Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
“Haven’t we all?”
“Yes, but you don’t know how awful this town has been to him. Do you know his building has been vandalized four times since he hired me? And before that, who knows how many other times. People are making his transition to this town almost impossible. I’d be grumpy, too.”
That thought landed against my heart as I considered it. I couldn’t imagine what it was like being so unwelcome in town. Having your dream and then having people try to destroy it. Sure, he wasn’t the nicest guy to me, but could I blame him? He did step in my dog’s poop before the sun came up, and who knew what kind of jerks he’d crossed paths with the days prior.
“Think about Max over there. Remember when Max was in the dog shelter?” Tatiana asked, pointing toward the tiny toy poodle playing tug-a-war with Cocoa. “And how snappy and scared he was to everyone no matter what due to how his previous owners treated him? His trust was on high alert. That’s Alex. He’s on high alert. We just have to keep showing him kindness so he can put his shield down, like Max.”
“Are you saying Alex is a toy poodle?”
“Oh gosh, no. He’s a Doberman. Sharp and strong. But do you know what I think?”
“I’m sure you’ll tell me.”
“Every big dog is a tiny, scared puppy that wants to be loved.”
“I guess that makes sense…” I warily agreed. My heart and mind were at war with figuring out if Alex was authentically rude or just shaped that way by our townspeople.
“Yes. It does. Plus”—Tatiana drummed her hands against her thighs—“I have it on good authority that he has a crush on you.”
My eyes bugged out of my face as I started laughing my head off, tossing it backward in a snickering fit. “That man does not have a crush on me.” If anything, he had the opposite of a crush. He had a solid aversion when it came to me.
“Yes! He does! I know it for a fact.”
“Is that so?”
“It is.” She nodded. “He was asking me all about you the other day. I told him you were single, and he seemed interested.”
That made no sense to me at all. From our interactions with one another before, it was the opposite of that. That man did not like me. He could hardly stand me.
“No offense, Tatiana, but I think you’re wrong this time,” I said as I signed my name on the clipboard form and handed it back to her.
She shrugged. “I’m just saying. Keep your eyes peeled for that one. Alex is rough around the edges, but if you just take the time to look a little deeper, I think there’s a sweet guy who’s just been burned one too many times by others.”
Maybe.
“You know what you should do? As a peaceful welcome to town for him?” Tatiana asked. “You should make his water dish.”
I grimaced. “No. I don’t think I will.”
“What?! You have to. It’s a tradition your mom started, and it would be a shame if it went away. You’ve made them for every small business in our town. I think it would be a nice welcome to Honey Creek gift for him, to show that not all of us in town are awful.”
Ever since I was little, each store on Main Street had a handmade water dish for the community dogs that wandered the streets of Honey Creek. My mother was the one who made them and after she passed, I took on the task. Each bowl was made to match the shop it would be placed in front of.
I’d already made the one for Isla Iberia, but I’d talked myself out of giving it to Alex after our not-so-nice meetings.
Still, Tatiana was right. It was a tradition. I shouldn’t have let Alex’s bad attitude change how I moved. I made a dish for everyone. He shouldn’t have been the exception.
Before I could reply to Tatiana, I noticed Cole walking toward us. She looked up to see what I was staring at and unknowingly rolled her eyes the moment she noticed him.
“That’s my cue to go,” she said as she stood from the bench. “But keep in mind what I said about Alex. If anything, you should stop by for dinner one night with your sisters and try his menu. It’s all remarkable. I’ve never tasted anything as amazing as his food, Yara. You would love it. Your dad would, too.”
“Sounds good.” I smiled. “Thanks again for picking my shop for this year.”
She placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it. “If I could, I’d pick you for every year, Yara. But I don’t want to be called out for playing favorites.” She leaned in and whispered, “Even though you’re my favorite.”
As she stood straight, Cole stood right in front of her. He pushed out a small smile. “Good evening, Tatiana.”