“By chance, do you happen to know how to play cribbage?”
“I do. My grandfather taught me.”
Bernie’s face lit up like a Christmas Eve candlelight service. “You got time to humor an old man?”
“Sure. You think you can beat me?”
“I can try.”
Julia ended up spending an hour with Bernie, the cribbage board on the table between them. Bernie was happy to tell her story after story about Cain until she felt she knew far more about him than she’d ever imagined she would.
“Cain ever mention his dog?”
“You mean Schroeder?”
“No, Bogie.”
“No, I can’t say that he has.” But then they weren’t exactly on the most friendly terms.
“Raised Bogie from a pup. Loved that dog like he was human. The two of them did everything together. Bogie lived until he was eleven, which is old for a large dog. Devastated Cain when we had to put him down. I wanted him to get another dog, raise him, too, but Cain refused. Said he’d had his dog.”
“But he has Schroeder now.”
“Schroeder was my dog. Couldn’t have him here at Manor House, so Cain agreed to take him. I know he sees to his needs, but I worry that Schroeder isn’t getting the TLC he used to.” He looked to her as if she could tell him what he wanted to know.
“I can’t say, but I do know Cain walks Schroeder every day.”
Bernie’s expression sobered. “Cain doesn’t show a lot of emotion. He keeps the way he feels locked up inside. I’m hoping this kindness project of yours will make a difference. It’s what he needs and a lot more.”
They played several games of cribbage. It’d grown dark by the time Julia prepared to leave. She collected her coat and purse and thanked the older man. “Bernie, I had a wonderful afternoon. I can’t thank you enough.”
“The pleasure was mine. Can’t remember the last time I’ve enjoyed a visitor more. I hope you’ll come again.”
“I will, and I’ll bring you those cookies next time I stop by.”
“Wouldn’t turn them down like my foolish grandson.”
Leaning forward, Julia kissed his weathered cheek. “It might not be a good idea to mention our visit to Cain.”
“Not a good idea at all,” Bernie agreed. “Keep me updated on your progress. A twelve-day experiment, you say?”
“Twelve days. This is day five.” For a number of reasons she didn’t mention the blog, mostly because it didn’t seem relevant. She wasn’t sure he would even know what a blog was.
“I’ll stop by again soon.”
“Good. I’ll look forward to that more than you know. Furthermore, I demand a rematch,” he said, putting away the cribbage board. “Your grandfather did a good job teaching you; you’re one fine opponent.”
Julia considered that high praise.
—
Despite the hour, Julia stopped off at a Christmas tree lot on her way back to the apartment and purchased a large wreath and a small tree. It was awkward getting both home on her own, and when she got to the elevator, she saw a sign that read: TEMPORARILY OUT OF ORDER .
“Just great,” she muttered under her breath, her shoulders sagging with defeat. It’d been a long day and she was dead on her feet.
“What is?”
Cain stood behind her, a take-out bag in his hand.
Julia shot him a look. “The elevator is out of order.”
A huge grin came over his face. “Looks like you’re up a creek with a Christmas tree.”
She paused, unable to look away. Cain was an attractive man when he smiled. And, while she hated to admit it, he was good-looking even when he didn’t, which in her humble opinion was grossly unfair. “This isn’t funny.”
“On the contrary. I look forward to watching you haul that tree up two steep flights of stairs to the third floor.” He walked over to the door leading to the stairs and held it open. “You coming?”
Julia wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction. “Go on ahead of me. You wouldn’t want your dinner to get cold, would you?”
“And miss seeing you struggle with that tree?
“I do. My grandfather taught me.”
Bernie’s face lit up like a Christmas Eve candlelight service. “You got time to humor an old man?”
“Sure. You think you can beat me?”
“I can try.”
Julia ended up spending an hour with Bernie, the cribbage board on the table between them. Bernie was happy to tell her story after story about Cain until she felt she knew far more about him than she’d ever imagined she would.
“Cain ever mention his dog?”
“You mean Schroeder?”
“No, Bogie.”
“No, I can’t say that he has.” But then they weren’t exactly on the most friendly terms.
“Raised Bogie from a pup. Loved that dog like he was human. The two of them did everything together. Bogie lived until he was eleven, which is old for a large dog. Devastated Cain when we had to put him down. I wanted him to get another dog, raise him, too, but Cain refused. Said he’d had his dog.”
“But he has Schroeder now.”
“Schroeder was my dog. Couldn’t have him here at Manor House, so Cain agreed to take him. I know he sees to his needs, but I worry that Schroeder isn’t getting the TLC he used to.” He looked to her as if she could tell him what he wanted to know.
“I can’t say, but I do know Cain walks Schroeder every day.”
Bernie’s expression sobered. “Cain doesn’t show a lot of emotion. He keeps the way he feels locked up inside. I’m hoping this kindness project of yours will make a difference. It’s what he needs and a lot more.”
They played several games of cribbage. It’d grown dark by the time Julia prepared to leave. She collected her coat and purse and thanked the older man. “Bernie, I had a wonderful afternoon. I can’t thank you enough.”
“The pleasure was mine. Can’t remember the last time I’ve enjoyed a visitor more. I hope you’ll come again.”
“I will, and I’ll bring you those cookies next time I stop by.”
“Wouldn’t turn them down like my foolish grandson.”
Leaning forward, Julia kissed his weathered cheek. “It might not be a good idea to mention our visit to Cain.”
“Not a good idea at all,” Bernie agreed. “Keep me updated on your progress. A twelve-day experiment, you say?”
“Twelve days. This is day five.” For a number of reasons she didn’t mention the blog, mostly because it didn’t seem relevant. She wasn’t sure he would even know what a blog was.
“I’ll stop by again soon.”
“Good. I’ll look forward to that more than you know. Furthermore, I demand a rematch,” he said, putting away the cribbage board. “Your grandfather did a good job teaching you; you’re one fine opponent.”
Julia considered that high praise.
—
Despite the hour, Julia stopped off at a Christmas tree lot on her way back to the apartment and purchased a large wreath and a small tree. It was awkward getting both home on her own, and when she got to the elevator, she saw a sign that read: TEMPORARILY OUT OF ORDER .
“Just great,” she muttered under her breath, her shoulders sagging with defeat. It’d been a long day and she was dead on her feet.
“What is?”
Cain stood behind her, a take-out bag in his hand.
Julia shot him a look. “The elevator is out of order.”
A huge grin came over his face. “Looks like you’re up a creek with a Christmas tree.”
She paused, unable to look away. Cain was an attractive man when he smiled. And, while she hated to admit it, he was good-looking even when he didn’t, which in her humble opinion was grossly unfair. “This isn’t funny.”
“On the contrary. I look forward to watching you haul that tree up two steep flights of stairs to the third floor.” He walked over to the door leading to the stairs and held it open. “You coming?”
Julia wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction. “Go on ahead of me. You wouldn’t want your dinner to get cold, would you?”
“And miss seeing you struggle with that tree?
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