Keith (Hathaway House #11) - Dale Mayer Page 0,37

came over and sat beside him. “It’s nice enough out to just sit here anyway,” she said, turning her face up to the sun.

“I should have brought something to drink with me,” he said.

“Tell me what you want,” she said. “I’ll go into the kitchen and get it.”

He stared at her in surprise, looked at the big open doors to the side, and nodded. “I wasn’t even thinking, but it makes sense that you’d have delivery trucks come in right by the kitchen area.”

“That’s our warehouse room where we keep our stores,” she said. “Plus we have walk-in coolers and freezers.”

“Could I get some juice and even some water?” he asked.

She hopped to her feet. “Perfect. I’ll be back in five.” She walked toward the kitchen. Everybody must have intentionally ignored her as she walked through. She just shrugged and didn’t say anything and headed to the fridge. Pulling out two cold bottles of water and a cold bottle of juice, she turned and walked back out again. Complete silence followed her.

Once outside, she handed him one of each. Popping the cap off the juice, he took a big long drink. When he was done, he smiled. “Somehow that makes everything seem so much better.”

“Now, chase that down with water,” she instructed.

“You worried about my blood sugar?”

“Only if you tell me there’s a reason to be worried about your blood sugar,” she said, studying him carefully. “Is there?”

He laughed. “Nope. No blood sugar issues.”

“That’s good,” she said, “because your diet would need to change if there were.”

“I know. No sweets, minimal carbs, and definitely no refined carbs.”

“And up the protein and veggies,” she said.

He drained half the bottle of water and then relaxed enough to sit back with a happy sigh. “It’s really nice out here,” he said. “I know it’s a parking lot with traffic coming and going, but, because we’re a little bit elevated, it gives us a nice view of the whole pasture area and the animals.” He pointed out the horses. “I have yet to ask anybody about those.”

“Generally they’re Dani’s horses, but she also brings in a few rescues to be helped out. That’s how the llama, Lovely, got here. Seems it was really good friends with the Appaloosa down there, who goes by Appie, by the way. The two came together.”

“Well, at least they’re here, and they’ll have a better life. I have no clue where they were before this,” he said, “but I’m sure it wasn’t anywhere near as nice as the life they have now.”

“I’m certain you’re right about that,” she said. Laughing, she added, “See that little strawberry-blond filly down there? Somebody was keeping her as an inside pet.”

He looked at her in horror.

She nodded and went on. “Obviously she grew too big to be indoors. Her hooves were in really bad shape. It’s taken a long time to get them straightened up, but Stan has been working on it.”

“I would love to make it down to where my sister works and spend some time with the animals. She brought this monstrous rabbit into my room.” He shook his head and laughed about it.

“Hoppers?”

He turned to her. “Yeah. Have you met him?”

“I think everybody has,” she said. “She walks him around on a leash quite a bit.”

“That’s pretty amazing,” he said. “She seems happy here.”

“Every time I’ve seen her, she appears to be. She has hardships too, I’m sure. But nobody likes to be in a place where they can’t help somebody else.”

“True. But, in a place like this, I doubt you get very many deaths.”

“It’s happened,” she admitted. “Not because of something done here but underlying conditions. Still, it’s hard to say goodbye when you had such hope and investment in someone’s progress.”

He winced at that. “I didn’t even think of anybody passing away here, but I imagine it’s fairly traumatizing for everybody. This is a place of hope, of healing, not walking away or letting go.”

“Exactly. But it is what it is. Maybe go hunt your sister up after lunch. If they’re busy, they’ll tell you,” she added thoughtfully. “I’ve gone down there a few times. Most of the time it’s all good, but, once in a while, it’s just a nuthouse.”

“I’d like to avoid the nuthouse part,” he said. “I’m doing okay when I’m out here, but it’s not that easy to maneuver if tons of people are there or if I have to navigate among dogs on leashes.”

She looked at him thoughtfully. “I can see how that