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

word.
    Kristine sat quietly by, listening to
the exchange.  It occurred to her she might like a dog.  Unfortunately, she
didn’t have time for a dog, and she couldn’t very well keep one in the bakery. 
The Health Department might have something to say about that.
    “Krissy…?”
    She glanced up.  Joe was watching her
expectantly.  “Would you help me bring everything outside?”
    She rose.  “Sure”
    Ruth stood up, as well.  “Put me to
work,” she said.
    Kristine couldn’t believe the change in
her mother.  What had Joe said that had prompted such a turnaround?
    After the adults had set the picnic
table and carried out the food and beverages, the kids came running.  “I’m
hungry,” Devon said.
    “Me too,” the Williams’ middle son,
Pete, said.  About the same age as Devon, the two had hit it off right away,
particularly after discovering they attended the same elementary school.
    “Mom, we should have brought Suki with
us,” he said, as he sat down at the picnic table.  “I bet she misses us.”
    “You should have brought her
along,” Joe said.
    Mary looked to her husband and back to
him.  She winced.  “Well…”
    “What is it?” Joe asked, watching her
expectantly.
    “It didn’t occur to me to tell you when
I gave her to you, but Gracie doesn’t do very well with little dogs.”
    He cocked his head, surprised.  “She doesn’t
hurt them…?”
    “Not on purpose,” Mary said wanly.  “You
see, she’s kind of motherly.  When she encounters a tiny dog, she sort of lays
on top of him and somehow manages to wrap her paws around him.  Then she rolls
over on her back and…”
    “And?” he said, watching her with a
cautious alarm.
    “Well, she proceeds to soak him with her
tongue.  I believe she thinks she’s washing him, or is … maybe showing him
affection…”
    “But they don’t usually like it much,”
Pete cut in.   
    Joe appeared to consider their words. 
“I’ve never seen that particular behavior in a dog,” he said.  “I’ll have to
talk to the vet.”
    “Yeah, you’ll probably want to train it
out of her.”  Jim laughed.  “Until you do, my perfect little Suki will not be
spending time with Gracie.”
    “Jim!” Mary cried, and socked him in the
arm.
    “I’m hungry,” the youngest of the
Williams’ children announced.  The little girl, about three, began pounding on
the tabletop.  “Hot dog!  Gimme a hot dog!”
    “Alyssa!” her mother scolded.  “Where
are your manners?”
    Joe obliged the little girl and passed
her a hot dog.  Soon, the whole group found seats.  In addition to the hot
dogs, Joe grilled a couple steaks for the adults.  A green salad, potato salad,
and fresh fruit rounded out the spread.  For dessert, he brought out a platter
of cupcakes from Branton’s Bakery.
    “When did you get these?” Kristine
asked. 
    “Yesterday,” he answered.
    “I didn’t see you come in.”
    “You were out back,” he informed.
    She nodded, wondering why he hadn’t
asked for her, but then, why would he?  The last time, she hadn’t been
particularly accommodating.
    As he tended to his guests, she watched
him furtively.  It was kind of him to invite the Williams out to see Gracie and
the wonderful dog run he’d built for her.  The dog was clearly happy with him,
as evidenced by the fact that she was currently curled up at his feet.  Unlike
most dogs, she wasn’t begging for a morsel, perhaps because he had given her a
bowl of dog food.  Apparently he didn’t want her feeling left out.
    “I wish Lori was here,” her mother
said.  “I know she’d be thrilled to see you again, Joe.”
    He only nodded in reply, though his eyes
lit on Kristine.  She met his gaze and both held the visual contact.  Kristine
was first to look away.
    “It would be nice to see Lori,” Joe said
distractedly, as he turned his attention back to his guests.

Chapter Seven
     
    “Thank you so much for having us, Joe,”
Mary said.  “We