“Because I’ve not had time to sort it and obviously you haven’t either.”

“I thought cats were supposed to be smarter than this.” They both looked to where Juno grumbled at the door to the house. “I know, you need a drink and food.” Loren turned the handle and pushed open the door. Tail rigid and straight in the air, Juno stomped into the laundry room, where her dishes awaited.

“This was all I needed.” Roxie headed for the sink to wash her hands. “All that dust in there.” She caught a sneeze against her inner elbow. “I say on your next day off, we take care of that disaster waiting to happen.”

“I thought we were going to work in the yard.”

“After this, even if we have to get up early. All we need is a fire or something.”

“I am off day after tomorrow.”

“No idea what is on my calendar but nothing happens before nine anyway.”

* * *

“So what went on at the library today?” Roxie asked after they’d placed their order at the restaurant.

“I spent most of the day on the bulletin boards and tomorrow the display cases. I’m setting up displays of homemade items next month so I requested samples with a brief history. I’m hoping for some unusual crafts. The woman who grows and paints gourds is a good example. That peapod boat intrigued me but it’s a bit hard to display. We’ve done some good collections too.”

The waitress set their salads in front of them. “Pepper?” She raised the pepper grinder. After cranking it a couple of times over each salad, she smiled. “Your dinner will be up shortly.”

“Their salads are always so fresh.” Roxie bowed her head. “Thank you, Lord, for crisp vegetables, a good dinner, and time together with my daughter.” She squeezed Loren’s fingers. “Amen.”

Roxie savored every bite of her rib-eye-with-the-bone-in steak. “How come I can never make steaks come out like this?”

“Too impatient?”

“Guess I use up all my patience on people.”

Loren cut herself a piece of her steak. “But you love to see people happy with their new homes and do everything you can to make sure that happens.”

Roxie nodded. Now if only I could help make the most important person in my life right now happy. But she had learned that nothing set Loren off faster than her mother meddling.

She spread her napkin over the remains on her plate so she wouldn’t keep picking at it and drank her iced tea instead, both elbows propped on the table. “That was delicious. You want dessert?”

“Not really.”

“Good.” She signaled for the check. “Rug shopping, here we come.”

“If they still have that one, we can be in and out pretty quick.”

Roxie liked the furniture store in the strip mall. They set up beautifully appointed display rooms as well as groups of things, like all the lamps.

“Good evening, ladies, how can I help you?” The young man who greeted them paused, studying. “Loren?”