When she arrived, she noticed Cade’s truck was in the lot across from where she’d parked. A small sense of eagerness filled her at the prospect of seeing both Shadow and Cade.
As soon as she entered the kennel, Shadow barked a greeting, his tail wagging. This was a welcome, glad-to-see-you, why-were-you-away-so-long kind of bark.
“I missed you, too, fellow,” she said, squatting down at eye level.
“Good thing you’re here,” Cade said from the other side of the kennel. “Shadow was starting to think you were never coming back.”
“I’m so sorry, big boy,” she said, and opened the kennel. The door closed behind her, and she got down on one knee as Shadow immediately started licking her face. Rubbing his fur, she whispered, “You did miss me, didn’t you?”
Cade walked closer and Shadow tensed.
“Cade’s a friend,” she reminded the dog, looking at him squarely while petting his neck.
Shadow relaxed, and Hope rewarded him with a treat she had in her pocket. She wondered how many other high school teachers walked around the classroom with dog treats tucked away inside their pockets.
Sitting on the kennel floor, Shadow moved into her lap and laid his chin across her thigh. Content now, he relaxed, and so did she.
Cade moved until he stood outside the kennel. “Glad to see you’re feeling better.”
“Thanks. I’m glad to be back. Preston thinks I should be able to take Shadow home next week. He’s gotten all his shots, been neutered, and has gained the weight he so badly needed.”
“Yeah, he’s ready,” Cade agreed.
“Thanks again for stopping by. That medication helped me over the worst of the bug.”
He ignored her gratitude.
“If you’re ever sick, let me know,” she added. “I make a mean chicken soup. It was my grandmother’s recipe and she claimed it cured just about anything.”
“Will do,” he said, nonchalantly.
He wouldn’t call. He didn’t need to say it; she could read it in just the casual way he answered.
Because she had a couple errands to run, Hope didn’t stay with Shadow long. It would be much more convenient once she was able to take him home. She needed to get the house ready for Shadow to come live with her. To that end, she stopped off at the pet store and got him a big fluffy bed, dog dishes, food, and play toys to entertain him while she was at school. She’d need Preston and Mellie’s permission to add a doggie door, but she didn’t think they’d object. It helped that the yard around the cottage had a fence.
After getting the essentials for Shadow, her next stop was for groceries. Her cupboards were bare and her refrigerator empty. It’d been nearly three weeks since she’d last shopped. An hour later, she checked out with a full cart.
A boy she recognized as a junior helped her carry out her groceries. His name badge told her his name was Pete.
She opened the trunk, and Pete unloaded the bags as they discussed the weather and the homecoming dance.
“Thanks, Pete.”
“Glad to help, Ms. Goodwin. I hope I’m in one of your classes next year.”
“Me, too,” she answered, and opened the driver’s-side door, more than eager to get home and settle in for the evening.
“Ms. Goodwin.” Pete stood in front of her vehicle and frowned.
“Is something the matter?” she asked.
He nodded. “It looks like you’ve got a flat tire.”
Chapter 7
Hope groaned as she walked around to the front of her car where Pete stood looking at her flat tire. She was convinced the teenager must be wrong. Those tires were practically new. Less than an hour ago she’d driven without a hint of a problem, running errands from one end of the town to the other.
“Can you call someone?” Pete asked, looking to be helpful.
Hope nodded and dug inside her purse for her phone and her AAA card. Pete returned to the store, and Hope leaned against the side panel of her ten-year-old vehicle to make the call.
The woman who answered was helpful and said it would be up to an hour before a tow truck would be available to respond.
“An hour?” Hope repeated, thinking about the freezer items in her trunk that were sure to thaw before help arrived. The tub of ice cream would be liquid by the time she got home.
“I apologize, there was a four-car pileup on the highway…all our drivers are involved in cleaning up that mess.”
“I understand.” Not that she had a choice.
Ending the call, she tossed her phone into her purse and covered her face with both hands. Could this day get any worse? She was concerned about Spencer, fearing her advice would do more harm than good. She didn’t trust Scott not to terrorize Spencer in further retaliation. Why hadn’t she considered the consequences to Spencer?