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She disappears in the back, returning a minute later with an energetic white dog with a big patch of brown over one eye. He strains at his leash to reach me, doing everything he can to lick my hand. I bend down and scratch behind his ears, his tail thumping the floor.
“Are you a dog person?” she asks, smiling normally again.
“I like them. But we never had any pets growing up. And I work so much now…”
“I understand.”
We head out into the warm sunshine, Petey sticking to Serena’s side once she tells him to heel.
“So you actually help out in the shelter? I thought you were on the board.”
“Oh, I am. But paperwork is my least favorite part. I’d rather be downstairs with the animals any day.”
Why did I think she was just a figurehead? “Why not hire someone to handle that stuff then?”
“Wendy does so much already. She’s our executive director. But we’re almost all volunteer based. We can’t afford anyone else.” She chuckles, but there’s little humor in it. “Actually, we can’t afford anything anymore. Dad cut all the funding.”
I’m careful not to show a reaction after our talk last night. She hadn’t been pleased when I questioned her father’s finances. But this is one more thing to feed that kernel of suspicion in my gut.
“Everything is budgeted through June - that’s the end of our fiscal year - but after that, I need to figure out something else. Grants or donations, I guess.”
I glance over, her mouth set in a frown that tugs at my chest for some reason.
“Bishop Industries donates to a number of charities. I’ll add your shelter to the list.”
“No, I can’t ask you to do that.”
“I’m offering.”
Her lips tip up at the corners, but she keeps her gaze focused ahead. “Thank you. But only a partial amount. We need to be more self-sustaining so this issue doesn’t happen again. I actually went to talk to Mackenzie about it yesterday and-”
She stops in the middle of the sidewalk, Petey tugging at the leash.
“What is it?”
“I forgot to mention I saw Gabriel there.”
I can’t keep my face neutral this time as my brows lift in surprise. “Mackenzie was the wedding planner, right?”
She nods, stepping to the side so someone can pass her.
“What was he doing there?”
“He said he works there now.”
Excuse me? “Gabriel’s planning weddings?”
“Well, Mackenzie plans other events too.”
My brain still can’t catch up with the fact he’s working on weddings when his was such a disaster. “That’s not the point. He- What the hell is he thinking?”
“Where else is he supposed to work?”
Her question gives me pause. My brother has a degree, true, but zero experience planning anything. “I don’t know, but… event planning?”
She shrugs. “I guess he’s lucky Mackenzie offered him a job.”
Yeah, lucky indeed. What, did he call her up and beg her or something? Why would she even hire someone with no experience?
We continue down the street, Petey’s tail wagging happily, tongue sticking out of his mouth, as my mind works through the situation.
Serena’s comment earlier this week that she felt like a third wheel when they were planning the wedding.
Gabriel placing his hand on Mackenzie’s lower back as they exited the rehearsal dinner.
Connor revealing that Gabriel fell in love with someone over the last month. Someone there’d be consequences for if people found out.
I suck in a breath, one potential answer hitting me square in the chest.