BROOKE OPENED THE jewelry box on the mantel and ran her fingers over the Bubble Wrap–covered angels nestled inside. She’d never unpacked the angels in her cabin in the mountains. Fearful an errant tail or paw would knock the angels off a shelf, shattering them on the floor. But tonight, she reached for one in particular: Joy.
She removed the packaging. A crystal angel holding a bouquet of flowers smiled back at her. Laughter shines from your soul and heals your heart. Her mother’s advice.
Dan had given her laughter yesterday. After he’d stood beside her and wiped her tears away at the site of her accident. He’d been the first person she’d opened up to. The first person to hear the truth. She’d trusted him. Trusted him not to judge her. After all, if she hadn’t wanted to window-shop that night, the van might’ve missed Phillip and her. She’d trusted that Dan would hold her together if she fell apart. Instead he’d held her hand the entire walk home.
Then he’d brought her dinner and butter-pecan ice cream for dessert. Invited her to spend the evening with him outside under the stars. Entertained her with his antics as a boy. Listened to her dating mishaps and awkward teenage moments. Added his own versions. This time, the tears, when they arrived, came from the laughter.
The knock on the door woke the dogs. Brooke set the angel in the center of the mantel, closed the jewelry box and walked to the front door.
Dan stood on the patio, his hands tucked in the pockets of his dress pants and his button-down shirt ironed and wrinkle-free. “I’ve been given strict instructions to bring you to the coed bash for Mia and Wyatt tonight.”
“And if I decline?” she asked.
“Ava told me I’m not allowed to take no for an answer,” he countered. “It’ll be easier if you just agree to come with me.”
“I’m not really dressed for a party.” Brooke pointed to her flannel pants and the EMT sweatshirt.
Dan ran his hand over his mouth. “You don’t have to get dressed up. They’ll be happy to have you there just as you are.”
Would he be happy to have her just as she was? Brooke twisted the door handle, noting the worry in Dan’s gaze.
“I told Ava you might not have ordered fancy clothes.” Dan frowned. “And now I’ve put you on the spot.”
And he disliked that. His worry was for her. Brooke released the door handle. “I need to walk the dogs, then I can change.”
“You’ll go?”
She nodded. “If you don’t mind waiting for me to get ready.”
Dan grinned. “Why don’t I walk the dogs while you change?”
“Are you sure? You’re not dressed for a dog walk.” He was dressed for an evening out. And Brooke wanted to be beside him. She wanted another night of laughter.
He motioned to the backyard. “I’ll walk them out here.”
“You’ll need to coax Rex out with you and Luna.” Brooke opened the door and motioned him inside. “I won’t be too long.”
He followed her inside. Brooke rushed into the bedroom, pulled a dress from the closet—she’d ordered several on a whim—and hurried into the bathroom. She left Dan and the dogs to take care of their own business.
Thirty minutes later, Brooke buckled the straps of her high heel around her ankle and stepped out into the family room. She paused in the doorway and gaped at Dan holding Cupid.
Dan was built like a professional football player. His size was better suited to a Great Dane than an eight-pound cat. Still, his hold on Cupid was tender, his soft expression and attempt at a stern voice endearing.
“Look, Cupid, you have three legs, but that doesn’t make you better than everyone else.” Dan lifted the cat up until the two were eye to eye. “However, we’re going to need you to hold down the fort tonight.”
Cupid licked Dan’s nose. Dan’s eyebrows lifted along with his grin. “I think we understand each other.”
“Are you sure you don’t like pets?” Brooke asked. Could you like me as much as I like you?
“It’s difficult not to like Cupid with his three legs and superior attitude.” Dan shifted Cupid and held him against his chest as if he’d been a longtime cat lover. “Besides, I never said I didn’t like cats. I just don’t have any.”
“You’re good with animals,” Brooke said. He was good with her, too.
But his training taught him to be compassionate, helpful and patient. All the things he’d been with her. Brooke was like an emergency call he took during one of his work shifts. Only she was living in his rental unit temporarily. She repeated the word: temporary. He was helping her enjoy the world around her again. Helping her rediscover her laughter.
Dan turned toward her. Surprise curved across his face, his mouth opened in a startled yet charming O.
Brooke smoothed a hand down her sheath dress. “Will this work?”
“You’re stunning.”
And Brooke wanted to start to dream again. To take the greatest risk of all again. With Dan.
Brooke climbed into the truck, determined to keep the conversation light and easy and away from the risk her heart wanted to take. Dan obliged, giving her a detailed layout of Kyle’s game room and the strengths and weaknesses of every guest at the party. She needed to avoid playing Skee-Ball with Ava, unless she was on her team. Pinball was a no go if Wyatt was playing. And Sophie could clear the pool table faster than a professional. Kyle crashed a lot on the racetrack games, while Mia pretended not to know what she was doing and always finished the race courses first.
Brooke followed Dan into the lobby and together they listed the games they could potentially take high score. The elevator up button blinked and Brooke stepped inside, ready for another evening of fun.
Dan stepped off the elevator, checked his phone and frowned. “Earl is being taken to the hospital.”
Brooke froze. “What happened?”
“Another fall.” Dan rubbed the back of his neck. “On the stairs.”
“Is he going to be okay?”
“We’ll know more in a few hours.” Dan stuck his phone in his pants pocket. “Cara texted that she’ll stay in touch.”
The worry in his voice underscored the lines around his eyes. She said, “But it’s not good.”
“Let’s not jump ahead.” Dan opened the suite door. “We’ll enjoy the party and wait until Cara texts us an update.”
Brooke nodded and stepped inside. Laughter, cheers and a buzz of celebration circled Brooke, challenging the unease within her.
Dan took her coat and her hand. “Earl wouldn’t want us to miss a good party.”
“You can’t walk into a party looking like you’ve arrived at a funeral,” Evie scolded Brooke and Dan.
Rick stepped beside Evie, blocking Brooke’s view of the partygoers. “No one passed away, right?”
“Not exactly,” Dan said.
Evie and Rick shared an alarmed look. Evie recovered first. “Then we can fix this.”
She guided Brooke and Dan to a large seating area.
Two sleek leather couches and two sets of chairs framed a steel-and-glass coffee table. Sequined throw pillows in every color of the rainbow splashed an inviting welcome on the dark leather. Brooke sat on the end of a couch across from Rick. Evie perched in the chair beside her. Dan dropped onto the couch next to Brooke.
Rick adjusted the ends of his silver-and-white sash embroidered with the words King of the Groom Squad and set his hands on his knees. “Couples argue. It’s how you resolve your differences that gives you staying power.”
Evie sipped from her champagne glass and nodded sagely.
Couple. She’d only just lectured her heart to stand down. “We aren’t...”
Dan set his hand over hers, distracting her. He whispered, “They’re just warming up.”
“What does that mean?” Brooke whispered back.
“We wait until they’ve gotten out what they feel they have to say.” Dan shifted his attention to Evie and his father.
“My late husband and I always ended every disagreement with a kiss, even if we hadn’t resolved anything.” Evie smoothed her fingers over her silver-and-white Queen of the Bride Squad sash. “A nice kiss makes it hard for both of you to hold on to your irritation.”
Rick and Evie eyed Brooke and Dan. Rick said, “You should try that.”
Brooke’s mouth dropped open. They wanted her to kiss Dan. Now. Just like that. She hadn’t kissed anyone since Phillip. Not like that. She hadn’t wanted to kiss anyone. Not like that. Until now.
“Okay. Stop.” Dan motioned between Brooke and himself. “We’re fine.”
But would they be better if they kissed? Cheers and hollers erupted from the arcade area, as if encouraging Brooke to kiss Dan. She stared at Evie’s champagne glass. Maybe a drink would help.
“You don’t look fine.” Evie wiped a napkin over her glasses, not bothering to remove them. “I’ve only had half a glass of champagne.”
“It’s not the champagne,” Rick said. “Evie, your eyesight is as good as ever.”
Evie crinkled the napkin and toasted Rick. “That’s a relief.”
Dan leaned forward. “Look. It’s about Earl Powell. He fell again and is being admitted to the hospital right now.”
Brooke scooted closer to the edge of the couch. “We don’t want to tell Sophie and ruin her night. She’ll worry about Sherlock.”
“Who is watching Sherlock?” Evie asked.
“His daughter for now,” Dan said.
“We’ll walk and feed him, too,” Brooke said. “Whatever she needs.”
“The problem is that I don’t think they’ll discharge Earl back home this time,” Dan said.
And that was what she’d seen in Dan’s face outside the suite. Concern for both the older gentleman and his dog. “Time is now up to find Sherlock a new family.”
“This is a somber group.” An elegant older woman pushed a wheelchair with another woman between the two chairs.
Evie offered quick introductions. The women’s silver-and-white sashes proclaimed them friends of Dan’s. Helen’s sash read: Mom of the Groom Squad. Helen indicated Brooke should move over, closer to Dan, and sat down.
Karen’s sash proclaimed: MOB in Training. She explained that stood for Mother of the Bride-to-Be and pointed at Ava with a wide smile.
“Now, really, who died?” Helen dropped a pink-and-gold sequined pillow on her lap as if she needed the cheer.
“No one passed away.” Karen swatted Helen’s knee. “Can’t you see that Dan and Brooke are having a quarrel?”
Helen tsked. “Seriously, one good kiss and you’ll win every argument.” She waved to Mia and Wyatt at the Ping-Pong table. “Already gave that advice to Mia to use on Wyatt. My poor son won’t ever win, but he’ll be happy about it every time.”
Evie clapped her hands. “That was exactly the advice I gave them.”
“We really should put together an advice column.” Helen drew a heart in the sequined pillow.
“Just in the Prime Timers crew alone we’ve got over a century of marriage experience,” Karen added. “That’s quite impressive.”
“When we need marriage advice, we’ll come to you.” Dan ran his hands over his dress pants.
A collective sigh passed through the Prime Timers as if they were disappointed there wouldn’t be a kiss. Brooke caught herself and her sigh before it escaped. She wasn’t disappointed about not kissing Dan. Although she was interested to know if their advice really worked.
She said, “We’re desperate to find a home for an eleven-year-old golden retriever. Special considerations attached.”
“Ava and I have a pair of senior foster cats with us or we’d take the dog,” Karen offered.
Brooke smiled at Ava’s mom. “Thanks. We’ll figure something out. I don’t want any of you to worry.”
Dan nudged Brooke’s shoulder. “Getting overly involved is their form of fun.”
“Dan is right.” Helen set her hands on the pillow as if she was in court, preparing to swear on the Bible. “We’re going to figure this out together.”
“It’s what we do. Ask the kids.” Karen patted her curls into place and looked at Brooke. “Now, tell us what you’ve done. No sense repeating the hard work you’ve already put in.”
Brooke shifted her gaze around the group. Their expressions thoughtful, eager and sincere. Everyone wanted to help. The collective support wrapped around her like a bear hug. And she jumped in, unable to resist, detailing the last few days of her search.
Twenty minutes later, one cheese platter and more than thirty potential families discarded, Helen tapped her palm on the pillow. “Which assisted-living center does Charlene Leonard volunteer at?”
“Charlene is at Golden Sunrise Manor.” Evie pointed at her friends. “It’s one of the nicer facilities, but I’m not moving in there. Neither are any of you.”
“No one is moving anywhere.” Helen laughed and shook her head. “Charlene mentioned she wanted to adopt a pet at our most recent Second Winders gathering.”
Dan leaned into Brooke. “It’s supposed to be a group for widows and widowers. Except it’s really a poker night with appetizers, Evie’s Irish coffee and cash bets.”
Brooke wanted to join that widows club. She grinned. “How do I get an invite?”
“I’m sure they’ll take you.” He teased, “You’ve already admitted you aren’t good at poker.”
“Is that a requirement?”
Dan nodded. “Levels the playing field or so they claim.”
She definitely wanted to spend an evening or two playing poker with them. “Count me in.”
“That wasn’t Charlene you’re thinking of, Helen.” Karen wiped a napkin across her mouth, her words slow, as if she was running through a guest list in her head. “I believe it was Teresa Knowles.”
“Teresa missed our last gathering.” Evie built a cheese-and-cracker appetizer on a napkin and passed it over to Karen.
“That’s right.” Rick tapped his hand on his knee. “Teresa had to work late last week and couldn’t make it.”
“I remember now.” Helen snapped her fingers as if focusing her memory. “Charlene’s children want her to travel more. But the poor dear is scared to death to fly.”
“Her children only need to get more creative. A train ride or cruise ship or RV could be options,” Karen said. “But it was Teresa’s kids that want to buy her a puppy.”
“Teresa doesn’t want a puppy and the work involved raising one. Says she already raised enough kids.” Helen glanced at Brooke. “Not that I blame Teresa, given her work schedule.”
“Teresa works at Bright Heart Sanctuary,” Karen added. “She manages housekeeping and the kitchen for the entire center.”
That was the same assisted-living center Cara wanted Earl to move into. Excitement bounced around inside Brooke. She set her hand on Dan’s leg, stopping herself from jumping up to celebrate. Teresa Knowles could be the solution. She swallowed hard, reminding herself not to get too far ahead. “Would Teresa possibly consider a senior dog already housebroken and well trained?”
“We could ask her,” Karen said.
“What if the senior dog belongs to a patient that was going to become a new resident of Bright Heart Sanctuary?” Dan asked. “Would that help sway Teresa?”
“Earl Powell is moving into Bright Heart?” Evie clapped. “It’s almost too perfect.”
That made Brooke pause, not party.
Karen drummed her fingers on the armrest of her wheelchair. “Well, Teresa is quite darling with her contagious laugh and Midwestern accent.”
“She never wins. Not one hand.” Rick lifted his gaze toward the cheers erupting from the pinball machines. “Still, Teresa smiles and laughs the entire evening.”
Those were wonderful qualities for anyone. But Sherlock required more than that. Brooke asked, “But does Teresa want a dog?”
“There’s always this pause after one of Teresa’s deep laughs, as if she’s reaching for more laughter to keep the loneliness away.” Evie’s mouth turned down as if she hurt for the dear woman, too.
“I agree with her children.” Karen nodded. “A dog would give Teresa a companion.”
“Teresa needs a dog for the nights the laughter is hard to find.” Helen’s voice was pensive.
A collective hum of agreement flowed through the group. They all understood. They’d all been there. They all knew exactly how Teresa felt. Brooke knew, too. “I’m not sure what I would’ve done without my pets.”
Brooke glanced at Dan and Rick. Now she wondered what she would’ve done without the Sawyers after the wildfire.
“Now you have us.” Evie lifted her champagne glass toward Brooke. “Best of all, you don’t have to wait for a Second Winders gathering if you need us.”
“We’re right across the backyard,” Rick offered.
Dan was right across the backyard. She could walk onto his porch, kiss him good-night and run into her apartment before he could react. Brooke touched her mouth. She wasn’t running onto any porches. She wasn’t kissing anyone. “I’m more grateful than I can ever say.”
“That’s enough business for tonight.” Karen waved at Dan and Brooke. “You two need to get over there and join in. You’re missing out on some really good prizes.”
“Let us talk to Teresa in the next day or so.” Evie shooed them away. “Go have fun. There’s nothing more we can do for the moment.”
Rick grinned at Evie. “We can show these youngsters how to properly play Ping-Pong, Evie.”
“We can definitely do that.” Evie stood up and arranged her sash as if she’d just been announced the winner of a beauty pageant and awaited her crown. “We’ll give you two ten minutes to warm up and strategize.”
Dan held his hand out to Brooke. “Ready for this?”
She was ready to jump into the fun and games. Discover her laughter. The kissing—well, she’d bury that back inside her. She set her hand inside Dan’s and let him pull her off the couch. “Definitely.”