“I wanted to do this for Sean.”
“Why?”
“I can remember my first dog when I was growing up. Lady was so special to me. I want Sean to experience that.”
“But—”
Joshua held up his hand to stop her protest. “If you saw my house and the animals I have, you wouldn’t say anything. I don’t need to take on another pet.”
“How many do you have?”
“Three dogs besides Arnold, two cats, a rabbit and an aquarium full of fish.”
“Don’t tell Sean. He’ll be begging to come over.”
“I’ve never bought one of those animals. Either people give them to me because they don’t want them anymore or they are left in my yard.”
He was a large, muscular man in a dangerous profession, but underneath everything he was a softie, taking in strays. There had been times when married to Clay that she’d felt like a stray, wandering from city to city looking for a permanent home. She was glad now that she and Sean had one in Panama City. This spring had been the beginning of their second year there.
Sean stood at the door to the fire station, waiting for them. He hopped from one foot to the other. “Come on, Mom,” he finally shouted when he couldn’t contain his impatience any longer.
“Do you want me to tell him about the puppy now?” Joshua said in a low voice.
“You might wait until later or he’ll want you to leave your job and show him the puppy.”
“I’m off on Sunday. How about after church? We can leave after the eleven o’clock service, pick up something to eat for lunch, then go to Ned’s. Sean can pick out the puppy he wants.”
Darcy didn’t say anything for a few seconds. She’d made plans to start going to church again with Lizzy. She’d gotten out of the habit when married to Clay. They had moved so often it had become difficult to find a place to worship where she was comfortable—at least, that was the excuse she’d given herself over the years.
“I’m sorry. I’m assuming you’ll be going to church while you’re home. I can meet you at Ned’s place if you want.”
“No. Lizzy mentioned something to me the other day.”
“You can come with Lizzy, and then I can bring you and Sean home later. I should have the results back from the lab by then and I promised your father a report on what I found.”
Sean danced around. “Mom! I’ve got to go.”
Joshua chuckled. “I guess we’d better get inside.”
“It was that pop he drank on the way into town.”
Joshua reached around Sean and pulled the door open. “The rest room is down the hall on the left.”
Her son shot down the corridor and disappeared into the bathroom. They waited by the entrance until he came out into the hall. He headed straight for them with determination on his face.
“Where’s Arnold?”
“Probably watching TV.”
“He watches TV?”
“Yep, I’m afraid so. Nasty habit he’s gotten into. The last time I saw him he was in the living area in front of the set.” Joshua gestured to the right.
Sean darted ahead of them into a large room with several couches and chair. A table that sat twelve was off to one side in a spacious kitchen of gleaming stainless steel. Arnold was where Joshua had left him, perched before the big-screen television set, his head resting on his front paws.
“He really does watch TV,” Darcy said in astonishment.
While Sean kneeled next to the black Lab, Joshua chuckled. “Like I said, a really nasty habit he developed. He likes the noise, and when a dog appears he begins to bark, which doesn’t always sit well with the other guys who are trying to watch the show.”
“What does he do when a cat appears?” Darcy watched her son rub the length of Arnold’s back, then bury his face in his fur.
The dog rolled over, his tail wagging.
“He loves cats. His best buddy is Ringo, a white male cat that found me about two years ago and adopted us. When we’re at home, they are usually inseparable.”
“Hasn’t Arnold heard a cat is a dog’s enemy?”
“Apparently not.”
An older man came into the room, Joshua introduced him to Darcy and Sean as his captain. When he left, another man, younger, entered and waved at Darcy.
“Joshua said something about you and your son coming to visit this morning.” Glen hugged her. “I haven’t seen you since right after high school graduation.”
“We went to school together since kindergarten,” Darcy said to Joshua, then turned back to Glen. “I heard you married your high school sweetheart.”
“Nancy and I will have been married ten years come this July. How’s your father doing? I’m sorry about the fire at the farm.”
“He’s the same. Thinks he can single-handedly do everything around the farm.”
“That sounds like Shamus. Well, it’s my turn to make lunch so I’d better get going before I have seven guys breathing down my neck.” Glen made his way into the kitchen area and opened the refrigerator.
“Sean, would you like to go on a tour of the station?” Joshua asked.
Her son glanced up. “Can Arnold come too?”
“Sure, if you can get him to move from the TV set.”
Sean leaped to his feet and patted his leg. “Come on, Arnold.”
The black Lab lumbered to his feet and nudged Sean’s hand so he would continue rubbing him behind the ear.
“I think your son has a gift with animals.”
Darcy thought of all the times Sean had wanted a pet and Clay had refused to let him. She thought of how her son had taken to the farm as though he’d grown up there, doing chores, helping take care of the horses and other animals. Her throat closed. She should have brought Sean to the farm sooner. For her son’s sake, she should have put her past with her father behind her. It had taken a crisis with her father to get her back home. But the minute she had stepped on Shamrock land, all her insecurities, doubts and guilt had flooded her, as though she’d never left ten years ago.
“Wait up, Darcy.”
Darcy turned to see her best friend from high school hurrying toward her from the back of the church. For a few seconds she lost Jesse Bradshaw in the crowd, which was not unusual since her friend was only five feet tall. Darcy stepped to the side to allow the other parishioners to pass while she waited.
“I should berate you, Darcy O’Brien, for not coming by to see me, but I know you’ve had your hands full with your father’s illness and the fire. I’m sorry.” Jesse Bradshaw hugged Darcy. “I’m missed you.” She pulled back to get a good look at Darcy. “You haven’t changed a bit.”
Darcy laughed. “I’ve missed you, Jesse, and you have changed.” Her friend had lost twenty or so pounds, and her long brown hair was now short and feathered about her pixie-like features. The only thing the same was her green eyes—clear and sparkling with humor. Darcy turned to the side. “This is my son, Sean.”
Shaking Sean’s hand, Jesse said, “My son, Nate, is around here somewhere. You two will have to get together. Darcy, I’ll call you this week. Let’s get together for lunch. I want to know everything