Page 5 of Forever in the Country

Unsettled.

Still am most days.

But this property felt like a sign, and each time I’d visited I’d been more sure that this was the right thing for me. The right thing for this town and people like Tanner and me just looking for a little comfort on this side of civilian life.

Pulling the keys from my pocket, I unlock the door and hold it open for him and he steps inside without question.

Guess he’s over the serial killer vibes.

The building is surprisingly clean for sitting empty for the last several years. Dust covers every available surface and the floor, but any repairs will be strictly cosmetic.

“What is this place?” Tanner asks as he spins around. I can see the way he’s analyzing—assessing—much like I do on any given day.

“I have an idea,” I say with a swallow. “I want to open a shelter and training facility for dogs. The shelters down here are up to and over capacity with all the natural disasters that roll through here all the way to the Gulf.”

“Okay…”

“I want to name it Vetted Paws.” Tanner’s gaze lands on me, a flash of emotion before it’s gone again. “We’d be trained to handle the dogs, and could maybe take some specialized classes or bring in someone who could train some of them as therapy dogs.”

“And you want to do this together?”

I nod.

“Why?” he asks honestly.

“Because we’re still both looking for something we just can’t shake. It’s hard going back to this.” I wave my hand around. “I need something for me, and it finally feels like the right time.”

It was the most honest I’d been verbally, and while it was uncomfortable, I also felt a little lighter.

“Funding?”

I nod my head. “I have some tucked away. Inheritance and savings. Figured we’d ask Isla for a loan rather than going to the bank.” I smirk. “Also I like my nuts where they are, and I don’t like thinkin’ about what she’d do if she found out we’d kept her out of the loop.”

“I have some too,” he says with a tentative smile.

“I’m not looking at percentages, Tanner. If you want in, we do this together— partners. We make it work. I have a feeling you’re going to be better with paperwork and shit like that.”

“Is that an Air Force joke?”

I ignore him. “Also you’re better with people.”

“Youchoosenot to be good with people. That’s not the same thing.”

Shrugging, I look around the space. “I’m selective.”

“And you let my kid call you Uncle Wren,” Tanner says, and I feel the tips of my ears heat. “He talked all day about you picking him up from school last week and taking him to the park to throw a football.” Tanner lowers his voice. “Said Aunt Rhea was mad at you.”

I grunt and he laughs. “She knows I hate raisins.”

“What did you do this time?”

“Who knows,” I say but I know. I definitely fucking know why I’ll be getting oatmeal raisin cookies until I get my shit together.

Tanner’s expression says he doesn’t believe me, but he doesn’t press. “Anyway, thanks for being good to my kid.”

“I love kids and he’s awesome,” I say without thinking, and if Tanner is surprised he doesn’t show it, and I appreciate the hell out of him for that.

“Well, he loves you so it means a lot.” Clearing his throat, Tanner turns and points toward the open space. “Show me what you’re thinking.”

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