LITMIR.BIZ

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genes, she’d decided being a single mother was the way she would go. Even though she knew some people would not approve of her choice, she was determined to set her dream in motion.

      She had faith that God understood how she had longed for children and would provide when the time came.

      * * *

      Chase watched Vivian until she moved out of view toward the bookstore.

      “Pretty lady. Pretty lady,” Pepper chanted.

      “Yes, Pepper, she is pretty. Nice, too.” In the few months since Chase had arrived in Bygones and had opened the pet store, he’d enjoyed her visits to the shop. He liked seeing her walk in the door with her auburn hair swinging at her shoulders. An eager smile on her face and a smattering of cute freckles across her nose. A bounce in her step.

      She liked animals, too. Vivian gave Boyo a pat or Fluff a chuck under the chin as she strolled through the shop.

      And she was smart. Until the town of Bygones had come on hard times, she’d been a librarian. Which meant she sure had a lot more education than he did. He hadn’t dropped out of high school, but working a night shift at a warehouse in Wichita during his senior year had made his grades tank. He’d been grateful to graduate.

      He’d worked at the warehouse for nearly thirteen years until he had moved to Bygones for the chance to open a business of his own.

      Strolling to the back of the store, he joined the boys around the puppy pen. “Puppies need a lot of sleep, kids. Why don’t you let these guys rest now? You can come back tomorrow.” And bring your moms and dads along so you can talk them into adopting one of these lovable guys, he added silently. “Tell your folks we’ve got some cute puppies down here.”

      “I already have, Mr. Rollins,” one little boy with a missing front tooth piped up. “My mom said she didn’t want to clean up after a puppy.”

      Chase bent down to the boy’s level and looked him in the eye. “You can tell your mom that the animal shelter has dogs who need a home and are already housebroken.”

      “Really?” The boy’s eyes brightened.

      “Absolutely.”

      “Come on, Becker.” He tugged on a younger boy’s jacket. “We gotta get home ’n tell Mom.”

      The twosome plus the rest of the puppy lovers raced for the door.

      Chase smiled to himself. Maybe there’d be one fewer dog looking for a home at Happy Havens Animal Shelter by the weekend.

      He’d like that. A lot.

      And the chance to see Viv again.

      * * *

      When Vivian returned to the bookstore, Allison was helping Oliver Fibley, a regular customer, search on the computer for a new book about stamp collecting. Knowing he was such a devoted philatelist, Vivian imagined he already owned every book ever printed on the subject.

      “Hello, Mr. Fibley.” Her cheerful greeting caused him to lift his gaze from the computer screen.

      In his usual sweet way, he nodded and gave her a small smile.

      Vivian was anxious to tell Allison about Chase’s idea to use shelter dogs for their event, but she could wait until Mr. Fibley left. For now she’d keep herself busy by reshelving the books in the Kids’ Korner section, where children’s books were located. Just as it had been when she had worked in the library, she found young readers often didn’t return books to their proper place.

      She adjusted her casual calf-length skirt so she wouldn’t step on the hem and squatted down to reorder the books.

      A few minutes later, after seeing Mr. Fibley out, Allison joined Vivian in the children’s section. She sat down on one of the child-size chairs. Her pink T-shirt was stenciled with the slogan “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Aesop.”

      “So what did Chase think of our idea for Doggie Daze?” she asked.

      Crouched down in front of the lowest bookshelf, Vivian smiled at the name her boss had given their event. “He thought it was a great idea. He suggested we borrow a couple of dogs from the shelter.”

      “I hadn’t thought about that.” Surprise raised Allison’s nicely arched brows. “I was just thinking that he always has puppies in his shop. The kids go crazy for them.”

      “True. But Chase thinks the event will go better with older dogs who have some training.”

      “Good point. Then that’s what we’ll do.”

      “Sounds good to me.” Vivian shifted aside the books on the lowest shelf and slipped one into place.

      “Viv? You’re smiling.”

      “I smile most of the time, don’t I?”

      Allison eyed her curiously. “Of course you do. But it’s a different kind of smile. Did something happen at the pet shop?”

      “Not really.” She sat on her heels. “It’s just that...”

      “That what?” Allison pressed.

      “I think Chase was flirting with me. But it was probably my imagination.”

      “It was not your imagination. You’re a very attractive woman, and he’s a very nice man. And he’s single. He’d have to be blind not to notice you and be interested.”

      “Maybe.” Vivian pushed to her feet. “He doesn’t know I’m hoping to adopt a baby. When he finds out, he’ll probably lose interest in me in a hurry.”

      Allison’s jaw dropped. “Why on earth would he do that?”

      “Because in the past year, two guys I had been dating dropped me like an overdue book when I told them I couldn’t have children of my own.” The memory still had the power to sting and made her uneasy about mentioning to anyone her inability to reproduce.

      “Oh, honey.” Standing, Allison rested her hand on Vivian’s shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “Chase may not be like that. You can’t think that all men are like the two who dumped you. If he’s interested, you need to give him a chance.”

      ”It doesn’t seem right to keep something like that a secret.”

      “Well, yes, I suppose that’s true. But just because he flirted a little doesn’t mean you have to blurt it out right away or tell him you’ve applied to adopt a baby. You may find you don’t even like him.”

      If her reaction this morning was any sign, Vivian was pretty sure she’d like him a lot. She certainly felt a spark.

      “If Chase is the right man for you,” Allison continued, “he might be surprised about you adopting on your own. I know I was when you first told me. But I soon realized how much you want a family, and I’m all for it. The sooner, the better, right? I mean, I get to be Auntie Alli, don’t I?”

      Laughing at Allison’s sweet request, Vivian felt some of the tension leave her. “Absolutely!”

      “Good.” Allison glanced at her shiny new engagement ring and twisted it around her finger. “Meanwhile I get to work on being the best stepmother ever to Sam’s twins.”

      “I’m sure Rosie and Nicky already love you.”

      Vivian felt a twinge of envy. There had been a rash of engagements going on in Bygones lately. Just last Friday, Lily Farnsworth, who owned the flower shop next door to the bookstore, had married Tate Bronson, a local farmer and single dad. And now Allison was happily making plans for her wedding to the high school basketball coach.

      “I certainly hope they love me. I already adore them.” Allison patted Vivian’s shoulder again. “I’ll leave it to you to talk with the folks at the animal shelter. We’re going to need to put together a flyer about Doggie Daze to post around town and get an announcement in the Gazette.”

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