Page 35 of Sweet Home
Was that really only two nights ago?
It felt like a lifetime.
“Hi, Mr. Fournier,” she said.
“It’s just Joe,” he scolded her. “This is my wife, Edith.”
“It’s very nice to meet you,” Dulcie said. “I’m Dulcie.”
Edith pulled her into a surprisingly strong hug for such a frail-looking lady.
“I’m very glad to see you’re up and doing well,” Edith told her. “Joe was so worried about you.”
“I just needed a little rest,” Dulcie said with a smile. “Your husband is my hero though. Thank goodness he came along when he did. It was cold out there.”
“He’s a good one,” Edith agreed, smiling at Joe in the sweetest way.
“I’m getting hot chocolate,” Elizabeth piped up suddenly.
“That sounds very nice, sweetheart,” Joe told her. “I guess we’ll let you get to it so you can be back in time for thesnowball fight.”
He winked at Dulcie so she would know he was kidding.
“I’m too little for a snowball fight,” Elizabeth told him earnestly. “I’m just going to watch.”
“Good thinking,” Joe told her. “Well, you enjoy your hot chocolate, and keep a sharp eye on Dulcie for me. Make sure she has fun today.”
“Okay,” Elizabeth said, her eyes moving to Dulcie.
“Don’t worry,” Dulcie told her. “I’m having a lot of fun.”
They walked on, crossing the street to peek in the windows of the shops lining the park. Dulcie carried a warm feeling of satisfaction with her that apparently, she also had someone to greet her in Sugarville Grove, even if it was only because he’d fished her car out of a snowbank.
They approached a beautiful little ice cream shop that had a long line outside. A board near the door advertised a discount for participants in the snowball fight.
“Stone’s Throw Creamery,”she said, peeking in the window and spotting someone else she knew. “Hey, that’s Charlotte.”
“That’s our family’s shop,” West said with a smile. “My parents hired Charlotte last year to mind the counter when it was just a tired little place. Instead, she turned it into the hottest spot in town.”
“That’s really amazing,” Dulcie said, looking in the window at West’s sister-in-law working the cash register with baby Alonso in a carrier on her chest. “Do you think she needs any help?”
“We’ve got a whole list of volunteers for today,” West said with a half-smile. “But it’s really nice of you to ask.”
Dulcie got a second warm feeling. She meant it when she offered to help, and she was sure she would have enjoyed it too. But knowing she had pleased West just by asking the question gave her an unexpected feeling of joy.
They walked on, greeting a few more friends and patients of West’s before arriving at the café on the corner.
“Come on in,” the pretty lady at the counter called to them. “Nice to see you all.”
Dulcie looked around, taking in the old-fashioned, paper reindeer decorations on the walls, and the cute little red and green vases holding sprigs of holly on all the tables.
“Hey, Tara,” West said. “This is Dulcie.”
“Hi, Dulcie,” Tara said, smiling and giving her a wink. “It’s great to meet you. Go on and sit wherever you want.”
Other than a few old timers sipping coffee, the place was quiet. They chose a nice booth with a great view of the park, and Tara dropped off a couple of menus as they settled in.
“My treat,” West told Dulcie. “Get whatever you want to eat.”
