Read Online The Icing on the Cake by Rosemarie Naramore - Free Book Online

the house and into the kitchen.  He
pulled hot dogs from the refrigerator, and then placed all the necessary
condiments and non-perishables on the massive, granite-topped kitchen
island.    “We’ll bring everything outside to the picnic table in a minute,” he
mused, and then smiled her way.
    She watched him awkwardly.
    “So you know, I didn’t suggest your
mother sell the business.  We were simply having a conversation.”
    “About…?”
    He shrugged.  “I don’t know.  About
priorities, I guess.  About the pursuit of happiness…”  He gave another shrug. 
“I’m as surprised as you that it precipitated a change in your mother, but…” 
He raised a qualifying finger.  “She seems like she’s doing well now.”
    Kristine couldn’t deny that and realized
she should probably be thanking Joe for inspiring a change in her mother.  Her
mother was actually out of the house and seemingly enjoying herself for the
first time in a good long while.
    When she followed Joe out of the house,
she found Ruth engaged in a rousing game of fetch with Gracie.  The dog was
running in circles around her, eager for her to throw the ball.
    “You can do it, Grandma!” Devon shouted.
    Kristine couldn’t help smiling.  Her
mother seemed hopeful and alive for the first time in a long while.
    She turned and saw that Joe had fired up
the barbecue and was putting hot dogs on the grill.  The Williams had taken
chairs close by.  “Can we help?” Mary Williams asked.
    Joe shook his head.  “No, thank you. 
We’ve got it under control.  Relax,” he said, smiling.
    Mary began speaking.  “Joe, I didn’t
tell you.  I took your advice and went by the humane society.  I saw those
darling little poodle mix puppies…”
    “And…” he prompted with a smile.
    “And…” she said, returning his smile,
“we are now the proud owners of Suki, the runt of the litter.”
    “She’s a runt all right,” her husband
groused.  “She can fit in the palm of my hand.”
    “She’s adorable,” his wife gushed.
    “Mary, you know I’m a big dog kind of a
guy.”
    She scoffed.  “You should see this big
lug with his little Suki.  Wouldn’t you know, the little thing positively
adores Jim?  When he gets off work each evening, she’s the very first name he
calls out and that dog…”  She laughed at the memory.  “That dog is determined
to be in his arms.”
    “She loves me,” Jim said smugly.
    “And you love her!” she insisted with a
laugh.
    “What is it you do for a living?” Joe
asked with interest.
    “He’s a deputy sheriff,” Mary answered. 
“Big tough cop and his little chihuahua poodle mix…” she teased.
    Ruth overheard the latter part of the
conversation when she joined them.  “I’ve always been partial to small dogs,
but that Gracie…  She’s special.”
    Mary smiled.  “She is a sweet girl. 
According to the vet, she’s an adolescent, so be warned, Joe.”
    He chuckled.  “She’s doing great.  She
absolutely loves riding in my truck with me.  She’s well-mannered inside.  All
in all, she’s just a good girl.”  He directed his attention to the hot dogs for
a moment, moving them around the grill a bit for even cooking.  “I have enrolled her in a training course.  I think she would benefit from it.”
    “I’ll say,” Jim said drolly, and then
added smugly, “My little Suki, however, is already potty trained and can sit
and shake hands, er, paws.”
    Mary laughed.  “The kids are pleading
with us to go back to the Humane Society to get a second puppy.  They complain
constantly that Daddy stole their dog.”
    Joe chuckled.  “You might want a second
one.  Suki probably doesn’t take up a lot of space, and she would likely enjoy
a companion for those days she’s home alone.”
    “Jim, what did I tell you?” Mary said. 
“Joe is right.  Suki needs a friend, and the kids need a fair shot at time with their puppy,” she said, emphasizing the