with a laugh. “You start your day earlier than I do.”
“That’s true. I was actually about to head to bed. Does that make me stodgy?”
Mom laughed. “Really all I wanted was to line you up for a shopping expedition on Sunday. I was contemplating my winter wardrobe, and I decided it needs some major refurbishment.”
Allie hesitated. “I...think I have plans for Sunday already. I’m sorry.”
There was a tiny pause. “You think?”
“We haven’t finalized them yet, but I did agree.”
More silence. “This is the man you’re seeing?”
Allie stiffened at her mother’s tone. Her fingers tightened on the phone. “Nolan. Yes.”
“Well. I admit I’m disappointed. Since Sunday is the only day we can spend together.”
Which was true enough—Mom worked the standard Monday through Friday, while Allie closed her shop on Sundays and Mondays.
“Depending on where you want to go, we could make it an evening,” she offered, even as she regretted the lost time on Sean’s quilt.
“Oh, I had a full-blown expedition in mind. Seattle, I was thinking. And lunch, of course, my treat,” her mother said persuasively. “I can’t persuade you to ditch him for your mom?” The last was said humorously, as if it wasn’t to be taken seriously. But Allie had no doubt that it was.
“Refurbishing your winter wardrobe isn’t exactly an emergency,” she pointed out. “It’ll be mid-October before you so much as need a sweater.”
“Well...that’s true. Shall we plan for the next Sunday, then?”
“That sounds like fun,” Allie said, relieved. She hadn’t liked hurting her mother’s feelings. “And I’ll let you know if our plans for this Sunday end up getting canceled.”
“Oh, good,” her mother said. “I’ll look forward to it. Good night, sweetheart.”
“You, too.”
She could use some new clothes, too, Allie reflected, as she went to the bathroom to brush her teeth. She hadn’t paid all that much attention to her own wardrobe lately, until she met Nolan. Shopping would be fun.
So would helping pick out a dog or puppy, if Sean didn’t resent her addition to the expedition.
The thought gave Allie pause again. Nolan probably shouldn’t have asked her. Maybe she should Just Say No, per the antidrug campaign. Let the two do something meaningful together, without her trailing along.
But oh, temptation...
* * *
SEAN MADE IT apparent pretty damn quickly that despite his mumbled agreement to Allie’s inclusion today, he hadn’t actually wanted her along at all. Nolan ground his teeth as he pulled into the parking lot for the Everett Animal Shelter. He was mightily tempted to say, Trip’s canceled, and take them all home again. Except, then what? Did he drop Sean off alone at home and spend the day with Allie, the way he wanted to? Drop her off alone at home, and no matter how pissed he was spend the day with a kid who didn’t deserve to win this standoff, if that’s what it was?
To hell with it, he decided. We’re here. Maybe he’ll get over his snit. Or remember he likes her.
He set the emergency brake and turned off the engine. In the sudden silence, nobody moved. He watched a family hurrying in, looking eager. Close behind them came a woman and boy, maybe seven or eight, who had a dog with them on a leash. The dog’s tail wagged expectantly. The boy was crying, and Nolan realized in dismay that they weren’t here to adopt—they were here to get rid of their dog, who had not a clue what his fate was to be. God.
“Well,” he said. “I guess we should go in.”
He got out, waited until Sean opened his door, then locked up. Allie slid across the bench seat after his foster son. They walked across the parking lot themselves, Sean behind Nolan and Allie, letting the distance increase.
“I’m sorry,” Nolan said in a low voice. “I don’t know what got into him.”
“Maybe I should, I don’t know, wander off and look at cats or something while you two check out the dogs.”
“No,” he growled. “We invited you. He’s old enough to not act like a two-year-old ready to throw a temper tantrum.”
“No, but...” Allie let whatever she’d been going to say trail off. She sounded undeniably unhappy, and he didn’t blame her.
Opening the door and standing back for her to go ahead, Nolan then waited for his foster son. Sean slouched, dragging his feet, head hanging. Nolan was unhappily reminded of the first two times he’d encountered the boy. Maybe, it occurred to him, he’d been too hard on that first foster father. Nolan hadn’t liked