Free The Inn at Misty Lake: Book Two in the Misty Lake Series by Margaret Standafer Page A

it would just be good if he didn’t have to stay in there for too long at one stretch. He—”
    “Red, take a breath, I said I’d do it.” Setting the dog down, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. “He’ll be fine, I’ve taken care of dogs before.”
    Susan looked up at him, relief in her eyes. “Thank you, Riley. I’ll feel so much better knowing you have him. Maybe you can take him over to Sam’s once or twice and let him run with Rigi, he likes that. Or, maybe Jake would bring Rigi over here. Either way, it would be nice if they could get together. And I’ll write down when he eats and how much so you don’t have to worry about that.”
    “I’ll make sure he cleans his plate and I’ll schedule play dates for him,” Riley teased. “And I’ll read to him before bed and make sure he listens to classical music.”
    “Okay, okay, very funny. I know I’m a little crazy when it comes to him but he had such a rough start, didn’t you boy?” She bent down to rub his ears. Gusto leaned against her legs savoring every moment.
    “I’ll take good care of him,” Riley assured her. “I like him too, you know.” He joined her on the ground and the three wrestled until the dog finally tired.
     
    When he woke up he was in the backseat of the car and they were driving again. He couldn’t remember getting in the car, Mommy must have carried him while he was sleeping. The last thing he remembered was his mom giving him some chicken nuggets and orange soda then turning on the TV and making him promise not to go anywhere while she was gone. She hadn’t told him where she was going and he’d been scared. He had almost started to cry, but he knew she’d get mad so he’d squeezed his eyes shut tight. He’d eaten his nuggets and finished most of the soda then curled up on the couch to watch SpongeBob while he waited for her to come back.
    Even though he didn’t know where they were going, he was glad they left that man’s house. He was mean. Mommy said he was her friend but he was mean to Mommy, too. And Mommy kept leaving with him and then he’d be alone. He wasn’t going to think about it any more because he hoped they wouldn’t have to go back.
    Right now, though, he had to pee. He was afraid to ask his mom to stop, but he didn’t think he could wait much longer. “Mommy, I have to pee,” he said softly.
    “What?” It seemed to take a minute for her to remember he was in the back seat. “Oh, hey buddy. Did you have a good nap? We’ll stop soon, I promise. Are you hungry?” She turned and smiled back at the boy.
    The boy nodded but didn’t say anything. Sometimes it was scarier when Mommy was happy. She’d be nice and talk to him and play with him but then get mad again and he never knew why. And sometimes she got mad just because he talked. She said it made her head hurt. He couldn’t tell if this was one of those times so he decided not to say anything yet. He fidgeted in the seat and hoped she would stop soon.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    8
     
     
    “So, how was the trip?” It was the first time Susan and Riley had had time to catch up since Susan’s return from Chicago. She had agreed to the extra shifts on her schedule in exchange for her time away, but they were turning out to be draining.
    “Exactly what I had hoped for.” Susan smiled as she looked around at the progress Riley had made on the house. “I knew it would do Sam wonders to go back. She was nervous on the drive down, she almost convinced me to turn around once, but, in the end, she agreed it was just what she needed.”
    “Good. She’s seemed at ease since getting back.”
    “She is. She visited some of her friends, spent some time talking things out with the family, and made a trip to the cemetery. I think she found the final little bit of closure she needed. And it’s full steam ahead with the wedding plans. She bought a dress while we were there and now she’s talking flowers, cake, and all