“Yes. I swapped it for a vacation cabin I built in Montana. Old man Crocker decided he wanted to go fishing as much as possible after he retired. They have a small condo in San Diego to escape the winters. I palled around with their son, Ryan. Do you remember him?”
“Ryan! Oh, my gosh, yes. We were in the same class at Spring Grove High. He got married last year. I think he manages the Ace Hardware store Simi Valley.”
“He owns it. I give him a lot of business.”
Dwayne set a bowl of salad in the center of the table and put three different bottles of dressing next to it. Amber skipped into the kitchen with Marla’s mouse in her wake.
“Sit down, sweetheart. Do you want milk or lemonade?”
“Milk.” She turned her gaze to Marla. “Can Skipper have some?”
“Afraid not, honey. I’ll give him his regular food and put a spoonful of macaroni on top. That way he’ll think he’s getting the same thing we are. Dwayne, do you have a small bowl or saucer I can put some kibble in?”
He took a sauce dish from the cupboard. “Here you go.”
Marla dumped the contents of a plastic snack bag in the bowl. When Dwayne set the steaming casserole on the table he dropped a spoonful on top the kibble.
“Better let it cool a minute.”
Marla took a deep, appreciative sniff of the macaroni. “No kidding. It smells so good he’d wolf it right down the minute I set it on the floor.”
The minute he sat, Amber said, “I get to say grace.”
“Hey, it’s my turn.”
“You can have two turns in a row.”
“Promise?”
She clasped her hands and bowed her head. “Thank you for Daddy’s good macaroni and cheese, God, and please tell him to get me a new mom and especially a dog. Amen.”
Dwayne and Marla eyed each other and smiled. He winked and ruffled Amber’s hair. “You’ll have a dog one of these days. I promise. Soon as you’re old enough to take responsibility.”
Amber dropped her cheeks to her fists. “You always say that.”
“Elbows off the table, miss.” Dwayne dished up a portion of the macaroni for her and added a spoonful of salad. “Eat all your salad and I’ll let you have ice cream for dessert.”
She pulled a long face and stuck out her tongue. “Yucky. It’s green.”
He turned to Marla. “As you may have guessed, Amber has taken a dislike to anything green.”
“Charlene’s the same way. Except for greenbacks.”
He loved her quick retorts. She laced her comments with a tinge of sarcasm, but they never smacked of meanness. Maybe one of these days they could have a real conversation. She just needed to relax.
He’d ease off on the teasing. He hadn’t understood before Friday night how she had misinterpreted his remarks. While he’d been clumsy but sincere, she’d thought he was poking fun at her. That would stop as of now.
He extended a warning hand. “Amber, that’s hot. You’d better blow on it first.” Dwayne blew on his macaroni.
Marla blew on hers. Then she blew on the dog’s dish and tested the noodles with her finger. “Oh boy, Skip. You’re in for a treat.” She set the dish on the floor between her and Amber. “Watch how fast this disappears.”
Amber giggled when the treat was gone the instant Marla set it down. “He’s a little pig, isn’t he?”
“True. If he could get to his food without my help, I don’t think he’d stop eating until his little pot belly dragged the floor.”
She looked at Dwayne. “Oh, I almost forgot to ask you. Who are the men you have working today?”
“What?”
“The two men loading a truck. I saw them when we were on our way to my house and back here, but I didn’t recognize them.”
He leaped from the table so fast the dishes rattled, and his chair teetered. He grabbed his cell phone off the counter and punched a couple of keys. “Pick up, pick up! Cluny? Dwayne. Get your ass over to the jobsite. Sure, bring them. Yes, double time. I’ll meet you there.”
Marla had a hand on her chest. “What’s the…?”
Snatching his wallet and keys, he headed for the front door.
“Dempsey!”
“Stay here!”
She jumped to her feet. “If you think I…”
“I said stay here, dammit!” He slammed out the door.
Stunned, Marla slumped back in her chair with a thump. Her heart clenched. Something was very wrong at the jobsite. Who did he think he was yelling and ordering her around? When Skipper leaped into her lap, she gasped and realized she’d been holding her breath.
A shaky voice interrupted her fury. “Daddy said bad words.”
The child stood by her chair, knees wobbling, face twisted with worry. Golden brown eyes swam with unshed tears.
Marla’s stomach clenched for the poor kid. She shooed Skipper away and lifted Amber onto her lap. “It’s okay, honey. Don’t worry about your daddy. I’ll be here until he gets back.”
“Daddy never says bad words unless it’s rilly rilly serious.”
Expressing confidence she didn’t feel, Marla rubbed Amber’s back and smiled. “I’m sure he’ll call soon.” She set Amber on her feet. “Let’s put your daddy’s plate in the oven so his dinner won’t get cold. We’ll finish ours, then sit with him and keep him company when he gets back. Okay?”
On a big sigh, Amber took her seat. She pointed to the dog. “Skipper’s worried too.”
Marla chuckled. “Chihuahuas always look worried. It’s those too-big brown eyes. He’s fine. That’s his feed-me stare.”
“Can he have some more?”
“I suppose it won’t hurt this time. He’ll be thrilled if you take a small spoonful from your plate and drop it on his.”
Amber giggled with delight at Skip’s excited reaction. His entire body from neck to tail wagged when he realized he would get more of the cheesy noodles.
Marla’s mind wandered for the next few minutes while they finished eating. Dwayne’s abrupt departure had sent a stab of fear through her chest along with
