“Geez,” she said in the darkness, but in that darkness an idea formed, just a seed, but still, it was something she could pursue on her own and would bring her so much joy. The more she thought about it, the more determined she was to set her plan into motion.

Yes, she would be busy with this book, if all worked as Angela seemed to think it would. And yes, she had to help her parents with the family store and all the issues that came along with that, but this was something she could do for herself, and in doing so, she’d be providing a home for an animal in need.

Lauren was going to adopt a cat. With that in mind, she went to sleep, at peace with the world.

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Lauren was out of the house before her parents were up. She had plenty of time to do what she’d planned before she had to open Razzle Dazzle.

It took fifteen minutes for the heater in her car to warm up. If the gauge on her dash was correct, it was a mere eight degrees, well below freezing. She hadn’t lowered the thermostat in the shop, so hopefully it wouldn’t be too cold. But first, she had to make a stop at the local animal shelter.

Waking up at 4:00 A.M., she hadn’t been able to get back to sleep. Having the Internet at her fingertips, she was able to learn what she needed to do to adopt an animal from the local shelter. She was fairly certain she met the requirements, but still, one never knew. They opened their doors at 7:30, and she planned to be there. She’d often thought of getting a pet when she’d lived in Florida but could never commit because of her lifestyle. She was footloose and fancy-free, and at the time, it would have been unfair to have an animal, then leave it all alone. Now her life was different. She was settled now and knew the responsibilities associated with having an animal. In addition, Lauren felt confident that her parents would welcome another pet. They’d always had a dog or a cat when she was growing up, and their last cat, Buzz, named for his short coat of fur, had lived to the ripe old age of twenty-two before giving up the ghost. When she’d moved to Florida, any thought of another pet was put aside.

She parked the car, bundled up with her coat from two seasons ago, plus two extra layers for added warmth, and was still shivering when she stepped out into the early-morning chill. The skies were gray, and dark clouds hung low over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Yet jewel-toned evidence of autumn still clung to branches that would soon be barren. The wind bit into her exposed skin, and she secured her scarf so only her eyes were exposed to the elements.