One week later, Jensen pulled into her driveway as she was walking back with Tim from Claire's house. Claire's boys and Tim had had a playdate. Tim immediately went bug eyed when he saw Rufus.
“Maybe I can see the dog, Mom,” Tim said excitedly, and slid a look at Jensen's car. Uh-oh. Had they been conspiring over a way for Tim to play with Rufus? She wondered. She wouldn’t put it past them. Tim and Jensen seemed to be getting closer. She wasn't too surprised when she walked into the living room one afternoon and Tim was on her phone with Jensen. He had picked the call when he saw the caller ID and saw Jensen's name.
So she made a noncommittal noise. “Come on, Tim, let’s get inside,” she urged, but Tim was still staring when Jensen got out of his car. So was she, but for a completely different reason. Watching him unfold his long frame made her pulse flutter.
Goodness. She swallowed. “Tim,” she said in her best warning tone, then wondered who the warning was really for—her or Tim?
“I wanna see the dog,” Tim said, nodding firmly.
Jensen sent a grin in their direction before Katherine could say anything. “Hey, Tim,” he called as he started toward them. “You want to pet Rufus? If it’s okay with your mom,” he added, with a look at Katherine.
She stepped up quickly and spoke over Tim yelling “yes!”
“HI Jensen,” Katherine said.
“Hey, Kat,” he replied, coming to stand in front of them. Rufus at his side. Jensen's eyes held hers, and Katherine couldn’t suppress a little shiver. They hadn't really seen each other since the wedding. Both of them had been really busy with work.
Tim spun to her and tugged on her coat. “Please, Mom?” he begged, his eyes big.
Everything in her screamed to say no. She didn't want Tim to start bugging her again about getting his own dog. But there was another reason now, and it had nothing to do with a dog or Tim. It wasn’t fair to punish Tim because she had issues... Or feelings for the dog’s handsome owner. She relented reluctantly. “Okay. But only for a minute.” she said.
Jensen shot her a slightly lopsided grin. That wasn’t so hard, was it? it seemed to say.
You have no idea, she wanted to answer.
The whole idea of being around him threw her off balance. And she wasn't completely sure this relationship between him and Tim was a good idea yet. She wasn't sure about Jensen yet. What if something happened and they grew apart. He’d move on and Tim would be hurt, and she wasn’t putting her son through that pain.
And she was way ahead of herself. She thought. All Tim was doing was petting a dog. And she and Jensen weren't really in any kind of relationship.
She watched Tim and the dog. Rufus leaned forward on his leash, tail wagging hard.
"He’s very friendly."Tim said, eyes huge. "He likes it when I pet him.” He reached out and touched Rufus' dark coat. “Hi, doggie,” He said softly.
Katherine's heart squeezed. She’d never hear the end of this from him.
“He’s so soft,” Tim said wonderingly. He crouched down and slid an arm around Rufus' neck, and the dog sat down, tail still going.
Jensen was on Tim's level now. “He is,” he agreed. “And he’s got a very special story. Want to hear it?”
Tim nodded, and something kept Katherine quiet.
“Some years ago, I was so, so sad because I lost my best friend,” Jensen began and glanced up at Katherine, then touched one of Rufus' ears.
“Your friend died?” Tim asked, sadness in his eyes and voice.
Jensen chuckled softly. "No. She just left town. And I didn't know If I would see her again. I was very angry and sad, because I didn't do enough to stop her from leaving. So one day, I got home and I saw this guy..." he patted the dog. ".... On my doorstep. I chased him away many times, but he just kept coming back."
Katherine stared at him, down there with Tim and Rufus, and smiled. Knowing he was talking about her. She reached out and rubbed Rufus' head, as Tim was doing.
“I got tired of chasing him away and that's how he became my friend."Jensen continued. "I realized that I needed him, just like he needed me. He has been with me since then, and I love him. And he's very friendly with kids."
While his tone was light, Katherine saw the emotion in his expression. Understanding that she hadn't really thought about how he had coped after she left.
“Did your friend come back?” Tim asked, his eyes big.
“Yeah,” Jensen replied and her heart flipped a little. "After a while. But we are still working things out, you know, it's been so long" Jensen said.
Tim nodded. Running his hand over Rufus' head.
Jensen stood up. His words were directed at Katherine now. “He likes Tim a lot too,” he said.
“He must know Tim wants a dog. Animals are good like that,” she suggested with a slight smile.
Jensen shoved his hands in his pockets.
“I'm sorry that I hurt you when I left," she said.
“Oh, it's fine. Can't blame you” he said quietly.
Katherine reached out on impulse, and laid her hand on his arm, wishing she could erase the haunted look from his eyes. He didn’t look at her, but he did touch her hand with his free one. She snatched hers back and tucked it in her pocket. Time to change the subject and break the sense of intimacy.
She cleared her throat. “He’s great with Tim, I agree. Whoa, Tim, we can’t sit on the dog, honey. Pats only.”
Jensen laughed and slid her a sideways glance. “You said he wants a dog?”he asked.
Katherine sighed. “Yes. Of course he does.” Didn’t all little boys?
He nodded. “Not happening?” he asked.
She shook her head. “We’re gone all day. I'm at work and he's at school. That’s a long time for an animal to be alone. I’d hate to kennel him or her, and I’d be responsible for walking, feeding, and cleaning up. I don't know if Tim can handle all that yet, and I have enough chores to see to as it is. So, no dog for us.”