Page 18 of Family Jewels

“Uh-huh.”

“What did he say?” she asked excitedly.

“He offered to teach me how to birth a calf.”

“He what?”

I laughed and shook my head. “He said he was getting the green boots because they reminded him of my eyes.”

Her mouth twisted as she studied me. “Sounds like he needs just as much practice at this dating thing as you do.”

“Dating?What are you talking about?”

“Rose . . .” She shook her head. “He obviously likes you.”

While I’d halfway suspected that, my first reaction was to gape at her in disbelief.

She winked and pushed her cart forward. “Let’s get Muffy’s food and then corner Rayna.”

“You mean talk to her.”

“Yeah. That.”

We stopped by the pet department, and I wondered once again if I should pick a new dog food to try resolving my poor dog’s flatulence issue or get the brand she liked. I grabbed the one she liked. So my dog farted a lot. That was part of her charm.

As if she were reading my mind, Neely Kate said, “You know, you could take Muffy to see Dr. Romano about her bowel issue.”

“You mean her farting issue?”

“Po-tay-to, po-tah-to.”

“Muffy’s perfectly healthy. I see no reason to take her to the vet if there’s no problem.”

“I call the fact that I’ve considered buying one of those World War I mustard gas masks at the army surplus store a reason,” Neely Kate said. “It doesn’t hurt that Dr. Romano would be the one lookin’ her over.”

“Neely Kate.” I stopped in the middle of the aisle. “I’m not ready to date yet.”

“How do you know?” But something in her eyes told me this wasn’t just aboutmylove life.

“Areyouready to date?” I asked, thinking about that vision I’d had.

“I don’t know,” Neely Kate said quietly.

That was new. A month ago she’d said no. “Is there anyone you’re interested in dating?”

“No.” She said it with so much force I couldn’t help wondering if she was thinking about Carter Hale. He’d made no secret of his interest in her, but I was pretty sure there were rules against him dating a client. Thank goodness. Something told me it wasn’t a good idea for her to rebound with her divorce attorney.

“I know you’re still married,” I said. “But you’re trying your best to get a divorce. You’d probably be divorced already if he hadn’t taken off.” I gave her a sad smile. “It’s okay if you want to find someone else, Neely Kate.”

“And the same goes for you,” she said, sniffing and wiping the corners of her eyes. “Let’s go talk to Rayna.”

She left me in her wake as she started pushing the cart toward the housewares section as if they were giving away OPI nail polish to the first five customers.

By the time I caught up, Neely Kate had come to a halt. She was studying a thirty-something woman with jet-black hair that extended slightly past her shoulders. It had so many uneven layers it looked like it had been cut by Edward Scissorhands. She had on khakis, a white shirt, and a blue vest and was studying a package of bed sheets as though she wanted to light them on fire.

Neely Kate took a breath, appearing to center herself, and then her face lit up like a Christmas tree. “Rayna? Is thatyou?”

“What?” the woman asked in confusion as she hurriedly set the sheets on the shelf. “Neely Kate. Do you need help with somethin’?”