Driftwood Bay (Hope Harbor #5) - Irene Hannon Page 0,44

the back steps two at a time and paused at the porch door to survey the scene in his kitchen, inhaling the tantalizing aroma wafting toward him.

Mariam was at the stove, stirring a mixture in a large pot. Thomma sat at the kitchen table playing some sort of card game with the two girls. Toby was prancing around the activity, as usual.

As soon as the pup caught sight of him, he began barking.

Thomma glanced toward the door, then aimed a forceful command in Arabic at the dog.

Toby ignored him.

Shooting the beagle a stern glance, Thomma set his cards down and held up a dog treat, called the dog over, and repeated the order while gently grasping his muzzle. After a moment he released the muzzle, pressed Toby’s hind quarters into a sitting position, and said the term again. Then he gave him the treat.

The pup stopped barking and stayed where he was.

Until Logan pushed through the door.

Toby immediately scrambled to his feet and began to bark again.

Thomma rose, and Mariam swiveled away from the stove, wiping her hands on her apron.

“Hello.” She motioned from the stove to him, raising her volume to be heard above the yaps. “For you. Thank you.”

She’d cooked them dinner?

He pantomimed eating, and she nodded, her features taut. Like she was afraid he’d complain about having delicious-smelling food waiting for him.

“Thank you.” He rubbed his stomach. “Hi, sweetie.” He crossed to Molly and bent to give her a hug. She didn’t snuggle against him—but she didn’t pull away either. “What are you playing?”

“Old Maid.”

If ever there was a politically incorrect name for a game, that was it. But Molly loved it—and anything that made her happy was fine with him.

Mariam walked over to him, held out a slip of paper with Susan’s name and phone number on it, and motioned for him to call the woman.

There must be a message his babysitter wanted to pass on that sign language and her limited vocabulary couldn’t transmit.

He pulled out his phone and sent the barking dog a disgruntled look. Too bad he didn’t have Thomma’s magic touch with Toby.

As if the man had read his mind, he said the word he’d used a few minutes ago. It took three tries, each one more forceful, along with the bribe of a dog treat, but at last Toby fell silent, trotted over to him—and sat as the man had taught him.

It was a miracle.

Motioning Thomma to retake his seat and resume his game, Logan tapped in Susan’s number. After returning her greeting, he explained the reason for his call.

“Yes, Mariam spoke with me earlier today,” Susan confirmed. “She wanted to let you know Thomma got his driver’s license today and can pick them up from now on. She also wanted to tell you she prepared a thank-you dinner tonight for giving her a job and for chauffeuring them all week.”

He shifted around to find Elisa’s grandmother watching him and mouthed another thank-you.

Faint color stole over her cheeks, and she refocused on the stove.

“Can you do me a favor, Susan?” Logan eyed Toby, who was still sitting quietly beside Thomma.

“Sure.”

“If I put Thomma on the line, will you ask him how he managed to get my dog under control—especially the barking?”

“I’ll be happy to.”

“Hang on a minute.” He walked over to the table and held the cell out to Elisa’s father. “Susan.”

The man took it, had a brief conversation with the woman, and handed it back to him.

“So what’s the story?” Logan watched as Mariam tasted the stew-like concoction on his stove.

“He said he likes dogs and often trained them for his friends in Syria.”

“No kidding.” Logan propped a fist on his hip. “I wonder if he could train Toby on the electric fence I installed. I’m getting nowhere.”

“I could ask him for you. Tell me how the training works.”

Logan gave her a brief overview. “Of course, I’ll pay him for this.”

“Why don’t you give the phone back to him and I’ll explain the job?”

Once again, Logan passed over the cell.

This time, Thomma had a longer conversation with the woman, doing more listening than talking, shaking his head once. Finally he handed the phone back.

It was impossible to tell from his expression whether he’d agreed to help, but the head shake wasn’t promising. However, Logan was willing to up the fee to whatever the man wanted. Bringing peace and quiet to this house would be worth any price.

“What’s the verdict?” Logan curled the fingers of his free hand into a tight