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That's why I ran. I felt like I had no choice.

“Oh, Fig will come around. My mom will promise her fabric for some fancy dress for prom and Fig will be happy as a clam sewing it. Eventually Fig will realize that college will be a better time for her to travel to Europe.”

“It sounds like your parents are pretty supportive of all of you.”

“Yeah. I just think it's a new thing because the rest of us, we never really wanted to go all that far. We really never wanted to leave home. Fig, she's been itching to go since she was little. And I think the reality of that is going to catch up to my mom and my dad pretty quick.”

“Do you have other family around here?” I ask him.

“Oh, for sure. My dad’s parents live in town and then my mom's family, they live in Burly, the Rowdy family. My uncle Angus and his boys.”

“Wow,” I say. “It's pretty much a whole family tree right here in this valley.”

“Does that scare you? The idea of a man like me never wanting to leave?”

I shake my head. “Not at all. I find it very comforting. I’ve spent so much of my life on the road. The idea of being settled somewhere, someone wanting to be settled? I like that about you, Bartlett.”

He laces his fingers through mine tightly as we pull up to the bed and breakfast. “I'll come in with you just to make sure you get checked in, all right?”

“Thanks,” I say. “I really appreciate it.”

Bartlett tells me his sister Lemon lives right next door.

“Really?” I say. “That's a really cute place.”

“Yeah. It was a real fixer-upper, but, well, she had plenty of brothers to help her fix it up.”

We go inside the main office and it's a quaint, charming building in town. I smile as we walk to the front desk.

“Bart, what are you doing in here on a Sunday night? I'd expect your mama wants you home for dinner,” the older woman at the desk scolds.

“We just finished dinner,” he says. “Mary, this is Abby. She's got a room here from the doctor over at Homesick Urgent Care. At least that's what we're hoping.”

“Oh yes, he called over earlier. I'm so sorry, Abby. I heard what happened to you this afternoon. I can't believe that. I was just shocked.”

“I'm okay,” I say, “I'm just glad that there was a room at all.”

Mary's eyes run over me, though. Landing on Hijinx. “Um, is that your dog?” She reaches for a tissue and blows her nose.

“Yeah. This is Hijinx. He comes with me. We're a package deal.”

Mary blows her nose loudly, pointing to a sign. “I'm so sorry, but we have a no pets policy here at the Home Away From Home Bed and Breakfast. I'm really sorry. But I'm very allergic and so is my husband.”

“I’m so sorry. I didn't realize. I'd never want to hurt you or get you sick. Is there another hotel in town?”

Mary looks over at Bart. “In Burly there’s a motel.”

“I can’t have her go there,” Bartlett says.

“Of course not.” Mary shakes her head, sneezing again. I back away with my dog, my stomach dropping, not knowing what I’m going to do.

Bartlett runs a hand over his beard. “We're just going to go outside and talk, Mary.”

“All right. Of course. I'm so sorry. Again. I really am. I didn't know you had a pet with you.” She blows her nose loudly into her tissue.

As we walk outside, tears well up in my eyes. “I can go to the police station,” I tell Bartlett. “And get my wallet now. And I can get a taxi to the motel or you could take me. I just–”

“Hey.” Bartlett runs a hand over my shoulder. “You know, I could keep Hijinx for the night.”


Tags: Frankie Love Romance