forget this pair.
“Are you working here now?” Ben pointed at the logo on Brooke’s purple shirt. “You have a Pampered Pooch shirt on.”
“It’s on loan.” Brooke smoothed the wrinkles out of the shirt. “Your grandpa Rick invited me and my pets to stay in the rental apartment at your house for a little while.”
Ben stared at Brooke. Confusion made his mouth drop open. “But you’re not old.”
Brooke picked up her coffee cup and caught her laughter behind the rim. Evie rushed to greet a customer at the front entrance, her own laughter trailing behind her like a silk scarf in the breeze.
“Brooke’s voice is crisp and brisk like Mom’s, Ben.” Ella socked Ben in the shoulder and scolded him. “Not wobbly like Evie’s gets when her throat can’t find its voice. Brooke can’t be old old.”
“Grandpa Rick told me about the nice lady staying with us.” Ben stressed the words nice lady as if that explained everything. And in case he wasn’t clear, he said, “And Grandpa Rick always calls Wyatt’s mom and Mia’s mom and even Evie real nice ladies.”
Ella’s eyebrows drew together, and her mouth pulled in. “He also calls Ava’s mom a nice lady all the time.”
“See.” Ben slapped his palm on his forehead. “That meant Brooke was supposed to be old.”
“You’re not secretly old, are you, Brooke?” Ella tilted her head toward Brooke. “Evie and Ben’s grandpa talk about their friends who’ve declared war on aging.”
“Grandpa says several of their friends are losing the war even with their doctors’ help.” Ben shook his head, his chin dropped toward his chest as if he was miserable. “It’s a shame, really. At least that’s what Grandpa always says.”
What wasn’t a shame was meeting this adorable pair. Brooke said, “I don’t think I’m old old, unless you consider Ella’s mom old old and Ben’s dad.”
“I knew I wasn’t wrong about your voice.” Ella cheered back up.
Brooke saw Sophie in Ella’s full smile. And Ben’s green eyes matched his dad’s. For the first time in a long while, that hole in her heart throbbed against her chest and made Brooke wonder again. Wonder if her children would’ve had her eyes and her husband’s laugh. Wonder what if...
Brooke firmed her knees and stepped away. She couldn’t go there. Not now. Not here.
Reminded herself to focus on the sweet, not the bitter, like she’d once learned to do. Ben and Ella were the sweet and she was grateful she had this pair to assist her with Rex. Finally, that throb faded into its ever-present ache that scuffed her voice. “Why don’t we get that vest for Rex?”
“What color vest do you think Rex would like?” Ben asked. “Brown would match his fur.”
“What color do you like?” Brooke asked.
“Blue would match my soccer team,” Ben said. “But gray matches most of my clothes.”
“I like purple. It smells sweet and magical.” Ella unfolded her cane. “Wyatt’s mom has lilacs in her garden and my favorite place to sit is by those flowers and the fountain.”
“Sounds like a perfect secret garden.” Perhaps Brooke could find a place with a lush garden that would embrace and soothe her.
“I think there are fairies in the garden, but we haven’t found them yet.” Ella’s frown fluttered across her face, disappearing before it took hold. “Wyatt’s mom is helping me search. She has a special house to grow her plants in. We think the fairies like to spend time in there, where it’s warm and safe.”
“Sounds like Rex and his kennel.” Brooke followed the pair down the center aisle and smiled at Evie. The older woman held up several different feather cat toys for the customer’s inspection.
“If you left Rex’s kennel open, did he come out?” Ben asked.
“Yes, earlier this morning.” Brooke picked up a tennis ball from under the shelf and set it back in the bin on the endcap with the others.
“How’d you get Rex out of his kennel?” Ella turned down aisle four. “Mom couldn’t get him out.”
Brooke paused in front of the colorful array of soothing vests. The tags recommended the snug-fitting jackets to calm a dog’s anxiety and offer constant comfort like an enduring hug. The kind Brooke might miss, if she let herself linger with this welcoming group too long. “Can you keep a secret?”
Ben guided Ella closer to Brooke. The trio huddled together in the middle of the aisle, their heads bent toward each other as if blocking out anyone trying to eavesdrop.
Brooke lowered her voice. “Rex couldn’t resist the peanut butter or the string cheese.”
“That’s a high-value treat.” Authority spread through Ella’s voice and pushed her shoulders back.
Ben gave a firm nod to back up his friend’s claim. “We know that because Ella and I help with the animals.”
“We only get to use peanut butter for something really special.” Ella grimaced. “Usually we give out tiny crunchy biscuits or kibble.”
“I thought Rex could use something special,” Brooke said.
Ella smiled. “Everyone needs special things.”
“Grandpa Rick told me that your house burned down.” Ben brushed his copper bangs out of his eyes and studied Brooke. His green gaze was somber, but his voice was hopeful. “Did you get something special, too?”
“A nice place to stay with my pets until I find a new home.” That was so much more than other families waiting at the shelters. Brooke wasn’t sure how she’d repay the Sawyers for their kindness, but she would.
Ben’s mouth dipped into a frown and he scratched his head.
“But you need something for yourself, Brooke.” Ella hopped up and down and clutched Ben’s arm. “We should tell your dad, Ben.”
Definitely not that. She was indebted to Dan already. She didn’t need anything else, especially from Dan. “Your dad already helped me with my cat Archie this morning.”
Dan had been capable and gentle. Had given her an extra towel, bandages from his personal supply and a steadiness that had allowed Brooke to regain her composure and rein in her panic. He’d stood right beside her when Dr. Porter relayed the news that Archie had survived. She’d considered staying right there, relying on Dan for support. Until she’d locked her knees and remembered that she’d never allow her knees to buckle.
“What happened to Archie?” Ben chewed on his bottom lip.
Brooke explained about Archie’s stitches and his surgery.
“Archie is gonna need something special, too.” Ben pointed over Brooke’s head. “The cat section is over there. Does he like toys that squeak or ones with bells?”
“Or ones with feathers?” Ella tucked her curls behind her ears. “He probably can’t play right now. He needs something to cuddle with. Mom got me a fluffy unicorn after my last eye surgery. I still sleep with it every night.”
“I got a bear wearing a Bay Water Medical shirt the last time I went to the hospital.” Ben pulled a blue vest from the rack and handed it to Brooke. “My pancreas doesn’t work like it’s supposed to. But Dad says I’m getting really good at checking my blood like the nurses showed me how to do. The hospital isn’t bad, but I’d rather not go.”
“Have you been to the hospital?” Ella asked.
“I have, and like Ben, I’d rather not go back.” Brooke picked up a fleece dog blanket, forced herself to stay in the moment. In the sleepless hours of the night, she could sometimes