still consider Gabe family. I don’t want to lose him. I know it might be uncomfortable for you, but we want him to remain in our lives.”
“I don’t have a problem with that.”
“You don’t?” Her eyes widened with surprise.
“Of course not. Gabe has suffered enough losses in his life, don’t you think?”
Warmth and welcome filled Pam’s smile. “I do. I absolutely do.”
The two women spent the next ten minutes in frank discussion about Gabe, his first marriage, and his suffering in the wake of the accident. While Nic didn’t go into private details about her marriage, she did share information about Gabe’s life in Eternity Springs.
“I was too distraught to ask him much of anything when he came to Virginia after Will had his heart attack,” Pam said. “Eternity Springs is certainly a beautiful spot. From what you’ve told me, it sounds like he found the perfect place to pull himself back together. I’m glad he came here. It sounds as if this place and these people have been just the medicine he’s needed. I think I just might like you, Nicole.”
“I think I might like you, too, Pam.”
“Okay, then, one more question. In the last email he sent, Gabe mentioned that he had some other significant news for me next time we talked. Care to give me a hint what it is?”
Must be the news about twins, Nic surmised. Gabe still went a bit green around the gills when anyone brought up the subject. “You can ask him yourself. I think he just came home.”
“I didn’t hear a car.”
“He parks on the street until after clinic hours.” Nic motioned toward the door of the clinic, where Tiger sat waiting to be admitted. “That’s Gabe’s dog. He went with him up to Eagle’s Way today.”
“A dog? Gabe has a dog?”
“More like the dog has Gabe. Tiger has adopted him, though Gabe still tries to pretend otherwise.”
With just a hint of wistfulness in her tone, Pam said, “My sister was allergic to animals.”
Ah. That piece of the puzzle shed a bit more light on her husband’s reaction to the boxer. Nic rose and grabbed her crutch. She opened the side door and asked Nathan to bring in the puppy, then she opened the front door for Tiger. The boxer loped into the clinic, went straight to Nathan, sat, and barked twice, his personal version of hello.
The teenager grinned, and after handing the puppy off to Nic, scratched Tiger behind his ears. “Who’s this?”
“Your uncle Gabe’s dog,” his mother replied.
“Really? Cool. What’s his name?”
Nic shrugged. “I call him Tiger, but it’s just a place holder until your uncle quits being so stubborn about ownership and gives him a forever name.”
“He’s goofy-looking.”
“He’s a doll. Your uncle saved his life.” Nic repeated the story of how Gabe had rescued the dog from the bear trap. “He’s totally loyal to Gabe.”
“Gabe always liked dogs. Matty wanted one real bad. They couldn’t have one because Jen broke out in hives whenever she touched one. They had a fish tank for a while, but I have to say, it’s hard to fall in love with a fish.”
“Unless it’s a trout on my dinner plate,” Nic agreed as she walked to the clinic’s front door and gazed up toward the house. Gabe had turned on the kitchen light. “If I know Gabe, he’s digging into the cookie jar. Shall we join him?”
“The sign is spectacular, Colt,” Gabe said as he took a tall glass from the cupboard and set it on the counter beside the fridge. He and Colt Rafferty, the wood artist with local ties whom Celeste had hired to create the healing center’s sign, had been playing phone tag all day. “I’ve never seen such detailed, intricate woodwork. It’s definitely more artwork than signage.”
“Thanks. I think it turned out nicely myself,” Colt Rafferty replied. “Was Celeste pleased?”
“Pleased doesn’t come close. She was thrilled. I thought she was going to climb on her motorcycle and do donuts in the front yard.”
Colt laughed. “Does she still plan on conducting a grand unveiling of the logo?”
“Oh, yeah. My team and I are under threat of bodily harm if we leak it or allow anyone to get a glimpse of your sign before the Fourth of July event.”
Colt sighed. “I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to my summer in Eternity Springs. I’m counting the days.”
“I’ll look forward to meeting you.” Gabe opened the refrigerator door and removed the milk jug. “It’s been a pleasure to work with