“This way it’s more of a party; we can celebrate the new rug. Not that we need a cause to celebrate but…” She drained her glass and held it up. “More?”

“Please. But I can get it.”

“No, tonight you are a guest.” She brought the pitcher back and refilled all their glasses, then sat down again. “My, but this feels good. About time our weather lets us use the deck again. Three weeks ago there was six inches of white out here. I was beginning to think winter was going to hang around forever.”

Loren returned. “Twenty minutes.”

“Who is delivering tonight?” Roxie asked.

“MJ’s grandson, Brian. He’s a good kid.” Loren sipped from her glass.

“He can drive already?”

“Mother, he’s a senior this year.”

“Oh. How time flies.”

“So when you’re not working at the library,” Nate asked Loren, “what do you like to do?”

She shrugged. “Take Sir Charles for bike rides or walking, especially out to the lighthouse and around the lake. When we’re at the park, the trick is keeping him out of the water.”

“He’s a beautiful dog.”

“And he can get real smelly. He acts like you are abusing him when you hose him down or give him a bath. Do you have a dog?”

Nate nodded. “I did but he’s living with my dad since I moved into an apartment here in town. No pets.”

“Big dog? Little?” Loren asked.

Roxie winced. Please don’t say a yapper. Loren really does not like yappers.

“Guess he would be considered a big dog. Part Lab and a mixture of some kind. Got him from a rescue.”

A bit later, Sir Charles scrambled to his feet and leaped off the deck, announcing a visitor.

Roxie dug the cash out of her pocket and handed it to Loren. “Tell him no change. I’ll get the plates and forks.”

Loren hastened inside.

Nate frowned. “Isn’t it a rule that you eat pizza right out of the box?”

“Thank you, a man after my own heart. Do you like extra spices on yours?”

“Nope, just the way it comes. The pepperoni takes care of that.”

Loren returned, set the box on the table, and opened the lid. “Ahh.”

“That first smell is divine.” Roxie passed the stack of napkins. As soon as Loren sat down, her mother said, “Grace?” On the amen, she smiled at their guest. “Help yourself, company first.”

When no one could eat the last piece of pizza in the box, Roxie invited, “Cookies and ice cream for dessert?”

“Please, don’t be offended,” Nate said, “but I have no room for one bite of anything more.”

“Me too.” Loren closed the box. “Sir Charles would love to have this, but sorry, fellah. Pizza is not on your diet.”

“How can you ignore that look?” Nate ruffled the dog’s ears.

“Hard willed.”

Nate pushed back his chair. “Thank you so very much for this unplanned evening. All I did was deliver a rug. I hope I can see you again, and perhaps next time, I can be the host.”