Felicia looked at her. “Jack is wanting to be friends with Elana. Seems like he came into her tent this morning and gave her kisses.”
Elana cringed. “I wouldn’t say a lick on the face is exactly a kiss.”
Grandma Cecilia grinned. “She always wanted a dog.”
Elana shook her head. “I don’t think I said that.”
Her grandmother sighed. “When you were a little girl, you asked for a dog for years.” She rolled her eyes. “Your mother always refused because she didn’t want a dog in the house.”
Elana sighed. “That was a long time ago. I don’t have time for a dog now. I work too much, and would hate for it to be alone that long.”
Grandma Cecilia just stared at her for a second. “Things change, Elana.”
Ethan broke the silence in the room. “Elana, why don’t you go grab a shower. We’ll eat and then start on some updates to the van that I think you’ll both like.”
Elana started to say they didn’t have time to spend another day and that they needed to get back on the road.
But after looking at her grandmother, she knew there would be no changing the older woman’s mind.
Instead, she plastered on a smile and headed toward the bathroom.
CHAPTER10
Elana helped around the dog rescue while Ethan worked on the van and Felicia headed in to town. Her grandmother went with him to tell him exactly what she needed done to the old vehicle. Felicia came back around noon and took Elana and Cecilia to lunch while Ethan remained at home. They ate at the diner in the small town, and Elana was grateful for a home-cooked meal versus having to choke down another hotdog. Some older women started talking to them in the diner and offered to take them for a walking tour while Felicia went to show a client a house.
They were now back at the dog rescue and the sun was starting to set. Despite not making any progress on their journey, Elana and her grandmother had enjoyed their day.
Grandma Cecilia went to talk to Ethan while Elana helped Felicia with the dogs. As soon as she walked in the house, Jack stood up and walked over to her. He sat at her feet and stared.
“He never acts like that. I think he’s choosing you.” Felicia cocked her head.
“Choosing me for what?” Elana frowned.
“To be your dog.” Felicia snorted.
The front door opened, and Grandma Cecilia burst into the room. “Elana, go look at the van. You won’t believe it.”
Grandma Cecilia stayed inside to talk to Felicia while Elana walked outside.
Elana couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw the updates Ethan had done to the VW van.
“It’s a real bed.” She blinked as they stared into the van from the back door.
Ethan grinned. “I had to take out the bench seat to put this futon in. You can fold it up to make a couch, and the mattress is comfortable. I built out a platform for the mattress, and there’s still storage underneath.”
Elana’s eyes grew wide. “Wow, that’s incredible. Do you usually do this for people spending the night?”
He shook his head. “No, but your grandma told me when you were coming through and said she needed some help with renovations. She sent me money to buy the things needed ahead of time.”
Elana watched as Ethan pulled out a drawer from the platform.
“I put your camping stuff in here. There should be enough room for you and your grandma to both sleep in this bed tonight if you want.” Ethan stepped back so she could look.
“That’s fantastic. And I’m sure Grandma Cecilia will love sleeping on an actual mattress.”
Ethan nodded. “Come around to the side and let me show you what else I did.”
She followed him and waited until he opened the side door. He stepped in first, and she watched.
