Page 111 of Wag More Bark Less

“Good. I’m glad to hear that.” Rosalyn glanced back at Maggie. “I wanted to talk to you about her.”

“Maggie?”

“The Legion approached me about establishing a VSO position for Bluebell Springs.”

“They did?”

That might explain the quick lunch break that took over two hours the other day. Not that I could tell them when to go and when to stay. The float was being assembled purely on a volunteer basis. But it had been unusual per their normal routine.

“They want her, of course. But there’s a bunch of red tape to even get a Veteran Service Officer position created, especially since we’re not the county seat. Frank promised he has some connections to speed up the process. But, if we succeed, do you think she’d be interested?”

I looked at Maggie, laughing and swiping at the tears beneath her eyes. “She’ll be gone for a while, helping her family.”

“But she might consider coming back?” Rosalyn asked, her tone hopeful.

I wanted to say yes. I wanted to believe that if Maggie had a purpose here in Bluebell Springs, she would move here permanently in a heartbeat. She loved this town and everyone in it as much as they loved her. But she needed her family. She needed to heal and find her own way.

“It’s worth a shot,” I finally said.

“That’s what I was hoping you’d say.” Rosalyn beamed. “Oh, do me a favor. Don’t tell her we had this conversation.”

“What? Why not?” I didn’t like the idea of keeping secrets from Maggie.

“Frank and the others were insistent we not say anything until we know for sure we can make it happen. Plus, they’re really set on surprising her.”

I glanced back at Maggie who was stuffing the phone in her back pocket. She stared off at the mountains in the distance and just smiled. Even if the position was successfully created, it didn’t guarantee Maggie would return.

But it did give me something I hadn’t had before.

Hope.

THIRTY-NINE

MAGGIE

“Hey, Vi,” I said, waving at the camera. “It’s chili cookoff day.”

I rotated in a slow circle so she could see the park behind me filled with tents. Because the weather was cooperating, the town had organized outdoor electricity for what had to be at least fifty crockpots.

With cinnamon now added to our recipe, I hoped it gave Luke and me a solid chance at placing. I’d heard enough chatter about the reigning champion Dana Wilcox and how it was impossible to beat her. But I believed we had a shot at second or third.

“I’m sorry I’ve been terrible at keeping up with our videos lately, but I have a good reason. I think you’d even be proud of me—” An icon with Violet’s profile picture popped up in the top corner of the screen, announcing my sister was watching me live. “Oh, hey.” I waved again.

“So, that good news?” I said, glancing around, scanning the crowd for one tall man in particular. I found him chatting with a couple of Legion members, and returned my attention to the camera. “I took your advice. I let Luke give me his hot dog.”

The double exclamation point emoji filled my screen. It was rare we caught each other live anymore, but the immediate response to the news I’d been sitting on for days made me stupidly happy.

“He’s actually given me his hot dog many, many times.”

More double exclamation points populated. It had to be killing my sister that we weren’t FaceTiming right now. I could only imagine how much she had to say.

“It’s a very good hot dog, Vi. I have so much to catch you up on⁠—”

“You’re Maggie,” a female voice said. I looked up from my camera, finding a slender redheaded woman with a blond shepherd dog at her heel. “I’m sorry to interrupt your call. I’m Kira. Luke’s sister.”

“Gotta go, Vi.”

I caught a mad emoji right before I ended the video message, and stuffed my phone away in my pocket.