“A café for dogs.” Courtney stopped in front of the store on their right. A sign in the shape of light brown dog biscuit hung over the door with the words Your Best Friend’s Café carved into it. Another dog bone was on the glass door with the words Your Best Friend’s Cafe: Gourmet Baked Goods and Gifts. In the window, there was a display of cupcakes similar to what you’d see in a regular bakery along with toys and coffee mugs, each one featuring a different dog breed.
Josh moved closer to the window for a better look inside. “It’s for dogs with more refined tastes.” Although not crowded, guests sat at several of the café’s tables while their furry best friends lounged on the floor near them. “Do you want to go inside? They have normal bakery stuff too.”
“Up to you. I’m not starving, but if you’re hungry, we can get something.”
Hungry, no. Curious, yes. He loved dogs, but it’d been years since he owned one. He opened the door and held it for her. “You can pick the next stop.”
Two long display cases flanked either side of the counter. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what case contained the bakery treats for the four-legged customers and which one held those for the customers on two legs, thanks to the labels inside. While the café occupied half the store, anything and everything a dog owner could want for their best friend or themselves filled the other side.
A woman stood in front of them at the counter. A dog dressed in a blue flannel jacket and boots stood by her feet.
“Do you know what you want?” Josh eyed the various beverages listed on the board. After getting a good look at the bakery items available for dogs, he’d half expected to see premium beverages listed for them too. But it looked like the only drink served to dogs was water.
“White chocolate latte and a cinnamon biscotti.”
“Human or dog variety?” He couldn’t resist, especially since everything in both cases looked tasty. In fact, if someone handed him a cookie or cupcake intended for a dog, he wouldn’t have known it just by looking at it.
“Human. But if you want to get yourself a Carob Woof biscuit, I won’t let Aimee Trainor or any of your fans know.”
“It does look good. I think the golden retriever over there might be eating one.” The dog in question was going to town on something. “But the Corgi Cupcake with peanut butter frosting looks good too.”
Tray in hand, the customer ahead of them and her four-legged friend walked away, and they moved forward as more customers entered the store and joined the line.
“Get one of each,” Courtney suggested with a shrug. “You can take one home with you.”
The employee behind the counter didn’t look in their direction as she popped something into the microwave. “Be right with you,” she said before walking through the door behind the counter.
When the employee returned, she carried a new tray of frosted cookies. Josh couldn’t tell whether the cookies were for people or dogs.
“Sorry about….” The woman’s voice trailed off as she stared at Josh. Her eyes darted in Courtney’s direction before zooming back toward Josh. “Oh. My. God. J.T. Williamson.” Keegan, according to her name tag, glanced at Courtney again. “You were both on the cover of Today Magazine this week. I read it every week. I can’t believe you’re in here.” She pulled a cell phone from her back pocket. “No one will believe me without a picture.”
A handful of pictures later, Josh set their tray down and pulled out a chair. Right away the dog at the next table, a breed he didn’t recognize, came over to say hello.
“Sorry about that. Max likes to make new friends,” the dog’s owner said.
Josh gave the pooch a scratch behind the ears. “Don’t worry about it. What kind of dog is he?” He looked a bit like a pug but not quite.
“A jug.” The woman piled her napkin and empty plate back on her tray.
Maybe he needed his hearing checked. Had the woman called her dog a jug?
“A jug?” Courtney asked.
Good, at least she’d heard the same thing as him.
Max’s owner smiled and nodded. “Silly name, I know. He’s part Jack Russell and part pug.” Picking up her tray, she slipped the dog’s leash back on her wrist and left.
He watched the dog leave. It’d be the perfect size for Adalynn. She’d been after him since the previous winter for a dog. When she mentioned it during a video call in the fall, he’d promised they would talk about it later. There hadn’t been enough time during his two short visits with her since then.
“My last dog was a Jack Russell. Her
energy level was through the roof.”
Across from him, Courtney removed her gloves and set them aside. “You had a dog? I pictured you as more of a cat person.”
There’d been two of those in the house growing up, but they’d been his sister’s pets. “Nope. Dog guy. Lizzie died in her sleep five years ago.” And he’d been relieved she’d gone on her own. “She was about fourteen.” He wasn’t positive of her age. When he adopted her from the shelter, they estimated she was already seven. “Adalynn wants a dog. And I miss having one. After the court case and stuff is settled, I might start looking for one.”
“Why wait? Look when we get back.” She stirred her drink and then lifted the mug, which featured a picture of a Collie on one side and a dog bone with the name of the café on the other. “I like dogs.”