Page 12 of The Love Shack

“I started with the dawn, but didn’t think the noise would disturb anyone, since I didn’t know anyone else was around.”

“The shelter is on the other side of the woods, with my house next to it.” She walked over to look through the window facing his side yard. He knew she’d see his clothesline there, along with the laundry he’d hung out last night. “I’d been just about finished with chores and anxious for some breakfast when we heard your chain saw. Now I need sustenance to think clearly.”

He’d offer her something, but he wasn’t even sure what he had in the way of breakfast food.

“Finding you here...” She hesitated, then finally faced him, her manner once again guarded. “I mean, both of us being in Cemetery is shock enough. But neighbors? That seems like a really sucky twist of fate, don’t you think?”

3

Berkley hated feeling guilty, but for an entire week, the awful emotion had gnawed at her.

What she’d said to Lawson had most definitely sounded like an insult.Sucky twist of fate.Yeah, how else was he supposed to take it?

She hadn’t meant it to be mean, but after she’d made a fast exit with the excuse that she needed to get back to work—which hadn’t been a lie—and without even thanking him for the tour of his house, she could only imagine what he thought of her.

Since then, she’d avoided seeing him.

Thinking about him? That she couldn’t avoid. It was worse at night when she could hear a million crickets chirping in the woods behind her house, when stars covered the sky and the scent of the lake filled the air.

She knew Lawson was experiencing all those same things. Probably enjoying them just as much, too.

What would it be like to share?

No.Giving her a head a shake, she reminded herself that she’d been down that stupid road once before and was permanently marred because of it.

Never again.

Midday, one of her two part-time workers, Whitley Teeter, a bubbly, sweet twenty-two-year-old woman who loved animals and possessed infinite patience, arrived to exercise the dogs. Earlier in the week, she and Whitley had cautiously introduced the newly arrived animals to each other to ensure there wouldn’t be any conflicts. Most got along great with zero issues, but there seemed to be some natural pairings taking place. Like friends choosing besties.

Using a few of the enclosed runs out back, they allowed the dogs a chance to frolic in the grass and chase balls and bark happily at each other. Berkley was overseeing that when Betty showed up.

She would never get used to seeing little Betty Cemetery, a spry eighty-seven-year-old, climbing from her car. That seemed to be the woman’s most difficult part of driving—getting in and out. Perhaps her legs weren’t as flexible as they’d once been, but otherwise she did great.

Wearing a loose, flowery dress and carrying a clutch purse, Betty smiled at the animals as she made her way over to Berkley. “Oh, how I love seeing this. Indeed I do. Such a grand idea to get our own shelter. Someday we may need to expand it, even. Every dog and cat should have a loving temporary home until they find their family.”

See? That was why Berkley adored the woman. “My mother would have cheered you on. She loved animals, too.” On impulse, she embraced Betty, giving the elder a snug but careful hug that left her flustered.

“Yes. Your mother.” She smoothed her short, gray hair even though not a single strand was out of place. “Sounds like a lovely woman.”

“She was.” Why had she mentioned her mother now, though? Perhaps that visit a week ago with Lawson was still dredging up memories. “She was ill for a lot of years.” Too many. “But we had an older dog who remained her companion right up to the end. They were practically inseparable.”

Betty’s gaze softened. “When did she pass away?”

“I was not quite nineteen.” Berkley often wondered if the stress she had inadvertently caused her mother was the final straw. Drawing a breath, she looked out at Whitley as she ran along with the dogs, playing. “Our rooms were close together. Her dog, Baby, scratched at my door, and of course I knew.” She could still recall being jerked awake, her heart drumming in dread, and then discovering that the inevitable had finally happened.

Her mother had suffered as she’d faded, but Berkley had selfishly prayed anyway, prayed as she’d stumbled from the bed, as she’d run with Baby to her mother’s room. Prayed as she’d tried to revive her mother...

Tears burned her throat, and it infuriated her. She shouldn’t still be this weepy about it.

“Anyway,” Berkley said, ignoring the scratch in her voice. “Baby lived for another year, but he grieved, maybe as much as I did. We consoled each other, and I’ll always be grateful that my mother had him.”

“And that you had him.”

Berkley nodded. That little dog had saved her from sinking into despair. “Caring for him had kept me going.” Even when she’d wanted to give up. “After he passed away, I knew what I wanted to do.”

“Continue caring for animals,” Betty said with quiet conviction.

“They deserve it.” And Berkley liked to think that she deserved the love they returned so freely.

---