Page 8 of A Winter Thaw

“Santa’s helpers, that’s us.” Theo laughed. “Glad it worked out. Brakes are arguably the most important feature on a car.” He clicked on the computer a few more times, sending her bill to the printer.

Harper nodded, making an expression that was a mixture between a grin and a grimace. “Thank goodness they’re working again.”

He pulled the freshly printed bill from the printer tray and handed it to Harper along with a pen. “The adoption event sounds like it should be a lot of fun. Animal barks and howls for music, and pet hair for confetti. Sounds like my kind of party,” he joked.

She chuckled. “It’ll be magnificent. And we’ll have real music playing—but not confetti. Just balloons and Christmas decorations. Which I still need to pick up!” She swiped her card and hurriedly signed her bill. “You should come,” she said, handing the bill back to him. “It’ll be a lot of fun, and Audrey and Michelle are coming for sure. You should help me convince Audrey and Michelle that they should bring home a furry addition to The Birchwood House.”

Theo’s heart did a strange flip-flop at the mention of Michelle. All at once, he thought of the odd interaction they’d shared the night before. They’d both been at The Brick Oven, but instead of talking to each other, they’d just kind of stared at each other from across the room. Normally, they sassed each other like crazy and did their best to get on each other’s nerves. Guarded looks across a crowded restaurant were a new thing for them.

I wish I’d just gone over and said something to her, he thought. I felt like I couldn’t. Whenever we actually talk to each other, we’re always bantering and teasing each other. I just didn’t want to do that. But I did want to talk to her.

He squirmed, wishing that their longstanding tradition of having an adversarial relationship could be done away with. He wanted to just hurry over to her whenever he saw her and act kind and affectionate. It was getting tiring feeling like he had to hold himself back from behaving that way toward her.

Why didn’t he just act the way he wanted to? Was it because he thought she wouldn’t like it? Was he nervous to show her genuine affection? Why?

Because of what it implied?

He swallowed, suddenly feeling flushed and jittery. “Michelle wouldn’t ever adopt an animal,” he said, shaking his head and trying to think of something funny to say. “She likes things to stay the same, and she likes things to be orderly. She’s all about responsibility and keeping on top of things. She wouldn’t want all the craziness an animal would bring.”

Harper cocked her head to one side, giving Theo a skeptical look. “You know, I don’t think you know Michelle as well as you think you do.”

Theo’s mouth opened, and he was about to ask Harper what she meant by that, when the animal shelter owner glanced at her watch again.

“Ah, I’ve got to run,” she said with a groan. “Thank you again, Theo, so much. See you later, hopefully?”

“Yeah—sounds good—bye, Harper.”

She darted out of the shop so fast that she was gone before he’d finished saying her name. He chuckled, and then his expression became puzzled as he thought again about what she’d said about Michelle.

I’m right though, aren’t I? he thought. Michelle does like order and responsibility. I mean, the first time I invited her to one of my concerts she said she couldn’t because she had to work, for crying out loud. At a job that didn’t actually need her to do her work during that specific time frame.

He shook his head, lingering behind the front desk instead of going back out into the shop. He was filled with a sudden urge to see Michelle. He glanced down at the schedule and noted that he and the rest of the mechanics would be done with the scheduled appointments in the next couple of hours. He would be free to go to the adoption event if he wanted to, as long as he kept working and got everything done.

Suddenly filled with a new energy, Theo went back into the shop and started to work on another car, his hands and his brain moving much faster than they usually did.

CHAPTER FIVE

Audrey looked around the animal shelter, her chest full of emotion. She was surrounded by chatting guests, squealing children, barking dogs, and purring cats. Christmas music was playing on a boombox in the corner, and the air smelled deliciously of cookies, hot cocoa, popcorn, and nachos. Everyone in the room seemed excited, and the place was packed.

I know I came here just to support Harper, Audrey thought, but I’m having a wonderful time. This is such a thrilling event. I hope that all these animals get adopted.

She watched as an old dog with one missing leg lay down in the lap of a teenager who looked like she was about to cry. The girl stroked the dog’s ears, and Audrey had a feeling it was going to end up being the perfect Christmas for both of them.

“Look at all these adorable fur babies,” she said, linking arms with her daughter as they strolled around the room, sipping their cups of cocoa. “Aren’t they all darling?”

“Whoa there, hold your horses.” Michelle laughed. “We’re here to support Harper, remember? We’re not here to bring home a furry bundle of chaos. Oh, look, there’s Harper. Let’s go be supportive.”

Audrey chuckled as Michelle steered her across the room toward Harper, who was talking to a family of four. Both of the children were holding cats in their arms, and Audrey got the sense that both the kids and the cats were determined to keep it that way.

“Hey, guys!” Harper said, once she’d stepped away from her conversation with the family. She hurried over to them. “They’re going to adopt Bernie and Boots. Isn’t that awesome? It’s always trickier to get a bonded pair adopted, but we did it.”

Harper’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes were shining. Audrey thought to herself with a smile that her friend had never looked happier.

“That’s awesome,” Michelle said. “I’ve got a soft spot for Boots especially.” She looked over at Boots with a warm smile, watching the cat purr in the arms of the little boy who was cuddling him.

“Hey, we’ve got more cats you can cuddle,” Harper said, and the slyness in her voice was unmistakable. “Come on over here and give Pancake some love. He’s just sitting in his crate all by himself.”

Audrey and Michelle followed dutifully. Michelle looked wary, but Audrey felt nothing but excitement. She was starting to forget all the reasons why she’d told herself they shouldn’t adopt a pet. She was feeling an intense yearning to bring home a furry companion who would want to be cuddled and would follow her around the house. There was something so genuinely sweet about all of the animals there, even the shy ones.