“You have your book group.”
“I haven’t even read the book. The print was too small and the first page was depressing. I only go for the cake.” Alice studied her daughter-in-law over the top of her glasses. “You could give Maple to Jackson.”
“I’m giving her to Kayla.”
“She doesn’t seem like a dog person to me.” Alice unraveled a ball of yarn. “Doesn’t know what to do with the puppy. Steps over the animal like a pair of shoes left on the floor. Did you see the way she stroked her? Vertical pats.”
“She’s not used to dogs. She’ll work it out and working it out will be good for her. It’s only for a few hours.”
“You’re interfering.”
“Yes. Have you seen Maple’s toy?” Elizabeth crawled under the table and retrieved the toy bone while Maple wagged her tail happily. “There. You are just what Kayla needs.”
“Jackson may not agree when the animal does her business on his hardwood floors.”
“She’s not going to do that.” Elizabeth scooped Maple up and kissed her. “Tonight you need to be extra cute. I’ve never seen anyone as lonely as that poor girl, and you’re the family member designated to sort it out.”
Alice looked at her. “Jackson could do that.”
“He’s next on my list.”
KAYLA SAT ON the sofa in her robe, an untouched bowl of popcorn on the floor and Maple curled by her feet.
When Elizabeth had arrived at the door and asked her to keep the puppy for a few hours, she’d been horrified, but Jackson’s mother had been so excited at the prospect of helping Élise in the kitchen that Kayla hadn’t been able to find a way of saying no.
“I don’t know anything about dogs.”
“All she wants is company. Wish me luck! Élise can be terrifying when she’s cooking.” Buzzing with excitement, Elizabeth had thrust a few things into her arms and hurried back down the path with a wave, leaving Kayla with Maple and no idea what to do.
She and the puppy had stared at one another and then Maple had settled down on the rug in front of the fire and Kayla had got on with her evening while keeping a cautious eye on the dog.
She’d taken a long, indulgent shower, rinsed away pine needles and bits of the forest that clung to her. Other things hadn’t proved so easy to shift, like her mood. She’d stepped out of the shower lost in thought and almost slipped when she’d felt Maple licking her wet toes.
And now she was on the sofa staring gloomily at the puppy.
“I don’t know why you’re looking so pleased. I’m lousy company. You couldn’t have picked a worse place to spend a few hours.”
Maple rolled onto her back hopefully, and Kayla shook her head.
“I’m not a tactile person. I’m sure someone better qualified will rub your tummy later.”
Huge brown eyes stared at her mournfully.
“Oh, for—” She bent down and rubbed the puppy’s tummy gingerly, her fingers tangling with fur the color of coffee and whipped cream. “Don’t tell anyone how pathetic I am, will you? I’d be fired on the spot.” Tears jammed her throat and she felt a flash of horror and then remembered the only witness was the dog. For once, she didn’t have to hold it back.
“Honestly, it’s just one day of the year. And it always makes me feel this way. It seems as though you’re the only person in the world on your own.” She’d never felt lonelier in her life.
A tear fell and landed on the puppy.
Maple whimpered, rolled onto her front and stood up.
“Sit.” She managed to say the word through her clogged throat. “Sit. Oh, for—” The puppy sprang onto her lap and Kayla pressed herself into the sofa. “Down. Down!”
Maple ignored her and wagged her tail.
The dog felt warm. Solid.
“Honestly, I’m fine—” Kayla kept her hands in the air. “I’ve never been that big on hugs and—Oh—” The puppy snuggled down. “Right. I suppose you can stay there as long as you don’t pee on me. And if you tell them I cried, our relationship is over.” Slowly, gingerly, she lowered her hands to the puppy. The fur under her fingers was soft and springy, the eyes looking at her a warm caramel-brown.
Tears fell, slowly and steadily like the snow outside the window. “I never cry. This is your fault. You shouldn’t be so cute.”
She wished her phone would ring, but for once it was silent, and she knew it was because the people back in the office would be caught up in pre-Christmas madness.
So—” She continued to stroke the puppy. “I can’t work with you sitting there so I suppose this is the perfect time to watch a movie. I hope you like horror because that’s all I brought with me.”
She pressed the remote control and started watching the movie she’d set up earlier while Maple dozed in her lap.
The cabin was in darkness. The only light came from the moon reflecting off the snow and the flicker of the television as she listlessly watched the story unfold.
She was lost in the dark and the horror when she heard a noise.
Her screams mingled with those of the woman on the screen, and Maple sprang from her lap barking. Kayla leaped after her, spilling popcorn.
“Shit—sorry, cover your ears, Maple—”
The door to the cabin opened abruptly. “Kayla?” It was Jackson, concern in his voice as he strode across to her, his feet scrunching on popcorn. Maple was leaping and barking. “Why are you screaming? What the hell has happened? Maple, sit. Sit!”
Maple ignored him.
“You happened—for God’s sake, Jackson—” she put her palm to her chest, feeling her heart pounding “—you scared me half to death and you scared the puppy. I thought you were a-a—”
“A what? All I did was knock on the door—” His gaze slid to the TV and his eyebrows rose. “Seems to me you were scaring yourself to death. The Shining? That makes perfect sense. An acknowledged feel-good Christmas movie. I guess you’re going to follow that with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Every fir tree’s nightmare.”
Hand pressed to her chest, she forced herself to breathe. “I was just in the mood for it, that’s all.” Stooping, she scooped a shivering Maple into her arms and snuggled her close. “Shh. It’s all right. It’s just Jackson, arriving with his chain saw. Nothing to be scared about.”
“I might have to disagree with that.” He picked up the DVD box. “You were in the mood for Ultimate Horror? That must be one hell of a mood you’ve got going on there.”
“It was my Christmas gift to myself. At this time of year the only thing that’s showing on TV is movies with the word miracle in the title.” Her legs still wobbly, she sank back onto the sofa. “Sorry. I didn’t realize you wanted a meeting.”
His gaze drifted to her robe. “Not a meeting. I came to pick up Maple. Thought I’d bring you something to eat at the same time.”
Her heart rate finally slowed. For the first time she noticed the large box by the door. “Pizza?”
“Fully