“Alix has Baxter for the day,” Ellen explained to her father, obviously missing her adored dog.
“That’s good, don’t you think?” Tim asked.
Ellen shrugged. “I guess.”
“He might get lost or stepped on by someone if he was here. And you know Alix will take great care of him.”
“Alix and Jordan promised to bring him to the house this afternoon,” Anne Marie said. “Then Baxter can help you unpack your bedroom.”
Ellen nodded, but it was plain to see that she wasn’t happy to have Baxter with someone else, even someone she knew and trusted.
Within ten minutes, the Goetz family arrived. Brad, Cody and Casey ran energetically up the stairs; Lydia hadn’t been able to leave the store, as Saturday was one of her busiest times. Soon, with Anne Marie doling out instructions, they hauled boxes down to Tim’s truck. Pierre and Winter followed five minutes later.
“Winter won’t be lifting anything,” Pierre said.
“Pierre,” she muttered under her breath, looking slightly embarrassed.
Her husband replied in French. Anne Marie had been to France and had taken a few lessons, but he spoke far too quickly for her to understand. The one word that leaped out, though, was bébé.
“You’re pregnant?” Anne Marie clapped her hands in delight. “That’s fantastic!”
Winter smiled. “We just found out last week.”
His expression proud, Pierre slipped his arm around his wife’s waist. “We’re due in early December,” he said. “Just in time for Christmas,” he added with a grin.
“Congratulations!”
Winter elbowed her husband. “We weren’t going to say anything until after the first trimester, but apparently Pierre forgot about our agreement.”
Again he replied in French, and whatever he said made Winter laugh and hug him. “I should’ve known it would be too hard for him to keep quiet. He said he can’t resist telling everyone because he’s so excited.”
“As he should be.”
“Since Pierre doesn’t want me to lift anything, I’ll volunteer to prepare lunch.”
Anne Marie had planned to purchase pizza or chicken wings, but she certainly wasn’t turning down Winter’s offer. “That would be wonderful.”
“Okay, let me go back to the café and get started. Sandwiches okay?”
“Your sandwiches? Better than okay!”
Soon after Winter had left, Lillie and Hector came up the stairs. Anne Marie had met Lillie and her daughter, Barbie, through the reading group she’d held at the bookstore. They were both widows and had compiled their own lists of twenty wishes. Shortly afterward, Lillie had met Hector. They were dissimilar in superficial ways but alike in the ways that mattered and had fallen in love. Anne Marie assumed they’d eventually get married.
“We’re here to help,” Lillie said, “even though we’re not on the official duty roster.” She wore a man-size faded blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up past her elbows and jeans with white tennis shoes. Nevertheless, she looked as elegant as she always did. “Oh, Barbie and Mark send you their best,” she added. Barbie, who owned an upscale dress shop, had recently married Mark Bassett, the man she’d met around the same time Lillie and Hector had begun their relationship.
“Shall we begin?” Pierre said. “Allons-y. Or in English, let’s go.”
Anne Marie wanted to do her share of the physical work, but she was needed to supervise and direct traffic. With so many people helping it didn’t take long for everything to be loaded. Winter had coffee and pastries delivered from the café and during their break, Ellen sat next to Tim, keeping her backpack close to her side.
Since they had a quiet moment, Anne Marie asked Tim, “Would you mind looking after Ellen next weekend?”
“Sure. I don’t have anything planned.”
“Mel is taking Mom to see Jersey Boys at the 5th Avenue Theater,” Ellen informed him.
“Oh.” His gaze held Anne Marie’s. “I’ll be happy to stay with Ellen.”
“Thank you. I—”
Her cell phone chirped and she glanced quickly at call display. Seeing that it was Mel, she walked over to the kitchen sink, turning her back to Tim and the others.
“Hi,” she said in a low voice.
“Hi. How’s everything going?”
“Great. We’re on a break. The boxes are all loaded and ready to go, and once the van shows up I’m out of here.”
“Listen, it looks like this meeting might go longer than I realized. I can’t tell you how bad I feel about letting you down.”
“Mel, please, we’ve got lots of people. You aren’t letting me down. There’s no reason to apologize. I understand.”
“I’ll come as soon as I can.”
“Yes, but take all the time you need with your clients.”
“Okay.” His voice was regretful. “I’ll see you later, then.” When she shut off her phone she could feel Tim’s eyes on her. She didn’t explain the call; it simply wasn’t his business.
Once they’d all headed over to the house and the moving van arrived, the rest of the morning passed in a blur of activity. While the two professional movers carried the furniture inside and set it in the various rooms according to Anne Marie’s instructions, Winter came over with lunch. The small work party sat on blankets spread out on the lawn and enjoyed their soup and sandwiches—croissants with tuna, smoked salmon and turkey fillings.
Tim brought Anne Marie a small container of cream of mushroom soup, which she refused. “No, thanks. Don’t have time.” She continued to direct the movers.
“Save it for later.”
“Okay.” She was hungry but she had more important things to deal with.
When the movers were finished, her friends unloaded the boxes, piling them in their designated rooms.
“Can Baxter come home now?” Ellen asked when they were done for the day.
Anne Marie phoned Alix and Jordan, who drove to the house with their infant son—and the dog—half an hour later.
“Baxter!” Ellen crouched down and held out her arms. The Yorkie didn’t need any encouragement; he ran toward Ellen at top speed, leaped into her waiting arms and licked her face frantically.
Soon the only volunteer left was Tim. Alix and Jordan went home. Brad had to take Cody to baseball practice and Casey wanted to be dropped off to spend time with Lydia’s mother at the assisted-living complex. The girl had grown close to her adoptive grandmother, which Anne Marie knew would benefit them both. Hector and Lillie had plans with his family that afternoon and Pierre had to go to work. Anne Marie thanked them all. She’d been blessed with generous friends. Exceptional friends.
Ellen had gone to her room; Tim lingered. “Anything you need me to do?” he asked.
She shook her head. She’d prefer it if Tim wasn’t around when Mel arrived.
“Baxter!” Ellen suddenly yelled.