She smiled, her eyes bright with the memory. “No, you don’t. Nothing wrong with having educated taste buds where music is concerned. I loved my time living in Europe, seeing the ballet and attending the opera. It’s a shame I couldn’t take you as an adult, darling, but my health didn’t make that possible. I do love the time we spent together. Made up for me not having a family of my own.”
It wasn’t a surprise to him when the will was read and he’d inherited her house but along with that, came Oscar. David opened the door, quickly putting his foot out to stop the dog sneaking into the living room. “No, you don’t. You’re not getting another chance to chew on my leather lounge, you little rascal.” He bent down and patted Oscar, stroking the hair from his eyes. “I’ll take you for another walk after work. Now behave and don’t chew anything today. Try and leave something intact in the yard too, there’s a good boy.” The back door had a doggy door and the yard was fenced. It wouldn’t be a hardship for him to spend the time outside like a normal dog would but Oscar was more inclined to laze on the lounge taking a selective chew every now and then on the corner if David wasn’t looking.
He checked the living room was tidy before he picked up his car keys and shopping list and, with a second glance around the room, he let himself out of the house.
The drive to his office only took a few minutes. Cherry Lake was beautiful this time of year as the snowy mountain caps receded and the thaw gave way to new shoots of grass and leaves. The chill still hung around but only early in the morning and it was bracing to start the day that way.
He parked behind the two-story building that held his office and made a quiet note to have the yard tidied and the paths cleaned. The trees needed feeding and it wouldn’t hurt to add some color to the containers by the back entrance either. It was a wasted effort to do so in his own yard with Oscar being in the habit of digging up the plants. David walked in the back door and called out good morning to his receptionist and long-time friend, Monica. “Busy day ahead?”
“The usual.”
“Right. I’ll get my coffee and be back in five minutes.” David dropped his briefcase off in his office and turned on his computer before heading out.
He checked his Fitbit as he walked down the side street and came out onto the main road, crossing over with the break in the traffic. One benefit of having Oscar was the way it made him go running more often. Seven miles this morning and the dog hadn’t even faltered. For an animal that had never been more than a couch potato before, in the twelve months David’d had him, he’d outdone himself. The view over Flathead Lake never ceased to amaze him. The huge expanse of water rippled under the early morning sun. The boats had begun to come back after their winter hiatus and he noticed a seaplane landing, sending up a wave of spray behind it. And it was all his for the taking every morning. Made getting up earlier well worth the effort.
“David. Good morning.” An elderly couple waved as they did a fast walk along the main road on the lake side.
He lifted his hand and waved back. “Hello, Jean, Brian. Lovely morning for it.”
They nodded as they powered along.
He sidestepped a jogger with his dog, dripping in sweat from a long run. “Morning.”
The café came into view and the smell of coffee wafted out the door. His shoulders relaxed as he stood in line to place his order. The short dose of sun and the smell of his morning pick-me-up had the same effect every day.
“The usual, David?”
“Please.”
He gazed into the cake display case, seeing if anything would tempt him to add something to his order for morning coffee. Nothing new apart from a brownie that looked far too health conscious for his taste buds.
“That’s a new gluten-free brownie we’re trying. Loaded full of seeds and grains. Tastes amazing.” The barista handed over his coffee. “Can I get you a slice?”
“No, thanks. It looks too much like bird seed to me. I enjoy healthy but not into something like that.” He took the cup. “Thanks for this.”
Chapter Two
“That was an interesting call.” Mari sprayed the furniture polish on the balustrade and ran her polishing cloth over it, getting into all the nooks and crannies. “Not sure that was the right way to go about it, though.”
April slid her cell phone into the huge cavernous pocket of her flowing recycled cotton pants, relieved that call was over. “Sorry. I know I should have told him before I left town but you know what he’s like. He’d have done his best to try and change my mind. Probably have taken the keys to the VW off me given a chance.” April chewed on her thumbnail. “I don’t get the problem, really. I mean, him and Mom are talking about moving here and they didn’t ask my advice when they made that decision, nor do they expect to gain my permission. I’m a big girl now. Works both ways, you know.”
“Yes, I know but you have to realize it’s what parents are like.” Mari folded her arms.
