One Snowy Night (Sweet Home, Alaska #1) - Patience Griffin Page 0,15

who couldn’t take care of her.

Piney handed back his card. “You know we have grocery delivery, if you need it. Just give me a call.” She passed him a business card.

“I’m not going to be here long enough to need groceries,” he said, driving the point home.

Once again, she didn’t respond.

Donovan gathered his homemade bags. “Thanks for dinner.”

She laughed. “Don’t worry. I put it on your card.”

“I expected you would.”

“See you soon,” Piney said.

But Donovan didn’t think so. He might be curious about what Hope had been up to, just to fill in the blanks. That didn’t mean he wanted to come face-to-face with her again.

If he needed groceries in the meantime, he’d order them online and have them delivered from Whole Foods or something. He could even go a little hungry.

But when he got Boomer settled into the vehicle, he couldn’t help but pull a U-ey and make his way to Rescue Drive. The cabins were even more run-down than he remembered, the trailer park more shabby, too. He shouldn’t have come. It made him feel awful. He made his way back to the main drag and headed out of town, anxious to put Sweet Home behind him.

* * *

• • •

PINEY LOCKED THE door and watched through the window as Donovan and his dog got in the SUV. As she made her way upstairs to her apartment, a deliciously sneaky idea came over her. One that involved Hope, Donovan, and Ella. It wasn’t as if she’d had a clear vision. Except she could see that Ella’s future was bright, full of happiness, and overflowing with love.

She stepped into her home and pulled out her phone.

“Hello.”

“Hope? I need you to make an after-hours delivery. It just came in.”

Hope paused on the other end and Piney could tell she was debating whether to ask if it could wait until tomorrow. But Hope never let her down. Still, just in case . . .

“It’s an emergency,” Piney lied. Most of the time, if it was truly an emergency and the store was closed, Bill would do the run for her. “Sorry about this. Bill’s busy and can’t do it.” Another lie. Actually, Bill was ten feet away in the kitchen, just putting the finishing touches on a pot of caribou stew for Sparkle’s recovery.

Hope sighed. “Sure. No problem, especially since it’s an emergency. Where am I going?” The rustling on the other end told Piney that Hope was pulling on her coat.

“Home Sweet Home Lodge.” Piney made sure to sound as innocent as possible, and saying the whole title made it sound like an official request.

“But he was just in the store!”

Piney noticed that Hope didn’t use Donovan’s name.

“He needs food to get him through, buttercup.”

“I think you’re up to something,” Hope accused.

“Scout’s honor. He needs food,” Piney said, though she’d never been a scout.

Hope paused again, long enough that Piney was getting worried she would refuse.

“I could take the groceries,” Piney said. “That is, if you think it’s okay for me to leave Sparkle. You saw how she looked earlier.” Yes, she’d played the guilt card. And yes, she’d rescued Hope earlier from checking out Donovan’s groceries. But now that the initial shock was over, it was time for those two kids to kiss and make up!

“Fine,” Hope said petulantly. “I’ll be right there.”

“See you in a few.” Piney hung up.

“What are you up to?” Bill asked.

Piney jumped. “You scared me.”

“I heard you. Do I need to make a delivery?” He was reaching for his coat, which was slung over her chair.

“No. You relax.” Piney moved his coat and patted the recliner. “You put your feet up. You’ve been working hard in the kitchen.” This seemed like a role reversal, but Bill was too strong and burly to be considered effeminate in any way.

Bill grumbled as he took his place in the chair. “I know you’re up to something.”

When he was settled, Piney leaned over and laid her head against his. He didn’t like it when she told him how lucky she was to have him in her life, so she kept it to herself. Also she didn’t mind that he never said how much he cared for her because he was the type of man that showed it, every day in the little things he did—a Comfort quilt for Sparkle’s recovery, insisting on carrying the groceries up to the apartment for her and Sparkle, and fixing things around the store and up here, too. He was a grumbly old