“Trust me, she gives it right back. It’s how we are.” He chuckled a little. “Don’t worry about Nina. She might be a house, but she’s made of bricks.”
We arrived at Coffee Darling a little before ten, and Frannie came out from behind the counter to give me a hug. “Hey! Thanks for coming in, you guys.”
“Frannie, I don’t know if you’ve ever met my friend Noah McCormick before.” I turned to Noah. “Noah, this is my youngest sister, Frannie.”
He held out his hand. “Nice to meet you.”
She took his hand and gave him a friendly smile. “I know all about you. I live in Hadley Harbor, and you and Renzo are pretty famous there. Plus Mack has talked about you.”
Noah nodded. “Mack’s a great guy.”
“Thanks. Did you guys come to eat?” Frannie looked hopeful. “We’ve got the best cinnamon buns around, and the coffee is hot and fresh.”
“Perfect,” I said. “We’ll just grab a seat.”
The shop was crowded, but we snagged two stools at the counter, and Frannie hurried over with the coffee pot and two menus. Turns out, they did have eggs and bacon, which Noah ordered along with a potatoes and toast, while I ordered a cinnamon roll.
“That’s all you want?” Noah asked.
“They’re huge,” I said. “Trust me, I saw them last time I was here. And I have to fit into my dress Saturday night.”
“Oh right, the wedding.” He picked up his mug and sipped. “Mack really is a good guy.”
“He is. Do you know him very well?”
“Not too well. But I sometimes see him at the gym I go to. And recently he’s gotten interested in a cause I’m involved with.”
My ears perked up. “I love a good cause. Tell me.”
“It provides service dogs to post-9/11 veterans with PTSD or traumatic brain injuries.”
“That’s amazing,” I said, my heart melting. “Where do you find the dogs?”
“They’re rescue dogs.”
“So it’s like you’re rescuing two souls in one swoop. I love that.”
“It’s a good cause. Preventing suicide is a major goal of the program, and I guess Mack had a Marine buddy that killed himself after he came home and struggled to adjust.”
Setting my coffee down, I put one palm over my heart. “Oh my God. I had no idea.”
“It’s common, unfortunately. I was lucky to have the support of family and friends, but even with that, a lot of guys need some help returning to civilian life.” He took a drink of his coffee and set down the mug, but kept his eyes on it. “It was actually after I lost my dad that I struggled the most. But right after that, I got Renzo, and my life turned around.”
I heard the catch in his voice. “Really?”
He nodded. “So I know firsthand how much bonding with an animal can help.”
Reaching over, I placed a hand on his arm. His skin was warm, but gooseflesh rippled up my arm, making me shiver. “What can I do to help? Do you need a connection in Washington? Increased awareness? Fundraising?”
“Hell. All of the above, probably.” He lifted his cap off his head and replaced it. “I can ask the leadership on that. Mostly I’ve just done community events with Renzo, helped find foster homes to raise puppies, donated money. We’ve actually got an event coming up this month, a 5K race.”
“Ooh, when? Can I run in it?” I bounced on my seat.
“Sure, but when do you go back to Washington? The race is Saturday the 19th.”
“Oh.” My excitement died down. “I’m already back in DC by then. I leave Sunday, the day after the wedding.”
“Quick visit.”
“Yeah. I have to get back for work. Fall is always a busy season.” And usually one I looked forward to for its action and excitement. But then I remembered what I’d face when I got back there—I had to move, find a roommate, or ask for a raise in order to afford the townhouse Brooks and I’d shared. I wasn’t ready to deal with that yet.
“Maybe another time, then.” Noah took another sip of coffee. “And I’ll let you know about making a connection in Washington.”
“Yes, please do that.” I rubbed his arm. “I want to help.”
He smiled at me. “Of course you do.” He was teasing me, but it was a sincere compliment too, and it made my entire body tingle.
I smiled back, feeling my cheeks grow warm. “So I want to ask you something. And you can say no.”