Chapter 9

Cam walked into the Cammareri Vintage Home Remodeling office on Monday morning to find his sister in a panic. Lucy sat at her computer, trying to talk on the phone while Bernie wailed loudly in a sling around her mom’s neck. In the middle of the floor lay a large, brindle lump. On closer inspection, Cam saw that it was a bulldog, grunting and wheezing, its tongue lolling to the side.

Molly the Border collie ran over to Cam and nudged his hand, as if to say, Have you seen this intruder? Have you? Get him away from my people!

“Can I help?” Cam mouthed, reaching out for the baby. Lucy nodded gratefully, still on the phone, and passed over Baby Bernie, who now resembled an angry little plum.

One sniff and Cam regretted the handoff.

“She’s poopy.” He tried to hand her back.

“No takebacks,” Lucy whispered, her hand over the receiver. Sending him a smile that might’ve meant Good luck, buddy, she mouthed her thanks and then went back to her phone call, silently chuckling.

“Okay, Bernadette,” he said to the wailing baby, “I may not be able to catch or block anymore but I’m pretty sure I can figure this out.” He walked to the back room, where a changing table was set up, and fumbled through the diaper change. He was more than a little proud of his accomplishment when he brought Bernie back. He cradled the snug little bundle like a football as she displayed her usual sunshine smile, smelling like baby wipes.

“You love your uncle Tony, don’t you?” Cam said to the baby. “I haven’t lost my ability to charm, have I, sweetheart?” Too bad Hadley didn’t think so. The thought popped unwillingly into his head.

Last night, he’d felt a connection between them, strong and powerful, that Ian had quickly ruined with his talk about the restaurant. Which highlighted the impossible conundrum between them.

“Okay, Uncle Tony.” Finally off the phone, his sister rolled her eyes. “I’m glad you two are in love with each other. Because I have a couple of problems here.”

Cam nodded toward the lump on the floor with the lolling tongue. The dog stared at Cam and snorted. “Is he one of them?”

“My sitter called off and…ask him.” He followed her chin dip over to Nick, who had just walked in, happily humming.

“Nick!” Lucy said. “This dog cannot stay here. Not today.”

Cam put a hand on Lucy’s shoulder. “Okay, what’s going on here?”

“We finally finished that awful job over on the east harbor,” Nick said. “A divorced couple who insisted on renovating a cottage together but fought about everything.” Nick nodded at the dog. “He got caught in the crossfire.”

“I don’t get it,” Cam said. But he did. Nick had always been a softie, often following his heart and not his head. It was what had led to him getting married at twenty-one. And now it surely had led to his saving this dog.

“They were having a yelling match in front of him.” Nick waved his arms as he discussed the dog’s plight. “He just laid down in the middle of the floor with his head on his paws. It was almost like if he could’ve covered his ears, he would have.”

Cam suppressed an eye roll. “And?”

“They were going to take him up to Evanston, to the pound up there.”

“They’d put him down for sure.” Lucy clutched her chest. In Cam’s arms, Bernie drooled on his hand.

“Look at him,” Cam said. “He’s a medical bill on steroids.”

“Exactly,” Nick said. “I couldn’t stand watching them fight over the poor animal. And picturing him in a pound…He’d be first in line to get…you know.” The sappy look on Nick’s face told the whole story. He’d never been able to say no to anything in distress—stray kittens, elderly people who couldn’t afford their house repair bills, and the kind of women who didn’t feel bad about taking advantage of that trait.

“So how about you keep him?” Lucy suggested.

Nick shook his head adamantly. “The dog park would be a great place to meet women, but my landlord has serious issues with slobber on the floor.”

Lucy’s expression softened. “You did the right thing. But…what do we do? He can’t stay here in the office all day.” She bent down and stroked the dog behind the ears. Molly sidled in, wanting some affection too. She got some chuffs and wheezes from the interloper in response. Bernie pitched forward in Cam’s arms, holding out her arms and making noises at the dogs, clearly wanting in on the action too. “I can’t take another dog now,” Lucy said. “How about you, Cam?”

“I’m watching Bowie,” he said, holding up his hands. Thank goodness. “One dog is all I can handle.” Not to mention he already had something he couldn’t handle—a pretty woman determined to have her way with his potential restaurant location.

“I was thinking we could ask Hadley,” Nick said.

Cam’s head jerked up. “Ask Hadley?”

“I think there’s a chance she might take him,” Nick said. “I heard she’s started walking people’s dogs. And people keep asking her about taking in strays. I sort of think she might cave because the Palace has been empty.” Nick glanced at his phone. “I’d walk him over there, but I’ve got to meet Dad at a job.”

Taking in strays? Like, using Pooch Palace as a rescue?

It was a great idea. People would sympathize with it. Her grandmother would too. And his restaurant plans would go up in smoke, just like that.

“I tell you what. Let me hang out with Bernie today.” Cam nodded toward the dog. “And I’ll take…him too.”

“You’d do that?” Lucy’s features lightened. “All day?”

“Piece of cake,” Cam said while Lucy jotted down some notes, handed him a giant diaper bag, and kissed Bernie on the head.

He was happy to spend time with his favorite niece, although he had no idea what to do with a baby other than talking nonsense and carrying her around like a football. But he needed to see exactly what Hadley was up to.

*  *  *

Hadley was sitting in the back room of the Palace at her grandmother’s desk, an ancient oak monstrosity littered with photos tucked under its glass top—of dogs and family, many of herself from way back when. She’d spent the morning walking a bunch of dogs for busy downtown shop owners and a neighbor of Gran’s who’d recently broken a leg, and that had been really fun. Not only from a spending-time-with-dogs standpoint but also because it had reconnected her to people she hadn’t seen in years.

But now she was brainstorming a plan to sustain Pooch Palace. Dog walking was okay, but it certainly didn’t utilize the space. She’d said no to having boarders again because the new place by the highway was indeed booming, and attracting customers back would be no small feat. A doggie day care? A possibility. Several people had asked her about taking in strays, including Lucy, who had called her this morning with another sad story.

A shelter was of course the worst option money-wise. But it made her heart feel good. She found herself telling Lucy to bring the dog over, unable to say no.

She wished Mayellen and Ivy would return soon with the doubly caffeinated something or other they’d promised to bring back because she needed something to help her think more clearly before she caved and invited in even more homeless dogs. Plus she was dead on her feet.

She’d tossed and turned last night worse than the rolling ocean waves outside her windows. Thinking about what Cam had said about their breakup. About how it had felt to hold his hand and stand next to him on the beach gazing up at the stars as they had so many times before.

Being with him had felt like a triple espresso shot. But that was just her broken heart remembering better times, right?

She was relieved when a knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. Paul Farmer stood there with a big grin on his face…and her grandmother’s wheelchair in front of him.

“Surprise!” Her grandmother extended one arm for a hug, grinning from ear to ear. Her other arm held a cardboard drink holder with three milkshake cups.

On hearing his owner’s voice, Bowie shot from his bed straight to the door. Hadley had to gently hold him back so he wouldn’t jump on her grandmother, but he only settled for putting his head on her leg and wagging his tail so hard his entire body seemed to be wagging too.

“My sweet boy!” Gran kissed Bowie on the head over and over. “I missed you so much!”

Jagger, never the wallflower, decided to run circles around the wheelchair. Hadley made a lunge to stop him but Gran beckoned him into the fold. “Come here, Jagger.” Gran wiped tears from her eyes. “There are plenty of kisses for you too.”

Hadley felt a little teary. That was her grandma. She loved everyone.

Even Cam, she thought wryly.

Paul intercepted the milkshakes while Hadley gave her grandma a big squeeze. She looked a little tan and was smiling, and she had on a bright pink blouse and matching flip-flops. All a far cry from how she’d looked in the hospital.

“You look amazing!” Hadley said. “Bowie and I have missed you so much.” Bowie had not budged an inch from Gran’s side. “Hey, Paul.” Hadley gave him a hug too.

“So nice to see you, Hadley,” he said softly. His tidy gray beard, spectacles, and bow tie made him look like the distinguished gentleman he was. As he bent to pet Jagger, he asked, “And who’s this character?”

“Poor little guy,” Gran said. “Doesn’t look like he’s had much love, does he?”

Paul smiled as Jagger looked up at him sweetly. “Did you say little?”

Jagger was too busy getting love to take offense. “What are you two doing here?” Hadley asked.

“I’m officially a week out from surgery,” Gran said proudly, “and I got the okay to go to the park.”

Paul gave a laid-back laugh. “But she conned me into taking her a little farther.”

“So you’re AWOL.” Hadley wasn’t surprised. “But what’s in the cups?”

Paul handed them to Hadley as he wheeled Gran to a more open space. “Breakfast ice cream,” he said.

Gran laughed and gave him a look that Hadley could only describe as…smitten. And Paul was giving her the same exact look back.

Awww. She loved what passed between them, even as she wondered if someone would ever look at her like that. If she would trust anyone again after all her hurt. And more importantly, if she would trust herself.

“Okay.” She pulled herself away from the edge. “What is breakfast ice cream?”

Paul chuckled. “Well, you won’t know until you taste it, will you?”

Hadley laughed. “I’m always up for a challenge.” Then she held up her milkshake in a toast. “To busting out.”

Her grandma laughed again as everyone raised their cups. “To busting out!”

Inside the cup was cold, smooth, caffeinated deliciousness. A coffee milkshake? Frappuccino? Something? “Wow.”

A close second to holding hands with Cam—no, no, she didn’t mean that.

“You like?” Paul looked a little pleased with himself.

“I love it. Can I marry it? What’s in here?”

“Lots of caffeine, like your grandma requested. And my secret blend of coffee and ice cream.”

“Breakfast ice cream,” Hadley mused.

“I have another way to make it with low-fat yogurt and skim milk but my philosophy has always been don’t wait to enjoy the good stuff.”

A few months ago, Hadley wouldn’t have even touched it, too afraid of being plastered on seven different magazine covers looking like she actually ate food. But she had to admit, he had something there. When life gave you ice cream, you said thank you and enjoyed it, regardless of the time of day.

“Will you give us a few minutes, Paul?” Gran smiled. “Then I promise I’ll be a good patient and go straight back.”

Paul checked his watch. “Only fifteen, because your nurse is going to skin my behind if I don’t have you back under that tree by ten-thirty.”

“I promise.” As they watched him leave, Gran said, “He’s a good friend.” She lowered her voice. “And a drill sergeant. He means what he says about having me back exactly on time.”

“It looks to me like he might be more than a friend.” Hadley waggled her brows.

“Oh, stop, Hadley.” She waved her arms so adamantly that Bowie startled.

“He’s wonderful to you,” Hadley said, “and I can see that he cares a lot. So what’s the problem?”

“Look at me.” Gran said. “I’m…old.” She was blushing again. “Anyway, I’m not here to talk about my love life.”

This was new, seeing an area where Gran might be the one to need advice. “You have a brand-new hip. You’ll be dancing again in no time.”

“Listen,” she said, effectively closing off that discussion, “I want to know how you’re doing here.” Gran took a sweeping glance around. “Still no business, I see.”

Hadley set down her shake. “I didn’t open for business yet. I wanted to wait and talk with you. What I am doing is walking dogs. I’ve got a handful three times a day. It’s bringing in some income and keeping us busy. So far, I’ve said no to boarders and to people wanting doggie day care. But there’s another issue.”

As if on cue, there was an urgent rap on the window. Outside, Anita Morales stood not with Jesse, her poodle, but with a little brown squatty-looking dog, who was scratching urgently behind his ear.

“I was walking my Jesse when this little guy followed us home,” Anita said through the screen door, a little out of breath. The dog, a miniature pinscher the color of a Hershey bar, scratched again, the poor little guy.

“He’s full of fleas, Hadley, and I don’t dare come in.” Anita held the leash away from her as if the fleas were about to jump on her too. “I dropped Jesse off at home so he wouldn’t get them. And I need to take this one straight to the vet, but my elderly mom is coming for a visit later today. I was wondering if maybe you might take him? Maybe someone will claim him? I’ve already called the police and the pound in Evanston.”

Hadley walked outside and looked the dog over. “He has fleas, all right. If you’re willing to take him to the vet, I can take him in.” She bent down to the dog’s level. “You’re kinda cute.” But the poor miserable dog only batted his ear in response.

“I’ve got to go.” Anita glanced at her watch. “The new vet said he could squeeze me in right now. He’s very young and handsome. Have you met him?” Anita peered through the screen again and did a double take. “Maddy, is that you?”

Anita was saying a quick hi to Gran when Hadley’s phone rang. “I’m giving you a heads-up,” Lucy said on the other end of the line.

“The bulldog’s not coming after all?” Hadley guessed.

“Um, no. It’s coming all right, and Cam’s bringing it. Like, as fast as he can walk it down to you. I think he wants to suss out his competition. Oh, and he’s got Bernie too. By himself. I trust him…kind of. But will you please keep an eye out for my daughter just in case?”

Cam…with a wheezy bulldog and a baby? This she had to see. “Thanks for the heads-up, Lucy. I promise to look out for Bernie.”

Hadley ended her call, walked back inside, and pulled up a wooden chair next to her grandmother’s wheelchair. “Lucy Cammareri called me a little while ago,” she confessed. “Nick brought in a wheezy bulldog, a casualty of a divorce.”

Her grandmother narrowed her eyes.

“I couldn’t say no, Gran.” She felt a little like she was a teenager again. “Not when we have room. I’ll front the upkeep costs. I just couldn’t turn him away. Or the little fleabag.” She cracked a half-smile. That was a little funny, wasn’t it?

Her grandmother gave her a knowing look. “You haven’t changed in the slightest.”

Oh dear. Maybe she was angry. And keeping strays when there already wasn’t much income coming in was probably a terrible idea.

“They’re going to start coming like an avalanche,” Gran said.

Oh no. “I’ll control it, I swear. I’m sorry, I—”

Gran interrupted her apology. “Hadley, dear, I’m not scolding you. I’m just pointing something out. You’ve always wanted to rescue dogs, you know.”

“I can’t help myself,” she confessed. “It’s just that they’re all so sweet and innocent. They don’t deserve to have to deal with hardship.” Especially hardship brought on by negligent owners. “I’ll rein in the compulsion. I’ll focus on the direction you want to take your business in. I was just waiting for you to tell me—”

“Hadley. All I’m saying is you’ve got a fresh slate here. And a couple of dogs who need homes. And your skill set includes everything it takes to rescue animals”—she paused—“as a business.”

“Wait,” she said. “You’re telling me to…rescue more dogs?” The thought was scary. But a little thrill ran through her.

“And make it work.” Gran was on a roll now. “Donations, fundraising, networking…unless you’re fed up with that stuff and you just want to walk dogs all summer. That’s okay too.”

“No, I…What are you saying?” Was Gran saying that she do exactly what her impractical, silly teenage self would have done? But she was serious.

“Why not take this opportunity to explore what you might want to do?” Gran opened her arms wide to indicate the possibility. “There’s no pressure because we’ve got Cam working on his ideas too. And I know you have a job to potentially return to. But maybe now’s a good time to…reassess.”

“My life?”

“Yes.” She nodded emphatically. “Your life. As I’m reassessing mine. I…I might enjoy retirement. I think I’m done with the boarding business. So now’s your chance to take that info and run with it wherever you might want.” She eyed Hadley carefully. “And I do love Cam but you’re my granddaughter, so I’m telling you first.” She paused. “We don’t get many opportunities to reimagine ourselves, but this might be one of them. So think about what you truly want.”

“I…” She couldn’t even spit out an I don’t know. Her head was whirling. No. This was too ridiculous. She wasn’t sixteen and dreaming of working at Pooch Palace for the rest of her life. Begging Gran to help poor homeless animals.

She’d gone on to do other things. Serious things. She’d moved away to climb the ladder of success.

Except the view from the top hadn’t been all that great.

“Oh, look at the time,” Gran said, eyeing the old clock on the wall with different dog breeds marking each hour. It was cocker spaniel o’clock, apparently. Otherwise known as 10:20. “My drill sergeant will be here in no time. Before I go, how are things going with Cam?”

Hadley sighed. “He’s just as hardheaded as ever.”

“And…?”

There was no use lying. Her grandmother made it just as impossible now as she had when Hadley was eight and stole cookies from the pan fresh out of the oven. She’d confessed as soon as Gran walked into the kitchen. “And as handsome.” Hadley sighed. “I met him on the beach last night walking home from Darla’s. We had a little…talk. He told me he was sorry for breaking up with me all those years ago.”

“Is that right?”

“Don’t get your hopes up,” Hadley warned. “I really don’t like him any better.”

“But?” Gran couldn’t disguise her hopeful look.

“Well, I appreciated the apology,” Hadley said. “He told me he felt I was out of his league and it was just a matter of time before I moved on. Do you believe that? Someone like him, who’s always been so confident and successful?”

Gran tapped her lips thoughtfully. “There are few of us who are as confident on the inside as on the outside. I guess the question is, do you believe him?”

“I…I almost did,” she said. “But then his agent or his manager or someone came up and started talking about all these things that are going on about naming his restaurant and…it’s clear he’s going full speed ahead.”

“Did you ask him why?”

“Why he wants this building so badly?” She peeked out the window for a frazzled man with a baby and a wheezy bulldog. Nope, no one in sight.

“That, but also why he wants the restaurant so badly. Why he’s in such a hurry.”

Hadley shook her head. “I guess he’s always been focused. I just assumed he’s going at this like he did everything else.” She frowned. “I can’t help but feel that you like him a little too much.” This time she checked her watch. How many minutes did it take to wheel a baby and a dog four blocks? She’d better get Gran out of here quick or she’d be drooling all over Cam.

“I’ve always believed people’s behavior is driven by certain things. Maybe it’s important to understand each other.” She cleared her throat. “As part of your reassessment plan.”

Hadley was onto the blatant matchmaking attempt. She looked up to see Paul on the sidewalk, ready to walk in. “Okay, Gran, but this goes two ways.”

“All right, ladies,” Paul said through the screen door. “Time’s up.”

Hadley lifted her brows and tilted her head toward Paul. “Your reassessment plan has arrived.”

Gran’s face instantly turned scarlet. As she kissed Gran goodbye and watched Paul wheel her out, she realized that being able to give Gran some advice—and receive it—felt really good.