Laughing, they all turned to the couple who were still talking as Theo picked up the dog, who looked like she was on strike again, refusing to walk.
“Ayla has been through a very difficult time,” Marie told them. “I’ll let her share what she wants to, but I can tell you she’s been badly hurt.”
“So has Theo,” Agnes said. “Just had his heart stomped on by a shrew named Heather.”
“Ayla’s been betrayed as well,” Marie said. “Brutally and publicly. She’s dear and genuine and one of the most selfless creatures I’ve ever met, but she’s tender. So, I would ask that you do this very carefully.”
“Oh, Marie!” Finnie exclaimed. “We would never push unless the lass is interested and her heart is available. Can you help us by talking to her?”
“Of course.”
Finnie leaned forward. “And invite the lad to work at your ranch every day for a few weeks.” At Marie’s look, she added, “Well, we have to get the ball rolling.”
“Working at the ranch.” Agnes was unable to keep the admiration out of her voice. “That’s some excellent shenanigation, Finola Kilcannon.”
Finnie grinned. “So you’re in, Agnes? This is our next Dogmothers match?”
She sighed, thinking about it before committing. “If she’s for real. This whole psychic thing makes me nervous. It’s a little too bizarre for me. Do you really believe her, Marie?”
“I’ve been volunteering with her at a shelter in Charlotte for a year,” Marie said. “And I’ve seen her help many animals because she knows what’s wrong when no one else does.”
“And you believed her from the beginning?” Agnes pushed.
“She’s only just told me of her skill, so it’s not like she’s been hauling it out to impress people. But I’ve always known something was special about her. The fact is, she has a rare and extraordinary talent, and I think if she were allowed to use it instead of being mocked…” She lifted a shoulder. “Then she would be a huge asset to this town, to Waterford Farm, and to my ranch. And maybe to Theo Santorini.”
The three of them exchanged looks, silent.
“I won’t encourage anything without your support, Agnes,” Finnie said. “We are a matchmaking team.”
As always, Finnie’s bone-deep goodness touched her.
“And I won’t ask to be on your team permanently,” Marie said. “But I’m certainly in a position to be your eyes and ears at the ranch.” She lifted a brow. “And I have been needing some help from a strong man around the place. Daniel’s been trying to get your grandsons over, but everyone is so busy. Theo would be a perfect solution.”
Both of them turned to Agnes to get her final decision.
But before she could give it, Theo and Ayla reached the steps up to the porch.
“There you are, Marie.” Ayla came up to join them, going right to where Pyggie was sleeping. “How’s this dear boy doing?” She sat and reached down to touch his little head.
“You tell me,” Agnes said, trying so hard to keep the challenge out of her voice. “What is he dreaming about?”
“Let me see…” She closed her eyes and kept her hand on Pyggie’s head. “Enobklim.”
“Enobklim?” Agnes shook her head. “That means nothing to me.”
“It’s Milk-Bone spelled backwards,” Theo said without having to give the word even a minute’s thought. Because he was a genius, Agnes mused.
Ayla’s dark eyes flashed. “You’re right and I can see the box he’s thinking about. My Nana Jo told me once that some animals, in very rare cases, see things backwards, like the negative of a photograph.”
Of course, a quick explanation, Agnes thought. Plus, one look at Pyggie’s belly, and a child could tell he liked treats. And Milk-Bones were the most common treat in the world. So, once again, a lucky guess with a cute twist to give her credibility.
“Your grandmother?” Finnie asked. “Did she have the gift, as well, lass?”
“She did,” Ayla said, reaching down to pick up Pyggie, which was no mean feat for someone as skinny as that girl. But she got Pyggie on the sofa next to her and gazed into his eyes for a long, long time.
Finally, she looked up at Agnes and asked, “Who’s the man in the pale blue shirt with red and white roses?”
Next to her, Finnie grabbed her arm and squeezed. “I told you! She’s real.”
Whoa. Maybe she was. That wasn’t a lucky guess. That was…impressive.
“What about him?” Agnes asked, picturing Aldo in the soft blue button-down he’d worn last night and the beautiful flowers he’d brought from his garden.
“He’s the reason Pyggie’s not eating lately.”
Agnes felt her jaw unhinge.
“I think he’s worried this man is going to take you away.”
“Really.” Well, that made two of them. “Oh my.” She shifted in her seat, not sure what to say. “You’re…quite talented, my dear.”
“Oh, I knew you’d come around, Agnes,” Finnie exclaimed, her Irish blue eyes dancing with the fun of…shenanigans.
Well, they’d find out, wouldn’t they? Ayla Hollis was either gifted…or, more likely, a brilliant performance artist. Would Theo fall for that?
She glanced at her grandson, who was staring at Ayla with a mix of fascination and terror in his eyes. Oh dear. It looked like he’d already fallen.
Chapter Six
“Miss Ayla?” The little girl with waist-long ringlets and an arrestingly beautiful face sidled up next to Ayla after dinner as a big group of the family headed to the lawn to play touch football. The child of maybe five hadn’t yet said more than hello to Ayla, but she’d been hovering nearby all afternoon. “My name is D-D-Destiny,” she said softly.
“I remember,” Ayla said, leaning over to get a little closer and running through all the many people she’d met and the tidbits she’d picked up in a dozen conversations with this huge, extended, and extremely warm family. “I understand you’re going to be the flower girl in the big wedding everyone is talking about.”
She grinned, her hazel eyes dancing. “My mommy is marrying John soon. Wi-wi-will you be there?”
The occasional stutter was endearing and so was the honesty of the question. “At their wedding? Oh, I doubt that.”
“Gramma Finnie said you would be,” she said. “With Uncle Th-Th-Theo.”
She blinked. “Um…no. I don’t think so.”
“But they do.” Darcy joined them with a sassy smile. “The Dogmothers, that is. They’re on a mission.”
Frowning, she tried to follow, but then Destiny’s mother stepped into the circle, with Cassie next to her.
“That’s what we call the grannies,” Summer said, pushing back sunshine-blond hair and smiling down at her daughter. “And I don’t think you’re supposed to come right out and tell her, Des.”
Ayla looked from one to the other, settling on Darcy, who she now knew was the youngest of Daniel Kilcannon’s six kids and married to Josh, a local contractor. They’d bonded earlier when Darcy took her upstairs in the big farmhouse and gave Ayla a whole new outfit that actually fit, including sneakers, along with another pair of jeans and tops and some other necessities.