She was sure the whole city would be abuzz. The Red Birds were currently neck and neck with the Voyagers, their biggest rival, and only one more game—tomorrow’s—would decide who went to the playoffs. Without this season’s best hitter, it would be a harder game to win. But Mason wasn’t just a Red Birds player. He was a real person.
“We have his address,” Megan said, probably thinking the same thing. “Do you think we should send flowers? Or a card at least?”
Kelsey nodded. “Yeah, definitely.”
Megan closed her hands over her stomach absentmindedly and let out a long, slow breath. “Don’t you wish there were no accidents?”
Megan’s father had died in a highway crash when she was a kid. This was the kind of news she always took personally. Kelsey agreed as they resumed the honey pot assembly in a subdued mood. They’d known each other long enough that neither one tried to fill the silence with empty chatter as they absorbed the news.
As a single bee became four, all buzzing around them, Mr. Longtail hopped over the porch railing and onto the table. He planted himself in an open spot near the center. His tail twitched periodically, and his head moved in circles as he watched the bees.
Pepper, who Kelsey had brought along with Kurt’s okay, lifted her head from a doze to eye the cat before collapsing back onto the cool, brick porch floor. The Rottweiler’s belly was getting so round and full that Kelsey was counting the days until the house would be full of portly little puppies.
“Hey, isn’t that Rob’s van?” Megan asked, drawing Kelsey’s attention to the white commercial van heading past Ida’s house and pulling into the driveway next door. “You aren’t getting any more dogs, are you?”
“No. Maybe he’s stopping by for a visit.”
Kelsey wiped the back of her hand on a rag and watched from across the wide lawns as two people stepped from the van. Rob was indeed the driver. A woman about Kelsey’s age stepped down from the passenger side. Kelsey felt a rush of appreciation at how pretty she was. A brunette with long, wavy locks, dressed in a sweater, leggings, and tall boots, she was eye-catching without a doubt.
Rob didn’t have kids, but from here, the woman looked young enough to be his daughter. Kelsey was mulling over their connection to each other when she heard the front door of Sabrina’s house pull open, catching on the frame as always. Kurt stepped onto the porch, brushing dust off his jeans and grinning. It was a deep grin, one she’d only seen half a dozen times.
He’d made it to the top step when the girl broke into a jog. From this distance, it felt like a movie, watching the girl run across the lawn, up the steps, and into Kurt’s arms. Kelsey’s ribs locked in tight around her heart. She told herself it was the girl doing the running and the deeper part of the hugging. And besides, it was just a hug. Family hugged. Friends hugged. Everyone hugged. That’s not just a hug, Kels. She’s burying her face in his chest.
They’d stepped apart, and the girl was clearly brushing tears off her cheeks when Kelsey forced herself to look away.
She locked her attention on the pot in front of her and grabbed the funnel.
“Do you know who she is?” Megan asked quietly, carefully. Kelsey shook her head. She’d lifted one of the big jars and was about to start pouring when Megan added, “Looks like we’re about to.”
In her peripheral vision, Kelsey could see the trio headed their way. She was debating whether to act like she’d not seen what she’d seen when Pepper rolled up onto all fours. She let out a single but authoritative bark. Although Kelsey wasn’t worried too much about Pepper being territorial, she’d tied her long leash onto one of the table legs for such an occasion.
Gathering courage she wasn’t entirely sure she felt, Kelsey stood up and Megan followed. The girl, who was prettier and prettier the closer she got, walked in the middle of the group as they crossed the yards.
Whatever it is, it is, Kelsey determined, locking her shoulders and standing straight. Together, she and Megan headed down the brick steps to the stone path in front of them. Pepper let out a second ruff and wagged her tail, though she didn’t try to leave her spot by the table.
“Kurt tells us there are wedding bells in the air,” Rob called out by way of a greeting as they walked up.
Because it was the easiest thing to do, Kelsey kept her gaze locked on Rob.
“Kelsey, Megan, I’d like you to meet someone who gives Kurt a run for his money when it comes to her training ability,” Rob continued. “Ladies, this is Tess. She’s been living in Europe the last year or so and came home this week. These two kids traveled all over the Midwest with me when they were an awkward, gangly pair of adolescents, and while I’d like to think the credit for their talent is due to my tutorage, I know it’s not. Tess, this is Kelsey—she’s running the rehab with Kurt—and Megan, the shelter director I told you about.”
Megan smiled warmly and glanced Kelsey’s way in confirmation. “Nice to meet you, Tess. We’d shake your hand, but we’re both a mess of honey.”
Up close, it was clear Tess had in fact been crying. Her eyes were dry, but wetness still clung to her thick, long eyelashes, and the whites of her eyes were brushed with red blood vessels. As nicely dressed as Tess was, Kelsey would’ve expected her to be wearing makeup, but she didn’t seem to be. With lashes that thick, she didn’t need it.
Tess tucked a strand of dark-brown hair behind one ear. “That’s okay. It’s
