something told her to look over her shoulder, and when she did, she saw her father smiling as he turned the open sign around to closed and took Mary into his arms.
As she was closing the door and firing up the engine, she saw Susie Sanders, Apple Grove’s local Realtor, drive slowly past Murphy’s Market. “That does it. It’ll be all over town or emblazoned across the water tower by tomorrow.”
She had her earpiece in and dialed Meg. “Meg! Guess who I just saw at Murphy’s Market?”
“Pop,” Meg answered.
“How did you know?”
“Honey B. just called.”
“Well, I hope he and Mary are ready for the gossip and speculation to start.”
“Because…?” Meg said.
“Susie Sanders saw them too.”
The sisters shared a laugh before Meg said, “Pop deserves a second chance at happiness—with all the trimmings.”
“I know. I think so too.” The rest of what she wanted to say got caught behind the lump forming in her throat. “I’ve gotta go,” she told Meg. “Can you call Gracie for me?”
Meg agreed. “I will. You know that if I wait, my little darlings will distract me and it’ll be bedtime before I remember, and that’ll be too late.”
“My nephews are a handful, but an adorable distraction,” Cait said before adding, “You know how cranky Grace gets if she has to hear the latest about one of us over at the diner.”
“Have fun tonight,” Meg told her.
“I’m babysitting a puppy until Jack gets home.”
“Uh-huh. Jack’s a good man, Sis. Give him a chance.”
“Thanks. Talk to you later.”
Disconnecting, she turned right onto Eden Church and drove to Jack’s house on autopilot. The first thing she heard as she pulled into the driveway was the mournful howl of a lonely puppy.
“Poor little dog.” Grabbing the bag of groceries, she got out and headed for the back door. She let herself in and set the bag on the counter, relieved that the dresser she’d blocked the doorway with that afternoon had kept him corralled. Jamie was jumping for joy when he realized he had someone to play with.