The Christmas Dog (16 page)

“I’m sorry.” Betty didn’t know what more to say. “But as you know, Avery has a mind and a will of her own. And she’s not a child, Gary.”

“Yes, so you’ve told me before.”

“And I’m sure she’s perfectly fine.”

“I wish I felt as sure as you do.” He sighed loudly. “My cop friend is going to help me figure out a way to look for her. We’ll let you know if we find anything out. You do the same.”

They said good-bye, and as she hung up, Betty felt her legs shaking as if they were going to give way. She sat down on her bed and just shook her head. What was going on? Where was Avery? And why didn’t she get on that bus? Nothing made any sense. And now Betty was feeling frightened—and guilty. If anything had happened to Avery, if Jack was somehow to blame, Betty wouldn’t be able to forgive herself.

She quickly got dressed, then pulled on her jacket and snow boots and walked toward Jack’s house. But as she turned the corner, she saw that his pickup was gone. She stood there for a couple of minutes wondering what to do, and then she realized there was really nothing more she could do right now. Except pray.

As she trudged back to her house, she prayed for Avery—that she would be safe and that she would reveal her whereabouts to her family. Next she prayed for Ralph—that he’d found a good home and people who would love him. And finally she prayed for Jack. Or maybe she prayed more for herself. She asked God to show her how to be a good neighbor to Jack. Then, as if adding a postscript, she said, “And, dear Lord, if Jack is a dangerous criminal, please show me the best way to inform the authorities so that he might be arrested. Amen.”

Now she realized that sounded like a doubtful sort of prayer. How could one pray to love her neighbor with one breath and then pray about turning him in with the next? She just hoped that God would understand.

Betty went into her house and sat down at the kitchen table to make a grocery list. It wasn’t that she wanted to go to the store, but she was out of necessities like bread, milk, eggs, and even coffee. And although she didn’t feel the least bit hungry, she knew the responsible thing was to take care of this chore.

But after the sparse list was made, she just sat there staring at it. She felt as if all energy had been drained from her, as if it were an enormous chore simply to stand. Yet somehow she forced herself up. Then she stood there for a moment, feeling disoriented. Finally, she went into her bedroom and climbed into her bed, fully clothed, then pulled the covers up and slipped into a deep sleep.

“Grandma!”

Betty looked up and blinked. There before her stood Avery. At least Betty thought it sounded like Avery. But this girl was dressed in white and hovered over her like . . . like an angel. Was it an angel? Or was it Avery? Betty squinted her eyes, but the bright light behind the girl framed her head like a halo and made it hard to see. “Avery?”

“Are you okay, Grandma?”

Betty nodded and sat up. “Avery?” she said again.

“I’m sorry if I scared you.” Avery sat down on the side of Betty’s bed and reached for her hand. “Actually, you scared me. I knocked on the door and no one answered. And then I saw it was unlocked, which made me really worried, so I came in. And then I found you in bed like this and I thought . . .” Avery shook her head. “I thought you were dead.”

Betty smiled and squeezed Avery’s hand. “Not quite dead—just a little rattled and tired I suppose. But I’m better now.”

Avery hugged her. “I’m so sorry I was such a spoiled brat.”

“You?” Betty held on to the girl. “I’m the one who should be sorry.”

Avery released Betty and studied her face. “Why should
you
be sorry?”

Betty reached out to touch Avery’s cheek, wanting to make sure she was real and not just a dream. “I have so many reasons to be sorry, Avery. Where do I begin?”

“With a cup of tea?” Avery suggested.

Betty nodded. “Yes, that sounds perfect.”

“I’ll go get it started.”

“I’m right behind you.” Betty stood and slipped on her shoes, then hurried into the kitchen, where Avery was already filling the kettle.

“I still can’t believe it’s you,” Betty said. She watched Avery turn on the stove and reach for the tea mugs and tea canister. “I saw a girl dressed in white . . .” She chuckled. “And I thought that God had sent an angel to get me.”

Avery laughed. “I’m hardly an angel. And this ugly white blouse is my uniform.”

“Uniform?”

“Yeah. I got a job at the bus station café.”

“The bus station café?” Betty sat down in a kitchen chair.

“Yes. It’s a long story. I was so furious at you for giving Ralph away that I ran off to Jack’s house and unloaded on him. I told him I was leaving that night, but he talked me into waiting until morning.”

“And then he loaned you money and took you to the bus station?”

“Did you talk to him?”

“Yes. I was worried.”

“He’s really a sweet guy, Grandma. He even tried to talk me into staying with you. But I told him I was done with you.” Avery made a sad smile. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry, I understand. I’ve been a bit fed up with myself too.”

“So anyway, I was at the bus station and about to get a ticket to take me home, but I just couldn’t stand the idea of going back there. So I got a cup of coffee.”

“At the bus station café?”

“Exactly. This girl was the only waitress there. And she was in the weeds.”

“In the weeds?”

“You know, too many customers, too many orders, over her head.”

“Oh. I see.”

“And everyone was complaining, and this one dude was being really rude to her because his cheeseburger was probably getting cold, and she was about to start crying.”

“Poor thing.”

“That’s what I thought, so I walked right past her and got his cheeseburger and handed it to him. And then I started taking orders and getting stuff and filling coffee cups, and the girl never even questioned it.”

“Really?” Betty tried not to look too stunned. What nerve!

“Finally, it kind of slowed down, and the girl asked me who I was and if I’d come about the job.” Avery put the teabags in the mugs.

“And so she hired you?”

“Her dad did. He’s the cook and the manager. They’d just lost two waitresses earlier that week. And with holiday travelers, they were getting desperate.”

“But how did you know how to do all that?” Betty studied Avery. “Taking orders and getting food. Don’t you need to be trained or licensed or something?”

“Waitressing is waitressing. I’ve done it a lot of times.” She filled the mugs with hot water and brought them over to the table.

“But it’s been two nights since you left. Where did you stay?”

“Abby and Carl let me sleep on their couch.”

“The waitress and the cook?”

“Yeah. But that couch was getting uncomfortable. And Abby’s sister Laurel was coming home from school today, so the apartment was going to be crowded. They gave me tonight and tomorrow off since Laurel will help them out. So I thought I’d come check on you. Then you scared me half to death by playing possum in your bed. Were you feeling sick?”

“Just very tired.” Betty took a slow sip of tea.

“Hey, how did you like my decorations for the anniversary party?”

Betty gushed about how much she loved them and how everyone else was extremely impressed as well. “Marsha and Jim were completely overwhelmed with how beautiful it was, and their grandchildren thought you must be a professional artist.”

“I wish.”

“So, do you want to continue with the waitress job?” Betty asked.

“Yeah. For a while. Until I figure something else out.”

“Would you like to stay here?” Betty asked. “The city bus stop is only—”

“Two blocks from here.” Avery grinned.

“You know that you’re welcome.”

“Thanks. I’d appreciate it.”

“Would you mind calling your parents?”

Avery frowned.

“Or, if you don’t mind, I can call them—just so they’ll know you’re safe.”

“That’s okay. I’ll call them. I’m trying to act more like a grown-up. That’s what Jack told me I should do.”

“He told you that?”

“And a lot of other things. He’s been through a lot, Grandma. You should get to know him better. I think you’ll like him.”

Betty nodded. “I’m sure you’re right.”

They finished their tea, and Avery, true to her word, called her mother. Betty could hear the tension in Avery’s voice, and not wanting to eavesdrop, she hurried back into her bedroom and closed the door.

“It’s safe to come out now,” Avery called after a few minutes.

“I take it your mother wasn’t too happy.”

“That’s a pretty safe guess.”

“But she was relieved to hear you’re okay?”

“I suppose.”

“It’s not easy being a parent, Avery.”

Avery just shrugged with a hurt expression, and Betty decided to change the subject. “You’ll never guess what I did yesterday.”

“Let’s see. It was Sunday . . . did you go to church?”

Betty smiled. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. But after that I went to the animal shelter. I wanted to get Ralph.”

Avery’s eyes lit up. “You got him back?”

Betty sighed. “No. I was too late. Someone else adopted him.”

Now Avery looked sadder than ever.

“I’m sorry,” Betty said quickly. “Maybe I shouldn’t have told you that. But I just wanted you to know that I had a complete change of heart. I realized that Ralph was a wonderful, sweet little dog. And that I needed him. It almost seemed like God had sent him to me, and then I’d stupidly turned him away. I can’t even describe how sad that made me feel.” She put a hand on Avery’s shoulder. “Almost as sad as losing you.”

“But I’m back.”

“Yes, you are.” Betty smiled. “And I need to go to the grocery store. I made a short list, but now that you’re here, I think it’s time to kill the fattened calf.”

Avery looked confused.

“Or roast a turkey.”

So they went to the grocery store, and since Betty had already spent her December budget, she decided to dip into January’s. Of course, this would blow her grocery budget to pieces. But she didn’t even care.

16

“This is a lot of food, Grandma.” Avery surveyed the bags now lined up like soldiers on the kitchen counter.

Betty chuckled. “Well, yes, I suppose it is. We better get those cold items in the fridge.”

“Can we invite Jack for Christmas dinner?” Avery handed Betty the turkey. “I mean, if he doesn’t have other plans, which I’ll bet he doesn’t since he has no family around here anymore.”

“Anymore?” Betty adjusted the lower shelf to make room for the turkey.

“Yeah. Jack’s grandparents used to own his house.”

“Jack’s grandparents?” Betty scowled. “The only people who’ve ever lived in that house were the Spencers.”

“Yeah. They must’ve been Jack’s mom’s parents. He said she grew up here. He even showed me her room. It’s still painted pink.”

“Donna Spencer is Jack’s mom?” Betty dropped the package of celery in the vegetable bin and turned to stare at Avery. “Are you sure?”

“You know Jack’s mom?”

“I knew her. Donna was a sweet girl. As a teenager, she used to babysit my children during the summers when I worked at the post office. Then she got married and moved away. Last time I saw her, she was on her second marriage.” Betty strained her memory. “It seems to me that she had a little boy in her second marriage, but they only came out to visit a few times. And I think his name was Johnny.”

“Jack.”

“Jack is Johnny?”

“Yeah. I guess he switched over to Jack while he was in Afghanistan.”

“He was in Afghanistan?”

Avery nodded and handed Betty a bag of potatoes. “He said it was pretty rough over there. But it sounds like it’s been almost as rough being home. He told me he has horrible nightmares, and that’s why he likes to work on his house at night sometimes.”

“Oh.” Betty still remembered how Chuck had had bad dreams after he’d come back from Korea, but he’d never wanted to talk about his experience there. And to think Jack had been suffering too. Making noise in the night, with his neighbors all thinking the worst of him. She shook her head. “Poor boy.”

“Anyway, his mom gave him that house,” Avery said.

“Donna gave him the house?”

“Yeah. She and her brother inherited it. Only her brother didn’t want it.”

Betty just shook her head. “I still can’t believe I didn’t know that Jack was Gladys and Al’s grandson. I wish he would’ve told me sooner.”

Avery shrugged. “It sounds like he never got the chance.”

“I suppose I never gave him the chance.”

They were done putting things away now. “I think it’s a lovely idea to invite Jack for Christmas dinner,” Betty said. “How about if we invite the Gilmores too, unless they’re busy. It’s about time neighbors started getting acquainted.”

“And we can serve dinner in the dining room,” Avery said. “We’ll use your pretty dishes. I’ll get it all set up and—” Avery paused. “Can you hear that, Grandma?”

Betty stopped folding the paper bag and listened. “My old ears aren’t too sharp.”

“It sounds like someone at the door.”

Betty tucked the bag into a drawer, then looked up in time to see Avery dashing out of the kitchen. “Grandma!” she screamed. “Com’ere quick!”

Frightened that there was an armed gunman at the door, Betty hurried to see Avery squatting on the floor with a familiar little brown dog licking her face.

“It’s Ralph!” Avery said. “He’s back!”

Betty couldn’t believe her eyes. But it certainly did look like Ralph. “How on earth?”

“He found us, Grandma!” Avery scooped the dog into her arms. “He’s home!”

Betty considered this. On many levels she wanted to agree with her granddaughter and say, “Yes, he’s home, and all will be well.” But at the same time, she was concerned. “But the people at the shelter said he’d been adopted, Avery.”

“Maybe he didn’t like his new owners.”

Betty nodded. “Maybe.”

“Can we keep him?”

“You know I want to keep him, Avery. But what if his new owners are looking for him right now? I’m sure they paid good money for him. He was probably meant to be someone’s Christmas present. And certainly there’s some kind of record at the shelter—”