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  Before Keaton could comment, Preston looked longingly at the house. “How’s Mellie?”

  “Not a happy camper,” Annie informed him.

  “Don’t suppose now would be a good time to visit?”

  “Want to get your head bit off?” Keaton asked, discouraging him.

  Preston’s smile didn’t waver. “Wouldn’t be the first time. Being around that woman is like trying to cuddle a porcupine.”

  Annie had to hold back a laugh. Preston had it right. Mellie had the personality of a prickly animal. Over the last several months, though, Annie had discovered that the brusque way her landlord treated others was merely a front. Mellie hated Teresa touching her grandparents’ things and had plenty to say about it. At the same time, Annie believed that a part of Mellie was glad to be rid of the junk. If the contents of those boxes were as important as she’d made out, she would have found a way to keep them.

  “Preston,” Annie interjected, “Mellie might actually be in the mood for the comfort of a friend. She’s had a hard day.”

  “Wouldn’t risk it if I were you,” Keaton countered.

  Scratching the side of his head, Preston looked from one to the other.

  “Rough day is right,” Keaton added.

  Annie agreed. Seeing those boxes hauled away had been tough on Mellie. “She’s probably feeling out of sorts and a bit lost. We’ve disrupted her world, and that can’t be easy. I think she might welcome you—someone she can vent to—someone who she doesn’t consider a traitor.”

  Preston centered his gaze on the door to the kitchen. “I don’t know about that.”

  Annie heard a weak bark from inside Preston’s truck. “That’d be the critter you wanted,” Preston told him. He opened the passenger side of his truck and took out a puppy who appeared to be a couple months old. It was impossible to tell what breed he was. He looked part spaniel and something else that she couldn’t detect or identify.

  “A puppy!” Annie cried, and immediately took the dog out of Preston’s hands. “He’s adorable.” She nuzzled her face against him and he licked her cheek. “You’re getting a puppy?” she asked Keaton.

  “Not for me,” Keaton explained. “For Logan.”

  “Teresa’s son?”

  Keaton gave her a weak smile. Again, she felt the urge to ask him what was bothering him. It went without saying that he wouldn’t explain until he was ready, and so she bit her tongue, keeping her questions to herself.

  The puppy continued to lick her hand and face. Training a puppy was exactly what Logan needed to take his mind off the father who had abandoned him. There was one small glitch, though. “Teresa know about this?”

  Keaton nodded.

  Annie remained concerned. Puppies weren’t cheap, and she knew Teresa had financial struggles. “What about his shots? Dog food isn’t cheap either.”

  “Taken care of,” Preston supplied. “Keaton’s picking up all the vet bills and food. The shelter will have him neutered when he’s ready.”

  His thoughtfulness and generosity shouldn’t surprise her by now.

  “Ride with me to Logan’s?” Keaton invited.

  “I’d love to.” She continued to hold the puppy while Preston retrieved a few items out of the bed of his truck and transferred them over to Keaton’s vehicle.

  When he’d finished, Keaton helped her into the passenger side. He joined her a minute later and she noticed that Preston stayed behind. She hoped Preston was willing to give Mellie a second chance.

  Keaton slid into the driver’s seat and started up the truck. “You were right,” he said, his hands on the steering wheel.

  “Right? That’s one of the most appreciated comments you can give a girl. Now tell me, what was I right about?” The puppy settled into her lap, curled up, and promptly went to sleep, his chin resting on her arm.

  “About Mellie and Teresa. I can’t believe Mellie let Teresa clear her entire kitchen.”

  “I know.”

  Reaching across the seat, Keaton took hold of her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Miracle.”

  “Everything’s possible, Keaton.”

  He released her hand and centered his focus back on the road. “No.”

  In a matter of seconds, his mood sobered.

  “What do you mean by that?” she asked.

  “Not important.”

  Annie couldn’t let it go any longer.

  “You’re sad about something.”

  Keaton didn’t deny or confirm her assessment.

  “Someone has upset you.”

  He gave her nothing.

  “Will you tell me who?”

  “No.”

  She let the disappointment settle before she spoke again. “Okay, I can accept that.”

  Keaton reached for the medallion she’d given him for his birthday. His hand folded around it. As best as she could tell, he’d worn it every day since his birthday.

  They both grew quiet and introspective. Keaton turned down the road that would lead them to Teresa’s house. The truck slowed to a crawl. Annie wondered if Keaton realized he’d taken his foot off the gas.

  “My father’s ill,” he said, his voice so low Annie had to strain to hear.

  “I’m sorry.”

  She was about to ask if there was anything she could do when Keaton spoke again.

  “He hates me.”

  Annie didn’t know how that could possibly be true. “How could he?” she asked.

  Keaton shrugged. “All my life. Lived with it. Left when I could.”

  “Do you see him often?”

  “No.”

  She agreed that was likely for the best. “Some people are toxic, Keaton. Your father can’t love you because he doesn’t love himself. If that’s the way he feels, then it’s best to avoid him.”

  “I try. He’s sick. He needs help.”

  “Will he accept it from you?”

  Keaton shook his head.

  “What can I do?” she asked.

  Keaton pulled over to the side of the road and let the truck idle. “Don’t know,” he said, and then repeated it: “Don’t know.”

  “Is your father living alone?”

  Keaton’s huge hands clenched the steering wheel with a grip so tight his knuckles were white. “Yes.”

  “Is he able to care for himself?”

  He shrugged. “Doubtful.” He lifted his head and inhaled sharply. “Went to the house.” He reached for the medallion.

  “On your birthday?” she guessed.

  Keaton turned his head to look at her. “Saw then he was weak. Went back. He’s worse. Much worse.”

  “Would you like me to visit, assess his condition?”

  “Don’t want…venom aimed at you.”

  Placing her hand on his forearm, Annie did her best to reassure him. “I’ve worked with difficult patients before, Keaton. Don’t worry, I can handle your father. If he needs to be hospitalized, I’ll put everything in place to see that it happens. I don’t want you upset over this.”

  “He won’t go.”

  “If he’s as bad as you say, perhaps hospice would be for the best. He’ll have the end-of-life care he needs, and the staff will make him comfortable.”

  “You’d do that?”

  She squeezed his arm. “Keaton, of course. You should know by now that I’m willing to do anything to help you.”

  “Thank you.”

  Annie’s heart swelled. She was happy to do something for Keaton. He’d never ask. That wasn’t his way. Accepting anything from anyone went against his nature. He didn’t expect kindness or generosity. Knowing that pained her.

  After a few minutes, Keaton pulled up in front of Teresa’s house. Logan was sitting on the porch steps, looking glum.

  “Hello, Logan,”
Annie called out from the passenger window.

  His eyes brightened as he recognized her. “Hi, Dr. Annie.” She’d given up correcting him and asked, “Whatcha doing?”

  Logan shrugged. “Nothing.”

  Teresa opened the screen door and stepped out onto the porch. Several repairs had been made to the house, and Annie knew that Keaton and Preston were responsible.

  “Have something for you,” Keaton said, climbing out of the truck.

  “For me?” Logan stood and walked to the gate, his eyes wide with curiosity.

  Keaton climbed down and walked around to Annie’s side of the truck. He opened the door and removed the sleeping puppy from her lap and held him against his chest.

  “Really?” Logan asked.

  Keaton smiled. “Yup.”

  “Mom,” Logan cried out. “Please. Can I have him?” The ten-year-old’s eyes grew huge, silently pleading with his mother.

  Teresa hesitated, giving the matter serious consideration. “Are you going to care for him, feed him, and train him to go outside to take care of business?”

  “Yes,” Logan said eagerly. “Please, Mom. You know I’ve wanted a dog forever…since I was little.”

  Teresa shared a smile with Keaton. “If you can handle the responsibility, then you can keep the dog.”

  Logan flew to his mother and hugged her around the middle. Annie noticed that both mother and son had tears in their eyes. He ran down the sidewalk to Keaton, who placed the puppy in Logan’s arms.

  Keaton looked over at Annie, and she was blinded by his smile. In that moment, she realized that by Keaton helping the boy get over the pain of his father’s abandonment, it helped Keaton deal with the lack of love from his own father. He spoke very little of his childhood, but reading between the lines, Annie knew there had been little nurturing in Keaton’s life. That he had become the wonderful, kind, and caring man that he was left her to marvel at the depth of his inner strength.

  CHAPTER 27

  Watering her garden after work each day was a favorite task that Annie enjoyed. She glanced toward the big house for a moment, and then looked over a second time. Something was different. It took her a few minutes to realize what it was.

  The windows.

  They sparkled, and Annie could see into the kitchen for the first time since she’d moved to the cottage. The curtains looked fresh and white. Teresa had been busy with more than clearing out the kitchen. The woman was a miracle worker. Annie wanted to advise her to go slow with Mellie, afraid that too much change all at once would send her into a tailspin.

  When Annie looked down at her plants, she jerked the hose away and gasped. She’d about drowned the fledgling green beans. Water pooled around her feet as she shook her head and hastily moved down the row.

  A rusty truck she recognized rolled onto the side of the street and stopped.

  Preston.

  Apparently oblivious to where he’d parked, he climbed out of the truck with a clenched bouquet of daisies in his hand. He then proceeded to pace all the way around his truck not once but twice. He seemed caught up in his own thoughts, and he jumped about a foot off the ground when Annie called his name.

  “What?” he demanded.

  Annie turned off the faucet and walked toward him. “You okay?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” Preston asked back, grumbling under his breath. He removed his cap, wiping his forearm across his brow and glancing toward the house.

  “I don’t know,” Annie returned honestly. “You’re looking agitated.”

  He leaned back and cocked his head toward the sky. “There’s no fool like an old fool. Isn’t that what they say?”

  “You aren’t old.”

  “Feel it at times.”

  Annie noticed Preston had a fresh haircut and wore a clean shirt.

  He opened the cab of his truck and was about to climb inside when she stopped him. “Did you bring those daisies for Mellie?” she asked.

  His face filled with color.

  “Seems a shame not to give them to her.”

  Preston looked at her like he was suddenly trapped in a parallel universe.

  “Preston?” she tried again, and waved her hand in front of his face, while he continued to stare into space, seeming oblivious to her. “You okay?” she asked.

  “Don’t know,” he admitted after a long moment. His expression was a mixture of doubt and longing. “I know far more about dogs and cats than I do women. In high school, I was crazy about Mellie. All of us boys were. But she was too pretty for me. I was a shy, skinny kid with the social skills of an ape.” He paused, then gave a sad smile and added, “Come to think of it, I’m the same now, just a bit older.” Preston glanced wistfully toward the big house. “When she came back, I gave it a try and got shot down. A man has his pride, you know.”

  “I noticed your truck was here after Keaton and I took the puppy to Logan. Everyone deserves a second chance, Preston.”

  “Yeah, we talked for a long time. Laughed some, too.” Preston continued to stare at Mellie’s house.

  “That sounds like a step in the right direction.”

  “Yeah.”

  Seeing that Mellie hadn’t kicked Preston out after a few minutes, the way she tended to do with everyone else, spoke volumes. As many times as Annie had been to the big house, she’d never stayed more than ten or fifteen minutes, and at that point Mellie usually made it clear it was time for Annie to go. And she wasn’t always subtle about it, either.

  “You think I should give her the flowers?” He studied Annie seriously, as if this was a matter of life or death.

  Annie would hate to misread the situation. Mellie’s rejection might crush Preston. Inhaling a deep breath, she went with her gut. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

  He looked at the house again, and then headed with determination toward the kitchen door, swinging the bouquet at his side like a soldier in drill practice.

  Annie had faith in Preston. She was convinced his gentleness and persistence would eventually win Mellie over. All Annie could hope was that Mellie didn’t bark at him the way she so often did her.

  Reassured, she returned to watering her plants. She hadn’t realized how much work and effort went into the maintenance of a garden. The vegetables were developing nicely, and she would have more cucumbers and jalapeños than she could possibly use. She’d share the bounty with Keaton, Mellie, and Candi. The pumpkins and Hubbard squash were doing well, too. Annie knew her mother would have been proud of her efforts.

  “Ms. Marlow.”

  She turned around and saw the boy from Bean There. It took her a moment to recognize him outside of the coffee shop. “Jimmy.”

  The young man hung his head, his shoulders slumped forward. This seemed to be her week for depressed and uncertain men.

  “Britt told me you knew about the baby?”

  “I do,” Annie confessed. She wasn’t breaking any confidentiality requirements by confirming this.

  “I want to marry her. Britt keeps telling me no, but I know she loves me as much as I love her. Now she’s talking about adoption.”

  “Jimmy, I can’t get involved in this decision. That’s for you and Britt to discuss.” Setting her tools down, Annie left the garden and led Jimmy into the cottage. She gestured toward the small kitchen table. He took a seat and immediately planted his elbows on the tabletop, holding his head as though it weighed too much for him to keep it upright without support.

  Ringo wandered over. Annie scooped the kitten into her arms and set him on her lap, petting him as Jimmy continued.

  “You need to make Britt listen to me about this,” he pleaded. “We can get married, have the baby, and I’ll go to school later. She’s more important to me than becoming a dentist.”

  Annie didn’t feel right giving him advice. “You’re rig
ht, Jimmy; Britt does love you. She loves you enough to think about your future, as well as her own.”

  “We can make it work,” he insisted, wanting to convince her. “I’ll get a full-time job and put college off for a year or two until we get on our feet.”

  “Sounds good in theory, but that’s harder to make happen than you realize. Besides, didn’t I hear you have a scholarship?”

  His head dipped so low his forehead nearly rested against the tabletop. “I’ll give that up.”

  “But Britt doesn’t want you to do that, does she?”

  He shrugged. “No,” he reluctantly confessed. “She said if I turned down the scholarship, she’d break up with me.”

  Annie didn’t know how it’d happened that she’d become the Dear Abby of Oceanside.

  “Britt told me you know an agency that would help with the adoption. A reputable one that would make sure the baby went to a good home.”

  Annie continued to pet Ringo, who was content in her arms. “I did mention that, yes. Adoption is an option.”

  Jimmy adamantly shook his head. “I’m not willing to give our baby over to strangers.”

  “What about Britt?”

  Jimmy looked utterly miserable. “She’s reading up on ‘open adoption’ and talked to me about it. She thinks that it might be a good idea for us, but I don’t know. Britt said we could still be part of the baby’s life.”

  “Does that feel wrong to you?” she asked.

  He looked up, not quite sure how to answer her. “I don’t want Britt to regret giving up our baby.”

  “That’s a consideration,” she conceded. “But I believe Britt is looking at what’s best for your future, for her own, and for your baby’s.”

  Jimmy rubbed his hand over his eyes. “I know she is, and I am, too. I don’t want to lose her.”

  Annie admired Britt and knew this decision would be difficult for one so young.

  “Do your parents know?” she asked.

  Jimmy nodded. “Britt and I told both our parents at the same time. They were shocked. My dad was more upset than my mom. Britt’s mom started crying and then so did my mom.” He inhaled sharply and scrubbed his face with both hands, trying to wipe away the memory of the confrontation.