Page 14 of Here Comes Santa Paws

Chapter 7

Elias

My phone buzzedon my desk as I finished scheduling next week’s social media posts for the upcoming pop-up adoption events. I smiled at the photo of Gramps wearing a pointy birthday hat and a goofy grin I had as his contact photo.

“Hey, Gramps. How are you feeling?”

“About ten percent cobalt-chrome.”

I chuckled, closed my laptop screen, and leaned back in my past-its-prime office chair.

“Have you eaten recently?” he asked with suspicion lacing his tone.

I snorted. “Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?”

“You think I’ll starve with Nancy on the case? She’s testing recipes on me. Lucky for me, everything she makes is delicious.”

I held back a question about how much time they were spending together because I didn’t want to ruin anything.

I’d been meaning to call Gramps all day, but hours had passed without my notice. Since handing out flyers at the tree lighting last night, we’d been slammed with drop-ins, calls, emails, and social media messages from people interested in fostering or adopting. Not to mention the donations rolling in. People even offered to volunteer, which I wouldn’t turndown. The extra pop-up events put a strain on our already thin volunteer roster. Despite my continuing struggle to find a contractor, I had genuine hope for the first time all week.

I felt terrible that I’d barely been able to do more than quickly drop in to check on Gramps over the past few days. I normally tried to eat dinner with him several times per week, but the festival and shelter damage had thrown off my routine big time. I’d barely managed to feed myself, let alone care for someone else. The only saving grace was knowing Gramps had a great network of people supporting him.

“How is everything going with the animals? Did you find a place for the one you’ve been worrying about?”

“Not yet. Actually, she’s staying in my guest room.”

“Poor thing. Tinsel and Nutcracker are probably driving her up a wall.” His tone was full of adoration.

I laughed. “I’m sure they are.”

“I could take her in.”

My heart melted at his offer, even though I couldn’t accept it. “Thanks, Gramps, but maybe when you’re recovered, we can find one for you to foster. I don’t want a dog to trip you while you’re still healing.”

I’d tossed out the idea a few times about him adopting a dog he could take out on walks and as a fishing buddy, but he’d always said he was too old. Even if he chose to foster a pet short-term, I knew it would be good for him.

“Yeah, yeah. But the offer stands.”

“I actually tried to get my neighbor to take her.”

“The Scrooge next door?” Gramps sounded surprised.

I told him about how Carol responded to Roman the other night.

“She wouldn’t take her eyes off Roman as he walked back to his place, then she tried to follow him.”

“Roman’s his name? Huh.”

I frowned. “Haven’t I mentioned it before?”

“You’ve just called him your neighbor.” Gramps hummed thoughtfully. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out, kiddo. You always do. Well, I’d better go. My physical therapist will be here soon, and I’m ready to rub it in his face that I’ve been doing my exercises.”

I let out a hearty laugh. “Check you out, listening to medical advice.”

“Don’t get smart with me. I wiped your ass when you were a kid.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “What does that have to do with anything?”

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