Page 36 of Tom's Chance
The lawyer sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair. He pinched the bridge of his nose, shook his head, and looked directly at Tom. “Hit me.”
“I’m not saying I won’t take them, I will, but I might not be able to.”
“Why not?” The lawyer demanded in confusion.
“The day of the fire, the Falco brothers saw my truck on the street, they stopped, told me what happened and before I could do anything, Lorissa Gibson took control.” He shook his head sadly. “That’s the day I was dealing with the woman named Melissa.”
“Shit, have you seen Rose and Baby since that day?”
“I have. Lorissa is a vet and farrier, she works for Erin Riceman out at Erin’s Way. Lorissa has a small, and I mean very small clinic set up at her house, but she was able to assess the situation and take care of Rose, Baby, and their litters. Lorissa has stressed the point that she wants to keep Rose and Baby for herself, and adopt the babies out when they are ready to leave the home. Currently, hergrandmother wants a puppy, and her mother wants a kitten.”
“Do you see them?”
“I do. It’s not official, but Lorissa and I have been on a date, and I really like her. I want to take our relationship to the level of dating first, then onto the exclusive level. We’ve just had life interfere lately.”
“I’m going to go out on a limb here for now. I don’t see why Ms. Gibson can’t keep Rose and Baby at her home. However, if the two of you break up, then you’re going to have to gain possession of them in order to fulfill the obligations of the will.” He held up his hand to stop Tom from talking. “I’m not talking about the money now. I’m talking about making sure Rose and Baby have a safe but permanent home. I remember when Mrs. Bickers left them to you. I asked why, and she said that she trusted them with you. I’m going to go by her wishes and see that it happens if you and Lorissa can’t make a go of if.”
“And if my relationship with Lorissa blossoms into something permanent and I move in with her, or ask her to marry me?”
“Then as long as you keep Rose and Baby, there shouldn’t be a problem.” He leaned over and opened a drawer in his desk and withdrew it to hand it over to Tom. “This is all of their records. I know there is nothing left of the house and the contents, but she asked me a few years ago to keep this with her will.She never trusted her husband, and I know you have their medical files at your office, but she had these to pass along with them.”
Tom took the file and didn’t bother to open it as he stood, shook the lawyer’s hand, and joked. “Guess I better go home and tell the little woman that we have two children in our lives now.” They laughed and Tom left. He stopped at the bakery on his way out of town and made sure he had Lorissa’s favorite muffin, and coffee. He didn’t know whether he had to soften her up or not. In his mind, Rose and Baby were fine where they were right now, and after the trauma they went through, he didn’t want to disrupt their quiet life they shared with Lorissa. He grinned to himself as he pictured asking Lorissa for visitation rights for them.
Tom pulled into Lorissa’s driveway, gathered the coffee, and treats he’d picked up for the two of them and headed toward her backdoor. When he heard metal on metal pounding, he turned and headed to her farrier shop. He paused several feet away and smiled when he saw Rose and Baby sitting several feet away, but had their eyes glued on the woman inside. They turned as one, and when they saw him, they jumped up and ran to him.
Tom set the treats down and gave the animals some love, then picked up the stuff he’d sat down and started forward. Lorissa was looking at him, and he didn’t know if he liked the feeling of being punchedin the heart when he saw her face glistening with sweat, her sexy body in her white, sleeveless tee, and her apron on. He didn’t have to look, because he already knew she wore jeans and cowboy boots on her feet. There was just something about Lorissa Gibson that told him she was the entire package, and that he would be stupid if he messed anything up between them ever again. With the resolve that he would do everything in his power to stay in her good graces, he held the bag holding the muffins higher, and looked at her with a grin.
“Can you take a break?”
“In about fifteen minutes.”
“Would it bother you if I watch?”
“Not at all, just stay back out of my way. I don’t want to club you with my hammer.”
“Got it,” Tom said, and found a large stump of wood, moved it over to where Rose and Baby had settled in and sat down to watch. The smoothness of her actions mesmerized him, so it took a couple of seconds to realize she stood before him.
“I’m done.”
“Oh, okay. Can we go into the house?”
“Yes, and please tell me you have at least one mixed berry muffin in that bag?” She looked at him hopefully as she took one of the coffees he offered her.
“I do.”
“Thank god,” she sighed as she sipped the coolingcoffee and turned to lead the way into the house. As she walked, she looked over her shoulder at Tom. “I’m glad you stopped by, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”
“Good, because I have some things to discuss with you, too.” They went in and Tom smiled when Rose and Baby immediately went to the kiddie pool Lorissa had set up to contain the puppies and kittens. He didn’t go inspect them, but he watched as they checked on them and settled down so they could nurse.
“Shouldn’t be long before they’re all weaned,” he observed.
“I know, that’s what I want to talk to you about.” She went to the sink, washed her hands, then turned with a questioning look. “Do you want a coffee mug?”
“Naw, this is fine,” he said as he picked up his own coffee and took a sip. “Don’t bother dirtying a cup for me.”
“Okay,” she said, and they settled at the table. Neither of them spoke as he passed out the muffins, and after eating almost all of it, she sighed and laughed. “Thank you, that hit the spot. I didn’t have breakfast, and I wanted to get those shoes done before I broke for lunch.”
“May I ask who they are for?”
