We Can Laugh Together Too (Walnut Grove Trilogy) by Cindy Baker Page B

and sand to appear as beautiful,
polished gems. Livi was enchanted and collected several pieces. “These are some
great souvenirs,” she said in delight. “Priceless!”
    Eventually they returned to the car and started back towards
San Luis Obispo. The midday sun filtered through the trees and threw dappled
shadows across the road. The park was serene, yet splendid. In spite of the
obstacles looming ahead, Livi felt extraordinarily happy.
    ♠  
♠   ♠
    They arrived back at Walnut Grove shortly after seven
o’clock. Rosa was sitting on the bench outside the kitchen door sipping
lemonade and Livi caught a glimpse of the girls and dogs half way down the
track to Isidoro’s house.
    Rosa greeted them with a beaming smile. “Welcome home. I
hope you had a good weekend.”
    “We did indeed,” Matt assured her, hoisting Livi’s overnight
bag out of his SUV. “Shall I put this in the kitchen?”
    “Yes, please.” She followed him inside and gasped with
pleasure: the big room sparkled and fresh baked dishes of tamales and aromatic hot
breads sat temptingly in the middle of the table. “Oh, Rosa this look
wonderful, but you shouldn’t have. Thank you.”
    “My pleasure Mrs. Leonard. I like to keep busy. Chrissy has
already eaten, so you won’t have to worry about her tonight, and I’ve washed
and ironed the sheets Katia and I used.”
    Livi was lost for words. “Rosa, I bless the day you and
Isidoro came into our lives.” Impulsively she hugged the little Mexican lady,
who looked as if she might burst with pride at any moment. To cover her
self-consciousness, she picked up a cloth and wiped away a few non-existent
spots from the countertop. “I’ll be going then Mrs. Leonard.”
    She started for the door, but Matt quickly stopped her.
“There’s no need to walk, let me drive you.”
    Rosa protested, but Matt insisted. He was only gone a few
minutes, but Livi took the opportunity to dash up to her room and change into
shorts and a tee-shirt. She was sitting at the table munching a tamale when he returned,
accompanied by Chrissy and the two exuberant Dalmatians.
    “Look who I found,” he said with a grin. “Three girls
looking for a ride home.”
    “Hi Mom, have fun?” Chrissy planted a kiss on Livi’s cheek.
“I’m going to watch TV in my room,” and with a swirl of honey blond hair she
was gone.
    Livi burst out laughing. “I don’t think she even missed me.”
She hugged her boisterous dogs, “but you did didn’t you? I hope you behaved
yourselves.”
    They wriggled and squirmed with pleasure. “Dogs are so
uncomplicated,” she said. “You should have a dog — it would be good company for
you.”
    Matt sat down at the table and helped himself to a tamale.
“My life’s not stable enough at the moment — wow this is good — going from
contract to contract, a dog could be an obstacle, I often have to live in a
motel.”
    She looked at him wide-eyed. “A motel? That’s dreadful. What
will they provide for you to live in Napa?”
    “Haven’t got a clue. Don’t want to think about it right
now.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “This unbelievable
weekend’s nearly over. How are we going to get some time together without
upsetting Chrissy?”
    Livi shook her head. “I honestly don’t know. You’re working
during the day and she’s here most of the time now school’s out. She doesn’t
seem to have any suspicions yet, but . . .” A gleam suddenly appeared in her
eye. “But you can come and check on the horses with me.” She pulled him to his
feet. “Come on, I told Isidoro I’d do it this evening.”
    Elated at the prospect of another walk, the dogs frolicked
ahead of them. Ignoring the horses in the paddocks, they let themselves into
the barn and immediately they were inside, Matt took her in his arms and kissed
her hungrily. Livi could smell the musk of his body and pressed closer to him, thrilled
by their closeness. “Let’s go into the tack room,” she