Page 34 of Must Love Flowers
“But I do,” she corrected quickly. “I like him, but when he asked me out, I didn’t know what to say and made up a ridiculous excuse about it being against company policy to date a customer.”
“Oh Maggie, you didn’t need to do that. Nick is going to find out I’ve taken in a boarder sooner or later.”
What Joan said was true. In retrospect, Maggie should have handled this awkward situation differently. Now it was too late.
“From what Kurt said, Nick had tried to give the dog to several other people first before he decided No Name would go to you.”
Joan laughed. “That sounds like my son. As a kid he often got himself into messes he couldn’t find his way out of.”
“I liked him up to that point.”
“Don’t judge him too harshly, Maggie. Nick has a good heart.”
Maggie wasn’t sure she believed that.
Chapter 14
“Come on, No Name,” Joan urged, as the puppy galloped across the front lawn. She swore he smelled every blade of grass before leaping forward to chase after a butterfly.
“This isn’t time for fun and games,” Joan chastised. She tried to sound stern, but the puppy’s antics made her laugh. He was determined to discover this new world. “You’re supposed to do your business, not chase butterflies.”
No Name looked more like a kangaroo than a puppy as he galivanted across the grass, causing Joan to shake her head in defeat. She’d had limited success housebreaking him, which was why she spent more time in her yard than in the house. She hadn’t been outside this much in years, and it felt good.
She’d read on the Internet that the best way to housebreak a puppy was to take the little one outside every two hours, as wellas immediately upon waking and after eating. Which made sense. To be on the safe side, Joan had set a timer for every hour. No Name had yet to get the hint, though. What she didn’t want was for him to assume the best spot to pee was beneath the dining room table, which he had already done more than once.
She would need patience and more patience. Sooner or later, God willing, he would understand why she’d brought him outside. All she could hope was that he caught on soon. To this point, No Name had far too much fun chasing butterflies and bees or anything else that captured his attention.
Although she’d protested that she hadn’t wanted a dog, she could see the wisdom in having one. After living basically as a hermit for four years, she was making positive changes, and they all seemed to be coming at once.
She enjoyed having Maggie live with her, and the puppy kept her on her toes. Life had meaning and purpose for the first time in years.
The school bus stop was down the street and the big yellow bus pulled up to let the grade school kids out. It was a lovely afternoon, one of those rare sunny ones in May.
Joan watched as the kids raced down the sidewalk toward their homes, backpacks flapping as they ran. Her boys had once ridden that same bus to and from school and hurried home, knowing she would have a snack on the kitchen counter ready for them.
Two of the children headed in her direction and stopped when they saw No Name rolling around on his back.
“Is that your puppy?” the boy asked. He looked to be in first or second grade, with ruddy cheeks and a head full of red hair.
“He is.”
“What’s his name?” the girl with him asked. No question she was his older sister, possibly in fourth grade, with the same red hair and freckles.
“I haven’t got a name for him yet,” Joan confessed.
“Why not?”
Joan had tried out several, but none of them seemed to fit the adventurous little fellow. “I haven’t found the right one yet.”
“How about Floyd?” the boy suggested. His backpack had his name embroidered on the back. Todd. His sister had the same style of backpack, only in a different color. Her name was Ellie.
His sister slapped his arm. “That’s an awful name.”
“Do you have a better idea?”
“Yes,” Ellie insisted with a tone of righteousness. Being older, she seemed to assume she was by far superior.
“Then what is it?” Todd challenged.
