Read Online Christmas in Cupid Falls by Holly Jacobs - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Holly Jacobs
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urge to sigh. “It’s all right, Clarence.”
“It most certainly is not all right,” May Williams said as she stormed into the shop. “I went for a walk this morning, and no one had shoveled.”
“May, if you’d waited even an hour, most people would have shoveled.”
“I’m accustomed to walking early. Even though June died, I still enjoy those early morning walks.”
With a burst of insight, Kennedy realized that May had become a huge pain in her butt late last spring, right about the time the aging dog, June, had passed. May was probably lonely.
The bell rang again.
This was not what Kennedy needed. She had a bajillion orders to fill, calls to make, an d . . .
Malcolm walked in. “Good morning, Mayor.”
She remembered her resolve and forced a cordial smile and said, “Good morning, Malcolm.”
“You don’t need to walk that early,” Clarence said loudly to May. “There’s no dog whining to get out, so you could wait until a man had a chance to put on his pants and make his coffee.”
Kennedy saw May’s eyes well up with tears.
Before she started to cry in earnest, Kennedy turned her back on Malcolm and said, “May, let’s make a deal. I’ll have Clarence talk to the neighbors and ask that everyone has their sidewalks cleared by eight thirty. Most of your neighbors are up by then and already on their way to work. On snowy mornings, you’ll hold off your walk until then.”
Any fight the older woman had seemed to drain out of her at the mention of her dog. “Fine,” she said, without the slightest bit of humph in her voice.
Kennedy knew she was right about May’s behavior having to do with losing June.
Clarence seemed to realize he’d gone too far with the mention of May’s dog, because he said quietly, “I’m sorry about June, May.”
May sniffed.
Kennedy said, “I’m sorry, too. I know that you can never replace June, but we have that nonprofit organization, Everything But a Dog, coming to town right before Christmas. Vancy Salo has been working in Erie with dog adoptions. She’s bringing a bunch of animals with her. Why don’t you think about adopting a dog? It would be a lovely Christmas present for yourself.”
May sniffed. “I’m not sure I’m ready. I had June for fifteen years. How can you simply replace a companion like that?”
“June had a wonderful life,” Kennedy said. “I remember all the sweaters you made him. He was so loved. If you won’t do it for yourself, think about a dog that’s been abandoned. A dog that’s never had a family and known that kind of devotion. Maybe you could do it for the dog?”
May Williams—griping, nagging, annoying May Williams—sniffled, and Kennedy found herself putting an arm over the older lady’s shoulders. “You’d be saving some dog’s life, May.”
“When you put it that way, it would be the right thing to do.”
“It would,” Kennedy agreed. “And I have a favor. I hate to ask, you know that, but I could go into labor any minute. I really need a team who’s able to step in and fill in for me if I do.”
May nodded and said, “What can I do?”
“Do you think you could help us out with the adoption day? I know that the ladies at Everything But a Dog would love to have someone local working with them. They’ve had adoption days all over Erie, but this will be the first one in the county. And if I should go into labor, I’d need to count on you to handle everything.” She leaned closer and whispered in May’s ear, “Malcolm might be an amazing attorney, but he won’t be able to handle an event like this on his own.”
Tears forgotten, May smiled and sounded genuinely happy as she said, “Why, Kennedy, I’d love to help.”
“Wonderful. I’ll get you Mrs. Salo’s number. She’ll tell you to call her Nana Vancy. Everyone, even her kids, uses that name.”
Crotchety, complaining May Williams laughed. “Well, that’s a lovely name.”
Clarence said, “After you talk to this Nana
“It most certainly is not all right,” May Williams said as she stormed into the shop. “I went for a walk this morning, and no one had shoveled.”
“May, if you’d waited even an hour, most people would have shoveled.”
“I’m accustomed to walking early. Even though June died, I still enjoy those early morning walks.”
With a burst of insight, Kennedy realized that May had become a huge pain in her butt late last spring, right about the time the aging dog, June, had passed. May was probably lonely.
The bell rang again.
This was not what Kennedy needed. She had a bajillion orders to fill, calls to make, an d . . .
Malcolm walked in. “Good morning, Mayor.”
She remembered her resolve and forced a cordial smile and said, “Good morning, Malcolm.”
“You don’t need to walk that early,” Clarence said loudly to May. “There’s no dog whining to get out, so you could wait until a man had a chance to put on his pants and make his coffee.”
Kennedy saw May’s eyes well up with tears.
Before she started to cry in earnest, Kennedy turned her back on Malcolm and said, “May, let’s make a deal. I’ll have Clarence talk to the neighbors and ask that everyone has their sidewalks cleared by eight thirty. Most of your neighbors are up by then and already on their way to work. On snowy mornings, you’ll hold off your walk until then.”
Any fight the older woman had seemed to drain out of her at the mention of her dog. “Fine,” she said, without the slightest bit of humph in her voice.
Kennedy knew she was right about May’s behavior having to do with losing June.
Clarence seemed to realize he’d gone too far with the mention of May’s dog, because he said quietly, “I’m sorry about June, May.”
May sniffed.
Kennedy said, “I’m sorry, too. I know that you can never replace June, but we have that nonprofit organization, Everything But a Dog, coming to town right before Christmas. Vancy Salo has been working in Erie with dog adoptions. She’s bringing a bunch of animals with her. Why don’t you think about adopting a dog? It would be a lovely Christmas present for yourself.”
May sniffed. “I’m not sure I’m ready. I had June for fifteen years. How can you simply replace a companion like that?”
“June had a wonderful life,” Kennedy said. “I remember all the sweaters you made him. He was so loved. If you won’t do it for yourself, think about a dog that’s been abandoned. A dog that’s never had a family and known that kind of devotion. Maybe you could do it for the dog?”
May Williams—griping, nagging, annoying May Williams—sniffled, and Kennedy found herself putting an arm over the older lady’s shoulders. “You’d be saving some dog’s life, May.”
“When you put it that way, it would be the right thing to do.”
“It would,” Kennedy agreed. “And I have a favor. I hate to ask, you know that, but I could go into labor any minute. I really need a team who’s able to step in and fill in for me if I do.”
May nodded and said, “What can I do?”
“Do you think you could help us out with the adoption day? I know that the ladies at Everything But a Dog would love to have someone local working with them. They’ve had adoption days all over Erie, but this will be the first one in the county. And if I should go into labor, I’d need to count on you to handle everything.” She leaned closer and whispered in May’s ear, “Malcolm might be an amazing attorney, but he won’t be able to handle an event like this on his own.”
Tears forgotten, May smiled and sounded genuinely happy as she said, “Why, Kennedy, I’d love to help.”
“Wonderful. I’ll get you Mrs. Salo’s number. She’ll tell you to call her Nana Vancy. Everyone, even her kids, uses that name.”
Crotchety, complaining May Williams laughed. “Well, that’s a lovely name.”
Clarence said, “After you talk to this Nana
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