Chapter 9
“Okay, piglets, pour on the charm. I want to see this shop full of costumers,” Brooke said. She reached down and adjusted Eeyore’s costume then stepped back.
The town of Romance loved holidays and Halloween was no exception. A parade would begin soon and go right past Brooke’s shop. With people lined up for blocks to watch it, she hoped many of them would come inside her studio and look around. Hopefully, they’d purchase some of the fall pieces she’d been busy creating between taking care of her pigs and flirting with Blayne.
Thoughts of the cowboy made her cheeks heat. He’d been into town nearly every day with one lame excuse followed by another to stop by and see her. Each time, the skillful kisses he delivered to her more than willing lips left her resistance to him weaker and her heart in danger of falling for him.
And that would never do.
Determined to keep him an arms-length away, she returned her attention to the four adorable little pigs in her shop window. With two big display windows facing the street, she’d cleared everything out of one, hanging fall garlands up high where the piglets couldn’t reach them, placed plastic orange tablecloths down in case one of them had an accident, then tucked their water bowl into one corner. She’d ordered a few decals that featured Winnie the Pooh and Piglet playing in piles of leaves and stuck them in the corners of the windows.
Blayne had even helped her transform a pile of pumpkins into something that resembled a chubby Pooh-like bear. A big, fat pumpkin for the body, and a smaller one on top for the head connected with a child-sized brown knit scarf Brooke found at the second-hand store. Smaller, oval-shaped pumpkins formed the hands and feet, attached with dowels Blayne inserted into the bigger pumpkins. Together, they’d fastened on tiny little pumpkins for the bear’s eyes and nose, and cut one small pumpkin in half to serve as ears. Blayne emptied out the slimy guts of a round pumpkin and carved the word “Hunny” across the front of it. In front of her shop, beneath the display window, they’d set the bear and his honey pot on a little wooden bench Blayne constructed from an old pallet.
With the piglets playing and prancing in the window, each wearing a costume that coordinated with their name, Brooke hoped shoppers would find their adorableness hard to resist. People walking by stopped and stared, smiling and pointing to the pigs. Tigger, being the biggest ham of the group, ate up the attention, pressing his nose to the glass and grinning.
Before long, Brooke’s studio was full of shoppers. Everyone made a beeline for the display case with the pigs, gushing about how cute they were.
The scents of spices and apples lingered in the air from the cider she had percolating in a commercial-sized coffee pot, offering visitors an unforgettable autumn experience.
Brooke had taken great care arranging her displays. The second window featured an assortment of pumpkins, leaves, and acorns, even two big glass turkeys. In the front area of the shop, she’d placed all her fall pieces, including vases, pitchers, glasses, bowls, platters, and a few eclectic projects, like a large heart with a maple leaf inside. The right side of her showroom held pieces suitable for every day gift giving or use, while the left side offered the Christmas items she’d started making. There were a few trees, angels, snowflakes, and bells, as well as platters, and bowls with holiday patterns.
Busy helping customers after the parade ended, Brooke was surprised when she looked up from the cash register to see a woman holding Robin. “How much is he?” the woman inquired.
Stunned, Brooke shook her head. “He’s not for sale.”
“Oh,” the woman’s countenance fell and she tenderly rubbed Robin’s little head.
Brooke was surprised the piglet had allowed a stranger to pick him up. Yet, he looked perfectly content in the woman’s arms.
“Why do you want to purchase him?” Brooke asked, unable to tamp down her curiosity.
“My daughter’s birthday is tomorrow. She’s been begging me for a pet. We were out of town during the Fall Festival or I would have taken her to get one then from Finding Forever. She’s eleven and very responsible. She would dearly love this little guy. He’s such a sweetheart.”
Brooke nodded and reached out to cup Robin’s face. “He is a special boy.” With a heavy heart, but knowing it was for the best, she smiled at the woman. “If you promise you’ll take good care of him and let me know how he’s doing from time to time, you can have him.”
The woman blinked rapidly then glanced from Brooke to Robin. “Are you sure. I mean, if he’s your pet… I wouldn’t want… Do you really mean it?”
With another smile, Brooke slid a piece of paper across the counter. “Give me your contact information and you can have him. Just tell your daughter he’s very extraordinary and to take really good care of him. And if he wants to come visit his siblings, you’re welcome to bring him, and your daughter, anytime.”
“Oh, thank you so much. Emily is going to be ecstatic!” The woman quickly wrote down her information then took Robin from Brooke.
Brooke hurried to jot down the feeding schedule, the type of food the piglet should eat, a list of things he shouldn’t, details about keeping him clean, and exercise suggestions. She handed the list to the woman then bent over and kissed the piglet on his head. “You be a good boy, Robin. Enjoy your new home.”
The woman gave her a grateful look. “Thank you again, Miss Roberts. I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”
Brooke walked her to the door. “I understand, really I do.” She snagged Robin’s favorite toy from the display case and gave it to his new owner. “He likes to sleep with that,” she said.
The woman grinned at the stuffed Winnie the Pooh toy. “I love the theme by the way. So clever.”
“Their mother’s name is Winnie the Pig, so what else was I to do?”
Laughter followed the woman out of the shop then Brooke turned back to her customers.
An hour later, someone approached the counter holding Eeyore. His left eye was hidden behind the floppy ear of his costume. Brooke pushed it back and the piglet looked up at her with a happy grin.
“Are you, by chance, selling these cute little pigs?” the man asked with a hopeful gleam in his eyes.
“No, I’m not. However, if you convince me you’ll make sure that wonderful boy will have a good home, you can have him.”
The man offered her a surprised look then broke into a smile “This is for my grandson. He’s in remission from cancer for the second time. The doctor suggested a pet might give him something positive to focus on. He…” When the grandfather’s voice broke, Brooke held up her hand to stop him before they both failed to control their tears.
“I hope he enjoys Eeyore as much as I have. Let me jot down some notes you’ll need.” Brooke duplicated the list she’d made earlier, remembering to add that Eeyore had been fixed. “This should cover everything you need to know, but if you have questions, call me anytime.” She gave him her card along with the list. “May I have your contact information, please? I want to stay in touch, to know how Eeyore is doing as well as your grandson.”
The man handed her Eeyore while he dug a business card from his wallet and set it on the counter. He pointed to a bowl with a smattering of snowflakes that appeared to be falling inside the glass. “May I purchase that bowl? My wife has a birthday coming up in a few weeks and she loves decorating for Christmas.”
“Absolutely.”
When the older gent left ten minutes later, Brooke carried out the gift-wrapped bowl along with a sack that had snacks for Eeyore, his stuffed pillow, and a little blown glass pig for the man’s grandson.
“Don’t forget to let me know how your grandson likes Eeyore,” Brooke said as she helped settle the pig on the man’s back seat “And tell him I’m keeping him in my prayers.”
“I’ll do that, Miss Roberts. Thank you, again.”
“My pleasure.” Brooke hurried back inside her studio, bereft at parting with two of her little pigs. She loved them like they were her babies, but she knew four of them in her shop was too many. Besides, the thought of them bringing joy to others softened the blow of them being gone.
She was just about to lock the door when she looked up and caught Blayne grinning at her from the other side of the glass. Quickly pulling the door open, she let him in before clicking the lock and turning the sign to closed.
“How did your day go? Did you get to see the parade?” he asked, wrapping her in his arms.
“I watched part of it go by, but then the store got super busy and I didn’t get a chance to see the end of it.”
He glanced around, noticing Roo and Tigger looking at them from the pig run, still dressed in their costumes.
“The piglets look great,” he said, backing Brooke toward the pigs without releasing his hold on her.
She clung to him, needing the strength and security of his embrace. Despite the happiness she hoped Robin and Eeyore would bring to their new families, she sorely missed them.
“Hey, piggies.” Blayne grinned at the piglets. “Aren’t you two just awesome?”
The pigs stared at him quietly. Roo leaned against her brother, resting her head against his side.
Blayne released Brooke and bent down to pick up Roo. “What’s wrong with this sweet baby girl?” he asked, removing the head of her costume and rubbing a hand over her face.
Tigger oinked, making it known he wanted attention, too. Blayne leaned over and picked him up with his other hand. He carried the two piglets to a worktable and set them down. Brooke removed their costumes then took Roo, cuddling her close as tears gathered in her eyes.
“Hey, glass girl. What’s the matter?” Blayne reached out and tipped up her chin, staring into her eyes.
Brooke did her best to hold back her tears, but one rolled down her cheek. “Eeyore and Robin are gone.”
“What?” Blayne took a step toward the door. “Did someone steal them? Are they lost? What happened? Do I need to call the police? I know the sheriff. She’d come over if we need…”
“Slow that horse down, cowboy,” Brooke said, placing a hand on Blayne’s arm, drawing him to a halt. “I gave them away. One was for a little girl’s birthday. Her family was out of town during the Fall Festival so she didn’t get to adopt a pet then. Her mother was so excited to take her Robin. Then an older man came in and asked if he could buy Eeyore for his grandson. Aiden, that’s the boy’s name, has had cancer twice and he’s in remission. His grandpa thought Eeyore would cheer him up and give him something to keep focused on.”
The tears rolled down her cheeks in earnest. “I gave away my little babies, Blayne. I know it’s silly to miss pigs, but they’re… I just… “
Blayne set Tigger in the pig run then took Brooke in his arms, holding her close with Roo caught between them. The piglet grunted and twisted until he set her down by her brother before enfolding Brooke in his arms once again. “I’m sorry, Brooke. You didn’t have to give them away, but I think you did a very good thing. I’m proud of you.”
No one had said those words to her since she was a terrified little girl watching her mother die. The hospice nurse and her mother had told her they were proud of her, but it was so long ago, she’d forgotten what it was like to hear the words.
Allowing herself to rest in the comfort of Blayne’s embrace, she sighed and held him tighter. “I’m glad you’re here,” she whispered.
After giving herself a moment to gather her composure, she leaned back and looked up at him. “Why are you here?”
He grinned. “I came to town for Trick-or-Treat.”
She stepped back and released a choppy laugh. “You did not.”
“Sure I did. I’ve got on a costume and everything.” He swept off his cowboy hat and bowed to her.
Brooke shook her head. “You can’t claim your cowboy attire as a costume since it’s what you wear every day, although you do look nice. Going somewhere special?”
“I was hoping to take my best girl out to dinner. Afterward, I thought we might discuss some tricks or treats.” He suggestively waggled an eyebrow at her. “I’m game for either.”
“So you’re meeting Doris for dinner?” she teased.
Blayne shook his head. “I meant you. Grams has been moved down to the slot of second best girl. Just don’t tell her I said that. I don’t want to hurt her feelings.”
“I wouldn’t be so quick to knock her down the ladder. She is the woman who keeps you fed and scrubs that smelly manure out of your clothes and has you walking on the straight and narrow.” The warning glance she tossed him didn’t dim his smile.
“True,” Blayne said, slipping his hands around her waist and drawing her close again. “But you’re the one who takes my breath away.”
Blayne kissed her until Brooke forgot everything except how much she loved being in his arms, how much she loved this generous, amazing, kind man.
Love wasn’t something she planned on, something she didn’t want.
But there would be time enough to explain that to Blayne another day. Right now, she needed his friendship and wanted his companionship.
Blayne helped her corral the piglets in the pig room before they walked out the back door.
“Let’s go get that dinner, but I’m telling Doris what you said the next time I see her.”
“You tell Grams and no treats for you, young lady.”
Brooke winked at him. “Promises, promises.”