Page 32 of Here Comes Santa Paws

“Doyou want to come with me? I could use some backup in there. I’m sure Elias’s dogs aren’tthatbad. They’re just eager. Like their owner.”

Carol’s ears twitched, but she didn’t open her eyes.

“I’ll take that as a no.”

The oven timer chimed, and I slid on mitts to remove the green bean casserole. While it cooled slightly, I turned the oven off and collected the drinks I’d picked up last night. Grocery stores werenotthe place to be the night before Thanksgiving. It reminded me of Black Friday at the electronics store I’d worked at in college. Instead of brawling over discount video game consoles and DVD players, it was elbowing over rolls and yams.

After turning the television from football to a nature show that Carol seemed to enjoy, I told her to have a good afternoon, gathered the food and drinks, and walked next door.

I shook my head at the Christmas decorations covering houses as far as I could see. There were few things in common between all the places I’d lived, but one similarity was that people didn’t put up outside Christmas decorations untilafterThanksgiving. In Christmas Falls, that was considered late.

I stared at the bushy wreath with a sparkly red ribbon, sprigs of berries, and a few too many pinecones on Elias’s door. He probably got off on making his own wreaths. The thought made me chuckle.

I inhaled deeply to settle my nerves before knocking with my elbow. Elias opened the door quickly. He looked great in a long-sleeved, black shirt and jeans that accentuated his long legs.

“Hi. This smells good.” His soulful gaze snagged mine, and I lost myself to his welcoming smile.

“How’s my medical torturer doing?” Jim’s voice saved me from drowning in Elias’s eyes.

“I made a casserole. Figured I’d torture your tastebuds today.”

Jim let out a hearty laugh. He was stationed on the couch with the dogs at his feet. I was surprised they didn’t run over to accost me like they had yesterday. Then I noticed the treats Jim was doling out and the grateful smile Elias shot him. Thoughtful of them to keep the dogs occupied while I settled in.

I nodded at the cat glowering at me. She tucked her face under her black paw and nestled farther into the cat tree basket. A kindred spirit. I followed Elias into the kitchen and handed him the bag of drinks.

“Your place is quite clean.”

Elias’s eyebrows shot toward his hairline. “Why do you sound surprised?”

“You have three pets.”

He tilted his head. “I also have a mop, vacuum, and a tub to bathe them in.” He leaned in. “They shit outside, you know,” he whispered before turning toward the oven. “Well, two of them do, anyway. I’ve still got at least half an hour on the turkey. I can put your casserole back in the oven to warm back up while I’m cutting the bird.”

I liked that he called me out on my bullshit. My favorite people did.

“What can I help with?”

Elias put me to work mashing potatoes. I’d made them a few times and added butter, milk, salt, and pepper, but Elias passed me cream cheese, shredded cheese, and garlic too.

I was mesmerized watching Elias glide around his compact kitchen, checking on the turkey, stirring the baked beans, wrapping rolls in foil, and pulling marshmallow yams from the microwave to jab with a fork. He was like a robot doing a dozen things at once while I continued to mash potatoes. I bet he operated with the same efficiency at the shelter.

Another reminder of how severely I’d underestimated him. A depressing thought flittered across my mind. How much time had I wasted that I could’ve known Elias? He could’ve been a friend in town over the past couple of years instead of me brushing him off as the annoyingly upbeat neighbor with too many animals.

I wouldn’t say I’d been lonely in Christmas Falls—I was comfortable on my own—but Elias was entertaining, vibrant, kind. I enjoyed his company as much as mine. I’d been looking forward to coming over all morning.

Jim kept the dogs busy while I attempted to help Elias finish preparing the food, which included chopping up white turkey meat for the animals.

He glanced at me over his shoulder. “I’ll make a doggy bag for Carol.”

Soon, everything was set out—dishes covered every inch of the minimal surface area, including a card table Elias had set up at the edge of the kitchen—and we piled our plates high.

I couldn’t help but watch how Jim moved. He’d brushed off Elias’s offer to fill his plate for him with an, “I had hip surgery.My arms aren’t broken.” Watching Jim’s movement when he wasn’t expecting it showed me he was progressing well.

Jim was first back to the living room and moved to claim the chair. He winked at me when I took a spot on the couch. His matchmaking efforts were already obnoxious when it was only the two of us. I hadn’t prepared for how bad he might be with Elias and me in the same room.

He talked constantly about Elias’s positive qualities during our sessions—as though I didn’t know how good of a man Elias was. That wasn’t the issue.Iwas the issue.

Elias came into the living room and rolled his eyes at Jim’s new spot in the chair. “Real subtle, Gramps.”

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