Page 51 of Wild Dreams

"Chance is a gentleman for offering to help you."

"I called him last night when it happened. I panicked, and he was the first person I thought would know what to do." Then my cheeks flamed because I was worried I'd admitted too much and shouldn't have said anything.

"Why not me?" Scarlett asked, offended.

"Do you know anything about dogs?" I asked, knowing she didn't. She'd spent the last few years traveling every few months, living out of motels and suitcases.

Scarlett pouted. "No. But I'm your best friend."

"I called because Chance is good in emergency situations, and I was panicking."

Pam patted my shoulder. "I'm glad he was there for you."

"He calmed me down and bought what we needed to induce vomiting. He even referred me to a vet that didn't mind seeing us the day before Thanksgiving."

Pam nodded. "My Chance is a good boy."

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "He's hardly a boy. You always said he was an angel when we were growing up."

Pam stilled. "I'm sorry if that bothered you. I shouldn't have said that. You're both my angels."

"You mean that?" Scarlett asked, her voice vulnerable.

I set aside the peeler and wiped my hands on a towel, feeling like I was intruding on a mother-daughter moment. Scarlett never thought her parents liked her. "I'm going to the bathroom. Be right back."

I took my time, then went to check on Oakley. Bart was sitting on the top step of the back porch. "Come sit by me. I haven't seen you in a while."

I sat next to him, and Oakley ran up to me, sniffing my fingers. "Are you being a good boy?"

"I'm glad to see you got a dog."

"Yeah, Chance convinced me." I stiffened. I was the worst at covering things up. I don't know why Chance thought I could pretend that nothing happened.

"Chance, huh? I could see him getting a dog too. But he said his hours are too long, and he doesn't have anyone who could help."

"That was my excuse too. I thought I would have met someone by now. That I'd have someone to help take a dog out, walk him."

Bart patted my knee. "You will yet, dear. You're young."

I smiled because I was sure I seemed young to him. But my biological clock was ticking, and I didn't want to be alone forever.

Bart shook his head. "I'm happy Scarlett's home and that she's in a relationship."

Pam and Bart had worried about Scarlett over the years. They never thought she'd move back home to live, much less fall in love with Eli. "You think Chance will be next?"

Bart shook his head. "He seems to think that the job isn't conducive to time for family."

"You did it." I pointed out.

"I know it was hard on Pam. She shielded most of it from the kids. But Chance has always been a sensitive child. Maybe he saw what we went through, and that's why he's reluctant to be in a relationship now. If so, I feel responsible for that."

"You can't blame yourself. You were a great dad." Bart was nothing like my parents. "You were there, even if you weren't at every meal."

Bart patted my hand. "You're a part of our family too. Just like Eli will be."

Maybe Chance was right. The risks were too great for us to get involved. Last night needed to stay a one-night kind of thing. And I needed to go forward with my plan to date someone else.

Bart stood and brushed off his pants. "I'm going inside to get a snack."

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