A flash of lightning lit the darkened porch, and a clap of thunder filled his ears. Kelsey folded her arms across her chest. Kurt got the feeling she wanted to touch him as much as a part of him wanted her to.
“I never would have guessed,” she said when the thunder quieted. The rain was coming in slanted, forcing them both to step back from the screen. “She looked so happy this morning. That’s good though, right? You said it’s not one of the bad types. Maybe she’s not that worried.”
“My mother’s never been one to worry about anything. Or at least she’s never been one to show it. It’s my grandfather who’s taking it hard, even if he denies it. I guess you wouldn’t expect any different, considering he lost his wife a couple months ago.”
Kelsey nodded sympathetically and folded her arms tighter over her chest after a strong blast of cold wind swept across the porch. “I don’t know if it helps, but several of our shelter volunteers are breast cancer survivors. I walk with them every summer in a breast-cancer-awareness walk downtown. I’m not trying to downplay it, but from what they say, massive strides have been made in breast cancer recovery the last ten or fifteen years. Where’s she getting treatment?”
“Siteman Cancer Center. Based on the conversation with the surgeon this morning, they’ve decided not to go through with a full mastectomy. Ten years ago, it probably would have been recommended. From what my grandfather said, a whole team of people made the recommendation, but today she only saw the surgeon. He recommended she have a lumpectomy followed by radiation. Based on the biopsy, it looks like she won’t need chemo. Thank God she won’t have to deal with that.”
Overhead, the rain that had been pounding on the roof of the porch abruptly slowed to gentle tapping, and the wind dropped as brusquely as it had begun.
“It’s not exactly the Hyatt, but now that you’ve fixed the stairs, the bedrooms are easily accessible,” Kelsey said. “If they don’t want to deal with that drive while she’s recuperating, I can ask Megan if it’d be okay if they stay here.”
“Thanks for the offer. They’re talking about renting a place close to the hospital, which would suit her better. As cool as she thought the house was, she freaks if she spots a spider indoors.” He shrugged, shaking his head. “I’m not kidding. It’s her thing. But don’t be surprised if my grandfather makes himself useful around here.”
“Then he’s good with dogs too?”
Kurt let out a small laugh. “No, for a reason I’ve never figured out, he’s kind of anti-pet. I meant with the house. He always says if he hadn’t stayed in the army, he’d have become a carpenter. He joined Habitat for Humanity when I was in high school because he’d run out of things to repair in our house. He’d have a heyday here.”
“Well, he certainly couldn’t hurt anything if you want to give him that tool belt of yours and free range of the house.”
“No, he couldn’t, could he?”
“It’d probably be good for him too, considering…” Kelsey said, her voice trailing off as she looked out to the west where the cloud cover was thinning and the setting sun was poking through. “Seems like it’s clearing. And we’re ahead of schedule. Maybe we could take an hour or two off. The dogs will be good for a while. Earlier, you said your trips with your family to St. Louis were mostly limited to the Arch, the zoo, and the City Museum. Those are amazing, of course, but there’s so much more to show you. We’re a city of fantastic little neighborhoods like this one here in South City. I could give you a tour of the area, and we could grab something to eat afterward.”
It was probably because of what he’d just shared, but she was offering to spend a considerable amount of time with him. Without the dogs. He needed to say no and send her home. Give her a night off. He could get lost in the dogs and the one-on-one training each one needed. If he accepted her offer, he’d be letting her in even more when he’d promised himself he wouldn’t. He was searching for a polite way to say no when an insanely close blast of lightning struck, reminding him that some of the biggest strikes were often at the tail end of a storm. Before the flash of brilliant white dissipated, the kitchen and hall lights visible through the windows went out simultaneously.
He huffed. “I guess there’s no working with the dogs in the dark, is there?” he said when the accompanying boom quieted.
“No, but with any luck, Hodak’s won’t have lost power. Since I’ve absolutely blown my diet this week, I might as well introduce you to the place. It’s the best fried chicken in the city, and it’s within walking distance.”
Kurt smiled, feeling the tension he’d been holding in since talking to his grandfather start to lift. “Somehow, you’re reading my mind. Fried chicken and thunderstorms were two of my biggest must-haves on coming home.”
She waved him off, smiling playfully. “You’re from the Midwest. Chances are slim that fried chicken wouldn’t be high on your list.”
“Probably so. Hey, I know it’s your tour and all, but are you good with taking the Mustang?”
Kelsey clicked her tongue. “This is going to be a walking tour, Staff Sergeant Crawford.”
“What happens if it storms again?”
She shrugged. “Then you’ll have to find us suitable cover. All those years of service, I’m betting you’re a real-life MacGyver. That was duct tape you were using earlier, after all.”
He laughed and savored the warmth filling
