Silver Linings by Debbie Macomber Page A

“I’m going out for a bit myself. If I’m not here when you return, make yourself at home.”
    “Will do,” Coco promised.
    I followed them out and locked the door after them. Rover waited impatiently at the top step. He didn’t often get a second walk in a day, and he was eager to show me how grateful he was to be out and about this afternoon.
    It was almost as if Rover knew where I intended to go. He led the way straight to Mark’s house, nearly pulling me up the street in his eagerness. Seeing that it was a steep climb, I didn’t complain.
    When I saw the real estate sign again on Mark’s front lawn I tensed. I hadn’t wanted to believe that I had used Mark as a crutch, as my mother suggested. Well, I was going to need to learn to do without him now. I didn’t like it, didn’t want this. However, my options were limited.
    The door to Mark’s workshop was open and I could see him working inside. He seemed to be packing. A wave of regret washed over me and it took a couple moments for me to find my voice.
    He must have sensed my presence because he straightened and turned to look my way before I could announce my arrival. For a long moment all we did was stare at each other. For just a fleeting second I witnessed longing in his eyes, but it disappeared just as quickly and was replaced with irritation.
    He spoke first. “What can I do for you?” He wanted me gone, though, and he couldn’t have made it more plain.
    “This won’t take long,” I said. Rover made himself at home, lying down on a rope rug just inside the workshop door. “You realize that when we first discussed the gazebo I mentioned I wanted benches.”
    “Yes. Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to do that.”
    “I thought not.”
    “You can buy however many benches you want at a far better price than what it would cost for me to build them. I told you that initially.”
    If he had, I didn’t remember it.
    He shook his head. “I know what you’re doing and it isn’t going to work.”
    I met his gaze head-on. I refused to back down or flinch.
    “You’re making up excuses to keep me here, Jo Marie. It’s too late for that, so give it up.”
    “Whatever you say.” I certainly wasn’t going to argue with him. I stepped over Rover, who’d curled into a tight ball, and handed Mark the check.
    “What’s this?” he asked, reading it over. His face was marred with a deep frown.
    I held my shoulders stiff. “It’s what I owe you for the gazebo.”
    “You don’t owe me a thing. The bill is already paid.” He had a disgruntled look I found achingly familiar.
    “Wrong. I didn’t pay you for the labor.”
    He returned to cleaning out his workshop. “Consider it a gift.”
    “Thanks, but no thanks.” My back was as straight as a telephone pole, letting him know I wasn’t backing down.
    “Okay, fine, if that’s the way you want it.” He folded the check in half and stuffed it inside his pocket. Turning around, he continued his packing, his back to me.
    “Let’s go, Rover,” I said, tugging on his leash.
    He didn’t budge.
    “Rover,” I tried again.
    He remained resolutely exactly as he was.
    I bent down to pick him up and for the first time since he’d come into my life he growled at me.
    “Rover,” I snapped in shock.
    Mark whirled around and looked as stunned as I did.
    “He’s never done that before.”
    Mark remained on the other side of the room, his hands in his back pockets. “It’s all right, boy,” he whispered. “You should go.”
    Rover didn’t look as if he intended to budge anytime soon. The only thing I could think to do was leave him. “I’ll come back later and collect him or you can drop him off on your way out of town,” I suggested.
    Mark nodded. “Okay.”
    I backed up a couple steps, scanning the workshop. I hesitated, my heart in my throat, unable to casually walk away.
    “Was there something else?”
    I lifted one shoulder. I’d grown accustomed to sharing a great deal of my