Read Online Forever After by Deborah Raney - Free Book Online Page A

emotion.
    How could Lucas’s mother say God was good after all they’d been through? Jenna cleared her throat. “Does Lucas happen to be home? Could I speak to him?”
    “Sure, hang on a minute. He’s here somewhere. It’s nice to talk to you. We’ve missed seeing you at Susan’s.”
    Bryn had told her about the other wives—and Garrett—gathering at Susan Marlowe’s house in the months after the tragedy. The group had raised money to get the new shelter opened as a memorial to the fallen firefighters. Jenna had never taken part, despite repeated invitations from Susan. Back then she’d only wanted to put the tragedy behind her. More than that, she hadn’t wanted to risk being exposed as the fraud of a widow she was to Zach.
    “Oh, here’s Lucas now. Luc, it’s for you.” Emily’s stage whisper carried over the line. “It’s Zach Morgan’s wife.”
    Jenna cringed, but a moment later Lucas was on the line, his voice deep and matter-of-fact. “This is Luc.”
    “Lucas? Hi … It’s Jenna Morgan.”
    “Hey, Jenna.”
    “I’m calling because I thought you might be able to help me with something.”
    “Well, if I knew what the something was, I just might.” His voice held the teasing smile she remembered from the other night.
    She relaxed a little. “This might sound strange, but I’m calling about a dog. A Labrador Retriever.” She explained how Sparky had ferreted out the gasoline at the shelter. “According to Bryn, he went straight for it like he’d been trained as an arson dog. It’s happened at least twice now.”
    “Do you think he is trained?”
    “No … Bryn said he was just a puppy when Charlie got him, and she—or her dad—has cared for Sparky since the fire. But she needs to find a home for him. She’s getting married in a few months, which is why I’m calling. Garrett already has a dog. …” She paused for a minute, and the silence on the line made her wonder if they’d been cut off.
    But then he sighed. “I’m not sure … how you think I can help.”
    She could almost see his thick black eyebrows knit in question.
    “Zach mentioned once that the fire department had entertained the idea of working with accelerant detection dogs. I have no clue how that even works, but Bryn and I got to talking and we wondered if maybe someone there would be willing to take Sparky … maybe with the idea of training him. To be an arson dog …” she finished lamely.
    An uncomfortable silence filled the line. Finally Lucas cleared his throat. “I’m not back to work yet. You knew that, right?”
    “Yes. But that—that’s sort of why we thought of you. But maybe you don’t have time for something like this. I just thought since—”
    He gave a low grunt. “Pop had dogs when we were kids, but they were hunting dogs. I wouldn’t know how to teach a dog to sit and stay, let alone train one for accelerant detection. I’m sure there’s a science to it.”
    She cleared her throat. “Actually, Bryn says he’s already got the sit-and-stay stuff down. Her dad has been working with him a little.” She could almost hear him scrambling for a way to extricate himself from her proposal.
    “I suppose I could talk to someone at the station. I’m not sure who would handle that, but I guess we’ll find out.”
    “Oh, that would be great. Thanks, Lucas.” She tried not to sound as surprised as she felt, and before she lost her nerve added, “Would it be all right if I bring Sparky by sometime? So you can meet him?”
    “I guess that’d be okay. When were you thinking?”
    “What works best for you? I’m sure you have plans for Thanksgiving, and I’m moving this weekend anyway, but I could do it about anytime the following week. Oh, Bryn will be so relieved!”
    “Hang on a minute—I haven’t agreed to anything yet.”
    She inhaled sharply, then giggled. “I know. Sorry. Didn’t mean to make you nervous.”
    He echoed her laughter. “You did have me a little worried there. Tell