“Stout?” I tried to repeat it as nicely as possible not wanting to hurt his feelings for coming up with such a strange name.
“No! I said Scout,” Oliver whined, I gave an apologetic smile but between his young age and slight lisp I sometimes had trouble clearly understanding him.
“Scout,” Logan repeated trying out the name. The puppy jumped to his feet and turned to look up at Logan. “He seems to like it.”
I smiled, watching Logan bend down to rub the puppy’s back.
“Well, Scout it is then.”
“All right, I had better be going. Don’t want to be late. Be good for Cassandra.” Logan gave Oliver a quick hug and whispered in his ear.
“I love you, too, Daddy,” Oliver replied dropping back to the floor with Scout.
I walked with Logan to the front door and reached inside the small side table drawer.
“Here, it’s a key for when you come to pick him up tonight.”
A small smile played on his closed lips as his eyebrows rose staring straight at me. “You’re giving me a key to your house.” He took the key. “I must say, it seems you are rushing a bit for my taste, love. But if you insist.”
I smacked his arm playfully rolling my eyes.
“You said it would be after midnight, which means we’ll probably be asleep. Just come on in and wake me up.”
Logan slid the key into his inner coat pocket.
“Have a safe flight.”
“Take care of my son and yourself.” Logan waved good-bye to Oliver one last time before heading out the front door.
I turned back to Oliver and smiled, but it only took a second for me to realize I had no food for Scout.
“Do you want to take Scout with us to watch the movies?” I asked.
Oliver’s face lit up. No answer was necessary as he grabbed the puppy and raced to the door.
Oliver and I stood by the large fountain in the center of town waiting for Hilary. We had stopped at the pet store and picked up a navy-blue leash and everything else Scout could need. I hadn’t anticipated the rather large expense of owning such a little puppy. Although, Oliver had thrown a few too many chew toys into the shopping cart.
By the time we returned the bags to my car and put the leash on Scout, I hurried them along to meet up with Hilary. More and more children with parents at their sides flooded to the park, taking up the best spots on the lawn. For December, the weather wasn’t too bad. Harmony rarely experienced freezing winters.
I pulled out my phone, ready to call Hilary when I saw her approaching. Beside her was Caleb and another guy, I didn’t recognize, with neatly trimmed brown hair wearing khakis and a black wool coat.
“Hey Cassie, sorry I’m late.” Hilary gave me a quick hug and smiled down at Oliver. “Caleb got caught up at Haven.”
“No problem. We had to pick up some things for my new dog.”
“New dog? He’s yours!” Hilary grinned. “Oh my God, he’s adorable. He reminds me of the black Lab you had when we were kids.”
Hilary squatted down, holding his head in her hands petting him. Caleb mimicked her movement, running his hands over Scout, enjoying Hilary’s playful smile as she made silly faces at the puppy.
“You do know he’s a dog not a baby, right.” Caleb chuckled.
“He’s just so cute!” Hilary cooed before standing up. “So I’m guessing you don’t remember Luke, Caleb’s younger brother. He just moved back to town.”
“Oh my God, I didn’t even recognize you,” I gasped, looking him over again. Luke was my age and went to school with me until fifth grade when his parents separated and he moved away with his mother. Caleb stayed with his father, visiting his mother on the weekend, but Luke rarely came back to spend time with his dad. When he did, he always stayed inside by himself so I rarely saw him.
He smiled. “I can say the same for you. You’re all grown up.” He buried his hands deep into his coat pockets, a sheepish smile curling his lips. “I hear you’re a teacher at our old school with Hilary.”
“Yeah, kindergarten.” I nodded. He had the softest green eyes, so innocent and so sweet. Luke had always been the complete opposite of Caleb. Shy and soft-spoken. As kids, he was always sitting in class or on his porch with his nose in a book. Even now, over ten years later, that bashfulness hadn’t changed.
“What about you? Own a bar like your brother?” I smiled, nudging his arm with my elbow to loosen him up.
“No, I leave that line of work to Caleb. If you want to call it work.” He smiled and Caleb made an insulted face.
“Better than working for dear ole’ Dad.” Caleb chuckled.
We all began walking over the large grassy area, my hand wrapped around Oliver’s, and Scout tucked in Hilary’s arms. Hilary shot me a suggestive smirk, slowing her pace behind the guys and mouthed, “Cute, huh.”
I shook my head looking back out in front of me, but couldn’t deny he grew into a fine man. Luke was the embodiment of the all-American boy next door. His features were chiseled and sharp, and when he looked over, smiling at me, I lit up at his familiar dimples. He was still lovable Luke, just all grown up.
“I always wanted to be a lawyer. Follow in my dad’s footsteps and keep the practice in town going as he gets older.”
“You just didn’t want to deal with disappointing him like I did,” Caleb cut in. “He convinced you to do right by our family, you caved.”
I curved my arm through Luke’s arm, smiling up at him to diffuse the tense staring contest between the brothers. “I always thought you’d be a professor, or scientist. You are definitely the smart one.” I gave Caleb a sly wink in which he snorted to.
“That makes me the handsome one,” Caleb said, placing his arm around Hilary’s waist.
We stopped in the field off to the side, but we were still close enough to see the screen, and I pulled out a large blanket from my tote. Luke helped me lay it out, while Hilary and Oliver played with the very energetic puppy, and Caleb went over to the concession stand to purchase snacks.
“Hey, buddy. I got you some hot cocoa and extra butter on the popcorn.” Caleb waited for Oliver to sit down crossed-legged on the blanket before handing them to him.
Frosty the Snowman appeared on the big screen first and silenced the yapping of the crowd instantly.
I smiled, sitting beside Oliver and watched Scout snuggling against his ankle. Caleb sat on the other side of him with Hilary between his out stretched legs, her back pressed against his chest. I noticed his hands resting on his own legs but his thumbs caressed her outer thigh. Definitely more than friends.
“So, you go to my brother’s bar much?” Luke asked in a hushed whisper as he scooted closer beside me.
“More for the restaurant side than the actual drinking in the bar.” I tossed a small handful of popcorn in my mouth and held the bag out to him.
Luke took a few pieces and smiled. “Well, maybe I’ll see you there some time.”
Oliver raised his finger to his lips, shushing us with narrowed eyes.
I gave him an apologetic smile before turning back to Luke who held his hands up in defeat.
We both stifled a laugh and turned our attention back to the giant talking snowman dancing across the massive screen.