“Oof.” Four big feet and fifty pounds of basset landed on her thighs. “You big horse, what do you think you are doing?” She handed him his treat and waited while he crunched it away and searched for another. “No, just one or you’ll be fat as Murphy.”

Murphy lived one street over and he was so fat he could hardly run. She had volunteered to walk him for the owners but the offer had been met with a shrug and an excuse. Shame to see a dog so out of shape, but then so were his masters.

Daryl was sound asleep in front of the TV when she went back in the house.

* * *

“Been hearing all kinds of good comments about the meeting last night,” Anne said in the morning by way of greeting.

“Glad to hear that,” Roxie said. “Oh, and just black this morning.”

“No latte?”

MJ stared at her, then shrugged and turned back to Anne. “I’ll have the usual. I could smell the cinnamon rolls down the street.”

Roxie took her coffee with a smile. “And yes, before you ask.” They moved over to a table and sat, Roxie dumping in her usual creamer and one packet of sweetener.

“So much for black.”

“This is my black.” Roxie propped her elbows on the table and sipped her coffee, held by both hands.

“So Loren said you ordered your rug.”

“Yep, finally. Did she tell you about the young man there?” She gave her unblack black coffee another stir.

“Loren?” That didn’t sound like the shy Loren to MJ.

“Yeah, I know. But the manager there is a really charming young man and he recognized her from high school. Reminded her of a class they were in.” She leaned closer. “I think he was definitely interested and glad he saw her.”

“And Loren?”

“Said he sure didn’t resemble the fat geek with big glasses she remembered.”

“And?”

“Hey, that’s a start. He has my contact info so he can get ahold of her if he wants to.”

“And how do we encourage the want to?”

“MJ, for Pete’s sake, this was just last week.”

“Well, we can pray about him, that’s for sure.”

“I have. I really want her to find a good man and get married. To be as happy as Greg and I were. I mean, she has really good memories of her dad.”

“As do you.”

“I sure do. Enough to last a lifetime.”

“Here you go.” Anne set their plates and the latte in front of them.

“Amalia been in this morning?” Roxie asked.

“Nope, but she’s usually later. She ordered cinnamon rolls for a couple of residents at the home, so I know she is coming.”

“Does she do that often?”

“Only on the days we make the rolls.” Anne waved at a call from another table.

Fred’s truck was at the curb in front of MJ’s house when they got back. Roxie waved good-bye and had to tug on Sir Charles’s leash when he wanted to stay with Looper.