Page 39 of A Chance at Forever
*
Bud lay withhis head in Victoria’s lap, half in, half out of his cage in the vet’s office. His tail thumped as Rusty gently stroked him.
“He’s doing great,” the young vet tech informed them. “Bud’s eating and drinking, and his urine and stool samples look good. We’re keeping him one more day to make sure he doesn’t develop an infection. You can pick him up late tomorrow afternoon, Ms. Lockridge.”
“I’m so happy to hear that.”
“If you need help with him, I can leave practice early tomorrow,” Rusty offered.
“Thanks, but I can manage.”
They kept Bud company for another half hour before Rusty followed Victoria to her house in his truck. She tossed her keys on the coffee table and removed her sweater.
“Make yourself comfortable. I’m going to change my clothes. There’s beer in the fridge if you want one, or Coke or water.”
Upstairs in her bedroom, Victoria tingled with an excitement she couldn’t control as she exchanged her church clothes for an old pair of jeans and sweatshirt. A smile crossed her face as she recalled her friends’ stunned expressions when she rescued Rusty from a couple of mothers playing matchmaker for their daughters at church. Victoria hadn’t had time to explain her budding friendship with Rusty to Jonica and Mia. They had shot her curious looks, and she had mouthedI’ll tell you laterat them. Sitting shoulder to shoulder with Rusty during the service did funny things to her stomach and to her heart. Especially when he held her hand, much to their friends’ amusement.
Calm down. I can’t afford to lose my head or my heart over Rusty Sinclair.
Victoria joined him in the kitchen, and he handed her a bottle of water. “Thanks for setting the table.” The more time she spent with Rusty, the more he impressed her with his thoughtfulness. So unlike Alan, who never thought of anyone except himself. Thinking about how she’d been attracted to someone that selfish made her physically ill.
“You’re welcome. What’s in the slow cooker? It smells delicious.”
“Root beer pulled pork. I hope it tastes as good as it smells. I’ve never made it before.” Victoria reached into the refrigerator and removed a medium-sized bowl. “We’re having potato salad, too.”
“When did you have time to make potato salad?” Rusty took the bowl from her and set it on the table, along with a large spoon.
“I boiled the eggs and potatoes last night and whipped it up this morning after I put the pork roast in the slow cooker. Will you lift it out and put it on this plate?” She handed him two large, pronged forks.
He did as she asked, and she used the forks to pull apart the pork. Rusty found a package of hamburger buns and placed them on the table. He slid a chair out for Victoria, and she caught a whiff of his earthy aftershave. Its scent had teased her all morning at church.
Rusty heaped his plate with potato salad and filled a hamburger bun with the pulled pork. He took a bite.
“Well? Don’t be afraid to tell me if it’s horrible.”
He swallowed and grinned. “It’s delicious.”
She bit into her sandwich and savored the tender meat. “Oh, itisgood. For a moment I thought we’d have to order take-out.”
They ate in silence a few minutes before Victoria remarked, “Bud looked okay, didn’t he?”
“After what he went through yesterday, he looked better than I imagined. He’s young and strong. A real trooper.”
“I love him,” she confessed in a soft voice. “Taking care of Bud has kept me from wallowing in self-pity.”
“Don’t beat yourself up over Alan. Most people have a bad romance in their past.”
“Even you?”
“Yeah. Money and fame attract the wrong sort of women.”
After they ate and cleaned the kitchen, they went outside to take a brisk walk and sit on the dock with their feet dangling over the water.
When Rusty finished telling her another story about his sister and her family, Victoria observed, “You talk a lot about Rebecca and your niece and nephew, but you never mention your parents. I know you said they’re deceased, but what were they like?”
Rusty withdrew from her. Not physically but emotionally. She glanced up at his rugged profile and saw his emerald eyes fill with pain and sorrow. “Tori, I can’t talk about them. I will, one day, with you, but not now. You understand?”
“I do. I’m sorry for prying.”
