equipment. His patients didn’t include a bunch of big-city movers and shakers. He wasn’t going to be profiled in Dallas Monthly as one of the city’s top ten dental practitioners.
And dentistry wasn’t heart surgery.
“Did you need something?” Russell said.
“What?”
“What were you going to say?”
“Oh. It’s nothing.”
For the first time he realized she’d been holding a small white box, which she’d set on his desk when she came in. “It’s just a little something for you,” she said, sliding it toward him. “No big deal.”
Russell opened the box, surprised at what he saw. A single cupcake. On top was a swirl of frosting with multicolored sprinkles.
And a blue birthday candle.
“I know your birthday was on Saturday,” she said, “but we weren’t in the office then, so I thought…”
Russell continued to stare at the cupcake. She’d remembered his birthday?
“I know,” she said, shrugging weakly. “It’s dumb.”
“No!” Russell said. “It’s not dumb. It’s not dumb at all.”
“I have a match,” she said. “I can…you know. Light the candle. If you want me to.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
She pulled a book of matches from her pocket and struck one, leaning in close to light the candle. It flared. Burned.
“Make a wish,” she said.
That was easy. When I ask Shannon to marry me one of these days, she’ll say yes.
He blew out the candle.
“What did you wish for?” Cynthia asked.
“If I say it, it won’t come true.”
“Then keep it to yourself,” Cynthia said, smiling. “I hope you get your wish.”
He looked up at her smile, a sweet, friendly smile that made him feel good in ways he’d never realized before. As single-minded as she could be, she still made things easy for him around there. Jessie had even started to warm up to him a little, but only because Cynthia brushed her and fed her and petted her and made her generally happy to be there. With that kind of attention, how could the cat possibly be anything but ecstatic all the time?
“Well, I’d better get back to work,” Cynthia said. “Happy birthday, Dr. Morgensen.”
She left his office and closed the door behind her. He looked at the cupcake, then at his calendar. He thought about his mother, then about Shannon…
He grabbed his phone. Call Shannon. Make another date. Get her back on the hook again.
Then he stopped himself. No. He wasn’t going to do that. That clingy stuff wasn’t going to work with her. He had to play just a little bit hard to get. And the more he thought about it, did Luke Dawson really matter, anyway? In a few weeks he’d be gone for good. Out of the way forever.
In the meantime, Russell decided he’d just lie low. Once Luke was gone, Shannon would realize he’d been nothing but temporary fun and games. And when she went looking for somebody she wanted to be with forever, who would be right under her nose?
He would. The man she was really destined to be with.
And neither one of them would ever mention Luke Dawson again.
The day before the festival began, Luke got a call from Myrna, asking him if he could help her out with a special surprise. He agreed instantly. After he hung up, he asked Freddie Jo for the necessary paperwork, and then he went to the kennel and told Barney his life was about to change big time.
Barney jumped into his truck with him, and fifteen minutes later they pulled up in front of Myrna’s house. Luke sat down beside Myrna in a wicker chair on the front porch. She filled out the paperwork Luke had brought, and then she poured them both a glass of sweet tea. Barney lay down on the front porch, acting as if he belonged there.
Smart dog.
At a little after four, the school bus pulled up to the corner of 12th Street and Llama Lane. Kids piled out. Pretty soon Todd came down the steps, dragging a lunch box and a handful of papers. He made it as far as the house next door before he noticed the guests on his front porch.
“Luke! Barney!”
He took off running across the lawn. Barney leaped to his feet and looked at Luke.
“Well, go on,” Luke said with a nod.
Barney shot off the porch and met Todd in the middle of the front yard. Todd dropped his lunch box and papers and gave Barney a big hug. The dog squirmed happily, his tail wagging like crazy. Then Todd came to the porch, Barney following close at his heels. Myrna took his lunch box