Ain't She Sweet (Seven Brides for Seven Mothers #2) - Whitney Dineen Page 0,26
then have them.”
“Is that the only way you’d accept grandbabies?”
“James Fredrick Cavanaugh, you better tell me what you’re talking about right this second,” she orders.
“I was at the hardware story the other day and I found the sweetest little thing abandoned in the parking lot, so I brought her home.”
“Someone abandoned a baby in the parking lot?” My poor mom looks like she’s about to keel over from shock.
“A baby dog,” I tell her.
She wads up the paper napkin sitting in front of her and throws it at me. “Don’t you ever do that again! I have enough going on in my life without you giving me a heart attack.” She looks for something else to throw at me before asking, “Why is Tara watching her? I want to meet my grandpuppy.”
“I’m having a plumbing emergency and I had to turn my water off. Tara met her the day I got her and fell in love with her, so I asked her to help me out by keeping Penny out of the way today.”
“My grandpuppy is named Penny?” Mom’s eyes glaze over in excitement. “When are you going to pick her up?”
“I suppose later today, although Hank just told me I’ll probably be without water for a few days. Can I move into one to the cottages and bring the dog with me?” I ask.
“You can move into a room at the lodge and I can help you take care of Penny.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll just go pack a bag before I pick her up.”
Chapter Thirteen
Gwen
Gwen throws her arms around her daughter while jumping up and down stating the obvious. “Honey! I’m here!”
“I thought you were going to let me know when you were coming,” Tara says, sounding more than a bit confused to see her mom standing on her doorstep.
“I was, but then I thought it would be a fun surprise if I just showed up.”
Penny leaps off the couch and runs straight at Gwen to welcome her. Nothing says welcome like a puddle of pee at your feet. Tara immediately picks up the dog and relocates her to the piddle pad in the living room.
“You have a dog?” Gwen asks. “When in the world did that happen?”
“I’m watching her for a friend. Come on in and I’ll show you to the guest room.”
Gwen wheels her suitcases inside the door before stopping to take in her surroundings. The living room looks like a cozy nest with its overstuffed furniture and plush lambswool rug on the floor. “What a sweet house. And the setting is so picturesque it looks like a postcard.”
“It’s a far cry from what you’re used to seeing me in, huh?”
“It’s different for sure, but I’ve got to tell you, honey, I prefer this to that behemoth you and Romaine lived in in Bel Air. This house feels homey, and I think that’s exactly what you need right now.”
Tara takes one of her mom’s suitcases and leads the way down the hall to the guest room. “I don’t want more than what I can take care of by myself. I just want a quiet life that doesn’t overwhelm me. Does that make sense?”
Gwen pulls her daughter back into her arms. “It makes so much sense and I’m proud of you for realizing you needed a change. I’m prouder of you for having the courage to go after it.”
Tara suddenly asks, “Do you ever regret giving up so much to follow me around when I was modeling?”
“What did I give up? Not only were those years full of excitement and adventure, but they were also a time for us to cement our mother-daughter bond.”
“You gave up time at home with Dad and Dillion.”
“Dillion was a teenager who was more than happy not to be under my thumb all the time, and your dad and I had already drifted apart by then. I hope you haven’t been feeling responsible for our breakup.”
Tara shrugs her shoulders. “I’ve wondered.”
“Honey, no. Your dad and I had only been playing at marriage from the time you and your brother were little. We loved each other, but neither of us felt the connection we did when we were first married. The best thing for us was to have some physical space. It helped us realize we were both happier when we weren’t together.”
Tara
As surprised as I am that my mom is in Oregon, I’m very happy to see her. Walking to the small bedroom next to mine, I tell her, “I didn’t have a chance