Chapter Five

Sara felt like pulling out all her hair. Her new fridges were being delivered late, and her first shipment of food was sitting in the front units, which were not built to keep those items as cold as they needed to be. Now she was staring at a giant leak in the roof. The water dripped down on her clean worktable, causing a slight noise with each drop. The recent big snowfall they had gotten had all melted and the rain and sleet they had gotten last night had caused water to pool on the worktable and spill onto the floor. She'd pushed a bucket under the drip, and by the time Jack Timothy, John Timothy's oldest, had made it there, she’d had to empty the bucket three times. Jack had used a tall ladder to get up to the roof and look at what needed to be done. When he'd come back down an hour later, soaking wet, he'd informed her the entire roof would need to be fixed in the spring, but for now he'd patched it up as best he could. Now she'd have to budget for a new roof. She hadn't been up there and wondered what it entailed. Was it flat or did it have a slope? She supposed she should have asked Jack, but right as he was leaving, the truck with her refrigerators pulled up in the back alley.

 

While the two men were unloading and setting up her units, she mopped up the water and cleaned her workbench. The men finished their task and left. She knew the units wouldn't be cold enough to put all the food into them yet, so she went into the front room and sat at her laptop. After she finalized the design for the sign that would hang on the front of the old brick building, she sent a few emails to her friends back in Seattle. She'd had a few close friends while working at some of the top bakeries in Seattle. Josie had been her closest friend for the last few years. The short Asian woman had more fire in her than Sara had known what to do with at first. Her friend's actual name was Jyotsna, but she preferred to go by Josie, since she had moved to the United States when she was eight. They'd both worked for Seattle's West Bakery. At first the two hadn't gotten along, but then after Stephan, the owner's husband, had hit on both of them, they'd banded together. After that, they'd gone everywhere together.

 

Sara looked at her email to her friend and smiled. She hoped that Josie would reply and prayed with all her heart that she'd say “yes.”

 

Josie, I'm sorry I haven't emailed sooner. Bad Friend! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, even though I know you don't really celebrate it. At least you had a day off. :) Anyway, I'm emailing to let you know I've finally done it! And no, I'm not talking about jumping out of an airplane. I'm opening my own bakery in Pride next month. Sara's Nook will be open for business around the middle of January. I'm dying for a few good employees, but will settle for you, if you're willing. LOL. There's a cute house for rent just down the street and I can't wait to get out of my mom's house. I think between the two of us, we could afford the rent. It's small, but in good shape. I'm sending you the address of the house and my shop so you can Google them. Please say yes, I'd die if I had to do this without you. Your wonderful tea cakes are what Sara's Nook needs! I can promise you at least what we made at SWB. I know it's a small cut from what you're making now, but everything is cheaper here in Pride. Call me. I know, I know. I should have called, but I'm too chicken. I'm afraid you'll say no and I think I can handle an email better than a call. But, if you're going to say yes, you can call me if you want. --Sara.

 

She read it over a few times and closed her eyes as she hit the send button. So far, she knew that Becca was going to be working part-time, but all her sister could do was stand behind the register and take orders. She needed at least two more bakers. She hated to seem desperate, but when the times called for it, she had no problem begging. Pride was a small town. For the most part, she knew everyone in it. She had a few possibilities for other workers, but wanted to hold out and hear from Josie first.

 

She couldn't wait to see what the place looked like after she was done. She and Allison were set to go antiquing tomorrow. She was nervous about finding the right pieces. What if she didn't find anything? There were stores in Portland, but she hated to settle for something new.

 

She locked up for the evening and enjoyed the stroll back to her car. She'd taken to parking it across the street at Patty's. That way it left the parking spots empty just in front of the store. She was halfway across the street when she noticed her windshield. It had been perfect, with no cracks. Now, however, it looked like someone had thrown a brick through it. Rushing to her car, she stopped just in front. The glass was punched through completely in one section and a large gaping hole was letting all the water in as the light rain continued. She noticed something dark sitting on her front seat and rushed to unlock her door.

 

How could this have happened? The front windows overlooked the parking lot. When she finally had the door open, she looked down at a large chunk of stone. Turning, she looked at the side of Patty's building. Nothing looked like it had fallen off it. The tall stairs leading up to Amber's apartment looked sturdy. Sara locked her door again and walked to the front of the store.

 

Patty O'Neil was a larger woman in her late sixties. She wore bright colors and almost always had a smile on her face. Sara had always thought of her as Pride's very own welcome wagon. Patty was the person organizing all the get-togethers in town, although most people didn't know it. Sara had found out one day when she'd been coming out of the bathroom of the store. She'd overheard Patty on the phone with someone. She was busy telling the person who to call and what dishes they should bring.

 

When Sara walked into the store, Patty smiled and stopped her conversation with another woman. Ruth was as high society as Pride got. She was always meticulously dressed and Sara had never seen a hair out of place on the older woman's head.

 

“Well, hello there, Sara. Ruth and I were just saying we can't wait til your bakery opens. Weren't we Ruth?” Patty looked to the other woman for confirmation.

 

“Yes, it's on everyone's minds what you'll be calling it.” Ruth and Patty leaned forward a bit.

 

Sara smiled. “Sara's Nook.”

 

“Oh, how wonderfully fitting.” Both women smiled and Ruth clapped her hands.

 

“Patty, I wanted to stop in and let you know, I think part of your building fell off and hit my car. I'm not a hundred percent sure, but it looks like part of the stone from the back wall.”

 

“Oh, no! How dreadful. Are you alright?” The larger woman rushed over to where she was.

 

“I'm fine. It must have happened sometime during the day. I'm afraid it went right through my windshield, though.”

 

“Oh goodness. Let's go take a look. Ruth, would you mind the store. Oh, and give Robert a call would you. Just in case. He can take a look and make sure nothing else is loose.”

 

Patty put on a large purple raincoat and grabbed a bright yellow umbrella.

 

As they stood in front of Sara's car, Patty shook her head and made a tsking noise. “It sure looks like that's what happened.” Then she turned and looked at the side of the tall building. “How on earth do you suppose that happened? It doesn't look like anything is missing.”

 

“That's what I thought. Wouldn't there be a hole somewhere?” They both stood there looking up into the rain at the side of the building. When a car pulled up they both greeted Robert, the local sheriff. Robert was almost ten years older than Sara, but they'd always gotten along well.

 

“Well,” he looked at the old building and pointed his searchlight at the side of the wall. “I don't see anything out of place. But just in case, I'd hire an inspector to take a look first chance you have, Patty.”

 

“Most definitely. Do you think the building is safe?”

 

“Yes, I see no reason to be concerned. It's just a small chunk.” Robert pulled the piece out of Sara's front seat. “Do you have a garage to park this in tonight?”

 

Sara nodded her head. “I can have my mother park in the driveway.”

 

“Well, my insurance will pay for the replacement. Just call Rusty and have him do it. Tell him to bill me and we'll take care of it all.”

 

“I'd suggest telling everyone to park away from the building until you get it looked at.”

 

“Of course. We're just lucky no one was hurt.”

 

Robert turned to Sara with a smile. “Amelia and I can't wait until you open your doors. We've been dying for a good place to get a cup of Joe. Tell me you're going to have coffee.” He gave her a pleading look.

 

“Several kinds.” She smiled. “Free cup with a purchase of a piece of coffee cake for the first week.”

 

He rolled his eyes and sighed. “Coffee cake!” He said it like a dying man. “It's been a long time since I've had coffee cake. We can't wait.”

 

Just then, bright lights turned into the parking lot. Sara recognized Allen's truck and smiled.

 

“Well, if I'd known there was a party…What happened there?” He rushed from his truck and stopped by the side of her car.

 

“Well, either my car was hit by a meteor, or part of Patty's building fell off and hit it.” She smiled. She watched Patty and Robert head into the store after they said their goodbyes.

 

He looked at her car and opened the door. Robert had set the large chunk next to the wall before he'd gone inside.

 

Now, she stood under her umbrella and watched Allen look up at the building with a frown. “Robert thinks it fell from the side?”

 

“Well, I don't know. But Patty's going to have the inspector out.” She looked up at the side of the building for what seemed the hundredth time.

 

“Hmmm.” He stood there looking up into the dark.

 

“You didn't have to stop. Robert cleared the glass from my seat. I'll be okay driving the short distance home.”

 

“Huh?” He looked down at her, still a frown on his face. “Oh, no. I needed to buy some dog food.” He turned back towards the building, this time searching the edge of the parking lot.

 

“Dog food?” She was shocked. She didn’t know he had a dog. She supposed there was plenty about him that she didn't know.

 

“Yeah, Beast will need some. Probably a bed and toys as well.” He continued to look along the wall.

 

“Beast?” She was getting confused. “I didn't know you had a dog.”

 

“I don't.” He smiled at her. “Well, you can't really call him a dog yet.” He walked over to his truck. He'd left it running and the lights were still on. She could see in the brightness that the rain had stopped. When Allen stopped to open the door of his truck, she heard a high-pitched bark. Then he pulled away from the door carrying a small, dark ball of fur.

 

“Oh!” She rushed over to his side and they stood under the front awning of the store as the puppy, formally named Beast, licked her face and hands.

 

“He'll grow into his feet,” Allen said smiling at her. She looked at the puppy’s paws and saw what he meant. “Hence the name Beast. One of the guys I work with had a litter. He brought a few in today trying to get rid of them before Christmas.”

 

She laughed. “What if he doesn't grow into them? You could end up with a petite dog.” She laughed when the puppy tried to crawl into her coat. She unzipped it a little as he snuggled into her chest. “He's cold. I don't think Patty will let you take him inside. I can stand out here and keep him warm if you want to grab his supplies.”

 

He smiled at her. “Are you sure?”

 

She nodded and watched him turn and go into the store. A minute later, Patty opened the door and smiled at her. “You can come in and at least stand by the doors. But no further.” Sara stood just inside the doors with the puppy sleeping against her chest in her coat. Actually, Beast was keeping her quite warm.

 

Less than ten minutes later, Allen walked to the front with a cart full of items.

 

“Did you buy Patty out of all the dog toys?” She laughed at his full cart.

 

“No, actually it looks like someone beat me to it.” He smiled. “She did have a full cat toy selection, though, and I thought Beast wouldn't mind.” He frowned a little. “At least not this first time.”

 

By the time Allen had checked out, Beast was fully awake again and trying to get down. “He probably has to go.”

 

Allen clipped on the new collar and ripped open the leash. “Here, I'll just walk him in the grass.” He set the puppy down in front of his truck and Beast decided to relieve himself right there in the parking lot. “Or,” Allen said laughing, “right here is good.” She laughed.

 

“I like that sound.” He said, looking at her. She smiled back at him. “What do you say we follow you home? Make sure you get there okay.”

 

She nodded and ruffled the puppy’s ears when Allen picked him back up. The two of them looked good together. The shadows that crossed his face made him look a little dangerous, but the small puppy cradled in his arms made him look irresistible. They followed her home and she was glad they had. It was a little hard to see through the shattered glass. She was thankful for the assurance that he was there if she needed him.

 

When she pulled in, her mother's car was already in the drive and the garage door was open. Her mother and sister stood in the garage and watched her pull in. Allen honked his horn and waved as he drove by.

 

“Was that Allen Masters?”

 

“Yes, he made sure I made it home.”

 

“Robert called ahead to make sure we knew everything was okay. Wow!” Her mother looked at the broken glass. “You’re lucky you weren't in there when that happened. It would have landed in your lap.”

 

Allen drove home thinking the same thing. He knew for a fact that the chunk of stone hadn't come off the building. He'd stubbed his toe on that same chunk last week when he'd parked at the edge of the lot. It had been sitting just on the edge of the parking lot in the snow. He'd been concerned that someone else would trip over it, so he'd un-earthed it and moved it further into the grass.

 

When he drove up his driveway, his neighbor, Robert, was parked next to his drive. Pulling in next to him, he rolled his window down.

 

“Hey,” he nodded. They'd become friendly over the last few years since he'd purchased the place. Robert's house was about a quarter of a mile farther up the road. “Wanna come in for a beer?”

“Sure. Amelia’s spending the night with her mother.” Robert looked a little preoccupied.

 

“Anything wrong?” He stopped short of pulling the sleeping puppy from the car and looked at the local sheriff.

 

“Huh? Oh, nothing wrong between us, it's her mother's health. She's been in and out of the hospital lately. Amelia and the kids are staying with her tonight. Hey, is that a new dog?” Robert walked over to his truck door and looked in the window.

 

“Yeah, Marcus Engrim's dog had a litter. If you're looking for a new pet, he still has six of them to get rid of.”

 

Robert whistled. “Six? The kids have been begging for a dog. I'll have to run it by Amelia first. Now that she's working full time at the vet, I don't know if she'd want to come home and deal with another animal.” He smiled as the puppy half crawled and half jumped into his arms.

 

“Come on in. You get the dog, I'll get the food.” Allen grabbed the large bag of puppy chow and tossed it over his shoulder.

 

Balancing the dog food, he opened the door and flipped on the lights in his mudroom. Setting the dog food down, he ripped it open and placed a small amount in the new dish he'd purchased. He filled another bowl with water and set it next to the food. Robert set the puppy down and Beast attacked the food, spilling more on the floor than he actually got in his mouth.

 

“Come on in. I'll grab that beer.” They walked out of his mudroom. The house wasn't huge, but the large living room and kitchen had sold him on the place immediately. The high ceilings and the wood pillars gleamed. The stone fireplace traveled up the full two stories, allowing the warmth to spread throughout the entire house. Above, two long balconies ran on either side of the living room. The master bedroom sat over the large kitchen with two smaller bedrooms and a bath on the opposite side.

 

Downstairs he had an office to the side of the living room and a smaller guest bedroom. All in all, the place suited him.

 

Handing Robert a beer, he leaned back on the marble counter and took a sip of his own. He thought he knew why Robert was here. He watched him and waited.

 

Robert took a sip and sighed, then looked out the window. “Rumor is it that you've been seeing Sara.”

 

Allen chuckled. “Yeah, I thought it wouldn't take long to get around.”

 

“Well,” Robert turned back to him with a concerned look on his face. “Got any clue who'd like to throw a chunk of cement through her window?”

 

“I was wondering the same thing. That same chunk has been sitting in the parking lot ever since I arrived in Pride. I know Patty knows it's been there, I just can't figure out why she didn't want Sara to know it.”

 

“Yeah, she knows it. The piece fell of the back of the building four years ago. Patty had the inspector out then. When we went inside, Patty told me she didn't want to worry Sara and that her insurance would pay for it, seeing as Sara is sinking everything she has into the bakery.” Robert shook his head and took another sip of his beer. “Damned if that woman doesn't beat all.” He smiled. “Something my grandpa used to say.”

 

Allen laughed. “It could have been some kids.”

 

Robert shook his head. “I've checked with the usual culprits. Joe and Dwayne were in Edgeview all day with their mother. Since you're seeing her, I thought maybe you'd heard more about the whole deal in Seattle. I've called the detective that's handling her case there, but just got his answering machine.”

 

Allen stood up and set his beer down. “Her case in Seattle?”

 

Robert looked at him. “Oh, damn. I'm sorry. I thought for sure she would have told you.” He shook his head and set his beer down. “Before you ask, it's not my place to tell you. I assumed you knew. I better get back to the house. Thanks for the beer.” Robert started to walk toward the back door. “Oh, Allen, your new dog left you a little something back here. I guess you can call it a housewarming present.” Robert chuckled as he walked out.

 

After cleaning up Beast's mess, Allen finished setting up the dog bed and toys he'd purchased in the mudroom. The puppy spent the next few hours sniffing around the house, trying to mark anything he could. Allen knew all too well how to train a dog and right before bedtime he placed Beast back in the laundry room and shut the door. Immediately the whining started, and half an hour later, he progressed to howling. By the time Allen was showered and sitting down to watch the evening news, the dog had fallen quiet. But when the TV turned on, the barking started again.

 

Allen walked over to the door and opened it. Beast sat on his bottom looking up at him with his tongue rolling out his mouth. There was a huge smile on the puppy’s face, if Allen had ever seen one.

 

“Fine, you can come out and watch the news with me. But no more messes on my floor. And you go right back in when I go upstairs to bed. Is that understood?” The puppy looked at him and then walked between his legs and into the living room.

 

An hour later, after cleaning up two more accidents, Allen headed upstairs and lay in bed listening to the puppy bark. He tossed and turned for the first half hour, then finally got up and brought Beast in bed with him. The small dog turned three circles then lay next to him on his giant bed and closed his eyes.

 

“Just this once, buddy. We are not going to make a habit out of this. I've got an early morning and you'll just have to get used to your new room.” The dog looked up at him for a second, then went back to sleep.

 

Allen tried to roll over, but the eight-pound puppy was lying on his legs and felt like a ton of bricks. How is it he had the largest bed known to man, yet one small dog could take up so much room?