The Icing on the Cake Read Free Page B

come to his
aid and give him a glowing recommendation, he watched her, mouth agape.  He
nodded her way, as if encouraging her to speak.  The woman watched her
intently.  Finally, Joe nudged her with his elbow.
    “Oh!”  Kristine gave herself a shake. 
“Joe is…”  She swallowed again.  “I mean…”
    “Krissy!” Joe cried, unsure whether to
laugh or be offended.  “Help me out here.”
    She turned to the woman.  “Joe is…”
    “A great guy,” he supplied, watching
Kristine with a mock-wounded expression on his handsome face.   
    The woman suddenly burst out laughing. 
“It’s all right.  I feel as if I’m a good judge of character, and Gracie seems
to adore you.”
    “I promise I’ll take good care of her,”
he assured her, but continued watching Kristine as if she were a space alien. 
He directed his attention to the woman again.  “Just so you’ll feel more
comfortable, I’m going to give you my address.  Please stop by anytime to check
on Gracie.  In fact, why don’t you plan on bringing the family by on
Sunday—say, two o’ clock?  I’ll have her dog run built and the backyard fully
fenced by then.  I promise.  You’ll leave feeling good about her new living
situation—and me.”
    She smiled gratefully.  “I really
appreciate that.  My kids will really appreciate that,” she said, and then her
face fell.  “They’re going to be devastated when I tell them I’ve given her
away…”
    “Have you considered getting a smaller
dog?  They’re so much easier to manage than a big one like Gracie.”  He pulled
out his wallet and counted out four hundred-dollar bills.  “I saw the cutest
little pups at the humane society yesterday.  I believe they were part
Chihuahua and poodle.  Honestly, they were the cutest little things I’ve seen
in a long time.”
    “So you were looking for a dog?”
the woman said with a relieved smile.  “Getting a dog isn’t an impromptu decision
at all?”
    “No.  My lab Jake passed away six months
ago.”  He smiled sadly.  “I miss him every day.  I was hesitant to get another
dog until recently, but I think I’m finally ready.  I think Gracie and I will
do great together.”
    The woman seemed unsure about accepting
the money.  “I only paid two hundred dollars for Gracie.” 
    “It’s okay,” he assured her.  “I’m sure
you’ve invested quite a bit of money since.  And if you adopt a small dog,
you’ll need to buy a collar and leash, as well as dog food.  He or she will
need a vet visit.”  He brightened.  “Maybe there’ll be money left over to take
the kids out for pizza tonight—to celebrate their new puppy.”
    The woman extended her hand.  “I’m Mary
Williams, by the way.  And thank you—for everything.  I think you’ll be
wonderful for Gracie.  She really is a sweet dog.”
    “It’ll be nice having a companion, and a
watch dog,” he added. 
    “Er, well, Gracie isn’t much of a—”
    “Kristine, you ever plan on opening up
this morning?” a surly voice called from nearby.
    She glanced over at Mr. Clark, one of
Cooper Glenn’s many octogenarians and a regular customer at the bakery.  He was
waiting impatiently by the door.  “I’m craving an apple fritter,” he announced.
    Kristine smiled at him.  “Mr. Clark,”
she said kindly, “as you know, we don’t open for another hour, but if you’ll
wait just a moment, I’ll join you and I’m sure we can find something to satisfy
that sweet tooth of yours.”
    His cranky demeanor appeared to shed off
him like a coat and he smiled winningly.   “I was hopin’ you’d say that,
Kristine.”
    “Don’t I always?”  She turned to Mrs.
Williams, and then to Joe.  “Well, I’d better get moving this morning. 
Congratulations on your new dog, Joe.”  And to Mrs. Williams, she said, “Bring
your new puppy by later for a dog biscuit.  We bake them up fresh for our
canine customers.”  With a final smile, she hurried