Yet the only one desperate for a distraction was Brooke.
She was less than half a mile from the accident site. She’d lied about not knowing her way around and avoided leaving the pet store. After all, she was needed inside these walls. Outside, she would need to run.
Was it wrong that she just wanted to keep pressing Pause inside the safety of the pet store?
Brooke left the dog room—she didn’t want her discontent to disturb the calm animals.
“You, my dear, need this and this.” An older woman with chin-length white-gold hair peered at Brooke. Her expressive eyes were magnified by a pair of sleek trendy eyeglasses. She pressed a hot cup into one of Brooke’s hands and a muffin into the other. “I’m Evelyn Davenport, but you can call me Evie.”
“Thanks.” Brooke inhaled the steam from the cup, drawing in the warmth.
“We usually keep the Irish coffee for after hours.” Evie tilted her chin at Brooke’s cup. “But there are times when only Irish coffee will do.”
“Thank you.” Brooke sipped the coffee, certain the hot liquid would finally soothe the chill inside her.
Evie wrapped her arm around Brooke’s waist and guided her into the storefront. “You couldn’t have taken the time to eat what with worrying about Archie.”
Brooke’s mother used to embrace Brooke the very same way—one steady arm around her that Brooke had believed would always anchor her. Always support her. Brooke was grateful for Evie’s kind gesture. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed the simple support. First with Dan. And now with Evie. Still, she let it last for only a minute. She’d stood on her own for too long to stop now.
“Sophie filled me in about Archie’s condition this morning,” Evie continued, her voice infused with the warmth Brooke sought. “Dr. Iain Porter is an excellent vet and somewhat of an animal whisperer, even though he’ll deny it. You came to the best place.”
“Thanks to Dan.” Brooke had been panicked and lost. Fortunately, Dan had pulled into the driveway. Once again, a Sawyer had come to her rescue—she owed them.
“Dan and Rick are like family. We take care of each other.” Evie picked up another muffin from the tin on the counter.
“But I’m not...” Family. Her family was four-legged and carried deep scars like Brooke. They were all she needed. Her fingers curved around the coffee cup as if searching for Dan’s touch. His hand had been even warmer wrapped around hers. But she’d given up wanting to hold hands with a man. And she was more than fine with her decision. She was fine.
“You’re here with us now.” Evie peeled the wrapper off the muffin. “And already caring for our rescues like they’re your own.”
Sophie arrived and took the cinnamon-streusel muffin from Evie’s hand. “Evie’s day isn’t complete or successful if she hasn’t fed everyone.”
“I wouldn’t have to hover and chase you down if you’d only stop and eat like a person should.” There was scolding in Evie’s voice, but the affection lit up her eyes.
How long had it been since someone looked at Brooke like that? Since someone hovered over her just to make sure she was all right.
“Why would I do that?” Sophie hugged Evie. “Then I’d miss out on these bites of deliciousness, which are some of your best by the way.”
When was the last time someone had hugged Brooke? Not as part of the protocol for a grieving widow. But a good-natured, I-just-want-to-share-my-affection-with-you, feel-good embrace that gave as much as it received? The urge to retreat to the calm area seized her. Surely, if she took a moment to herself, all her wishful thinking would cease. Surely, she’d believe she was fine by herself. Surely, she’d remember the danger in opening her heart.
Besides, there was safety in that comfy corner in the quiet room she’d put together for Rex and the other dogs. Rex had already crawled across the floor earlier, edging close enough to touch Brooke with his nose, craving the affection but too fearful to reach for it. She could relate. He’d given Brooke the smallest tail wag for her efforts. That was enough for Brooke. Animals had been enough for Brooke these past five years. They were all she wanted now.
“This batch really is quite tasty.” Evie grinned and replaced the lid on the muffin tin. “What do you need me to do today?”
“Thanks to Brooke, we’ve worked with all the canine rescues.” Sophie toasted Brooke with her muffin. “Dan came back with the kids and he’s going to help me upstairs with the cat kennels. If you could run things in here that would be terrific.”
“The best part of my day is meeting new people.” Joy spread across Evie’s face. “I like to help them discover the things they didn’t know their four-legged loved ones absolutely needed. Want to join me, Brooke?”
Brooke wanted to forget the support of Evie’s arm, the talk about family, the almost too easy camaraderie with Sophie. She wasn’t there to build something in the city. She wanted to escape.
A year’s worth of therapy sessions after the accident, and Brooke was declared ready for the next step of her life. Brooke had stepped into a cabin on a remote mountain, surrounded herself with rescues and healed.
Sharing Irish coffee and fresh muffins, while tempting, wouldn’t help her heal now. There were too many reminders of her past. Too many reasons to leave.
Brooke wasn’t there to make friends. Even if Sophie understood Brooke’s natural reserve and shared passion for animals. Even if Brooke was drawn to Sophie’s no-questions-asked, simple acceptance. Brooke was there long enough for Archie to recover and for her to find a new home. “I think I’ll check on Rex.”
A girl with curly blond hair, holding a folded cane in one hand and resting her other hand on Ben’s elbow, stepped through the doorway. The cute pair stalled Brooke’s retreat.
“Evie.” The boy waved Evie closer to them. His whisper wouldn’t meet the criteria of even the most lenient of librarians. “Someone left Rex’s kennel door open.”
Blond curls sagged against the girl’s cheeks as if weighed down by her worry. “Ben says Rex is shaking bad. Really bad.”
“Like his-skin-is-going-to-slide-off-his-bones bad,” Ben added.
“Evie, we didn’t mean to scare him.” The girl explained, “Ben was describing Mom’s changes to me room by room.”
Evie hugged both children and offered encouragement.
Ben’s gaze collided with Brooke’s over Evie’s shoulder. Brooke wanted to reassure the little girl. She stepped forward and cleared her throat. “It isn’t you guys. Rex is really stressed.”
“Mom told me that Rex is scared and doesn’t know that he can trust us.” The girl pushed a pair of lavender glasses up her nose.
“She’s right. I left his kennel door open, so he’d know this place is different than his old home.” Brooke set her coffee and muffin on the checkout counter and reached her hand out to the boy. “I’m Brooke.”
He shook her hand with a firm grip and introduced himself as Ben Sawyer. Brooke could’ve guessed he belonged to Dan, given his copper hair and height. Ben guided his friend’s hand to Brooke’s.
The girl grinned, introduced herself as Ella Callahan and added, “Your hand is so warm, like my mom’s. I bet Rex wouldn’t shake so much with something warmer to wear.”
“That’s a brilliant idea, Ella.” Brooke grinned at Evie. “We need to get Rex one of those stress vests. Where can we find one in the store?”
“Aisle four in the dog section.” Ella smiled as if she heard Brooke’s surprise. “I helped stock the entire store with Mom and Evie. I know where everything is.”
“When