Saving Easton by Kaci Rose
Chapter 13
Paisley
Today, I'm having lunch with Lexi at her house. They live in a beautiful colonial house that’s next door to Oakside, and the best part is I can bring Molly. Lexi even said she’d cook up a hamburger for her, so I know she will be happy.
I pull up to her house and look off towards Oakside. You can't see it from here, because there are a bunch of trees that separate the properties, but I know Easton is close.
Me:Right now, I'm having lunch with Lexi next door. Can I stop by later?
I figure I better ask, because I wasn't supposed to be by today, and I don't want to surprise him too often.
Easton:Of course, you can. I'd love to see you.
Me:Okay, I’ll have Molly with me, too.
Easton: I still want to see you, even if you don't have Molly with you.
I smile at that. He wants to see me, and not just Molly.
Molly and I head up, and before I knock, Lexi greets me with a huge hug and a rub down for Molly.
"Come in, come in!" She ushers us inside.
This is the first time I've been to Lexi's house, and I have to say it's gorgeous. It's all light and bright, but it has a very cozy feel.
"Come back this way," Lexi says, leading me down a small hallway past the stairs to the kitchen at the back of the house.
It's a dream kitchen for sure. White cabinets, the most beautiful gray granite countertops, farmhouse sink, and fancy appliances.
"Whatever you’re cooking smells good, but we could have had sandwiches. You didn't need to do anything fancy.”
"What you’re smelling is Molly's burger, mostly. I made us spaghetti and meat sauce because Noah has been asking for it for days. So, we can have it for lunch then Noah and I can have it for dinner."
"Twice in one day?"
She shrugs, "Don't tell Noah." Then she winks, and I giggle.
Lexi puts Molly's burger on a plate and sets it on the floor for her, before finishing up with our food.
We sit down and start eating, and Lexi only lets me get a few bites in, before she reveals the reason she invited me to lunch, though I already know it.
"Let's talk about Easton," she says.
"Okay.”
"You know, he only leaves the room, when you’re with him, right?"
"Yeah, I figured.”
"He left the room yesterday for his therapy appointment without you."
He left the room without me? Not only that, he walked a much further distance than we have been walking.
"How did he do?"
"He did better than anyone expected, but he did cut the appointment short by twenty minutes. Not bad for an hour appointment."
Not bad at all. Then, Allie pops into my mind. Allie is a service dog I've been training, but she doesn't have an owner yet. She was a rescue, and they were going to put her down. I was just going to rehome her, but she took to the training so well.
"Do you think maybe he would do better with his own dog? I have one that isn't lined up with an owner. I could bring her in to see how they do. Can she stay here with him for a few days to see if it helps?"
"Do you think she's a good fit?" Lexi asks.
"I think so. She's a chocolate lab, so she's Molly's size. She loves playing, swimming, and sleeping. She's passed all her tests, and I just keep training with her. It's just a matter of seeing if her and Easton mesh well."
"Well, I have to clear it with his doctors, and I don't know how long the insurance approval is.”
"Lexi, I'm not worried about it. Yeah, it would help if insurance covered it, but if it helps Easton, it's all worth it. I just got a new contract last week. A soldier wants his MP dog trained to help him. It should be an easy one, so I'm good."
"Okay, but I still have to get his doctor's approval," Lexi says.
"Can you do that today? I can go home after lunch and get Allie. I had planned to see Easton, anyway."
"I can do that. Now, you need to tell me more about you and Easton." She says with a twinkle in her eye.
"Well, he was my brother's best friend growing up and off limits, but I had a big crush on him. He joined the military after school, and he and my brother lost touch. I hadn't heard anything about him, until now other than when his mother died." I give her the basics.
"But there’s more between you two. I mean, the man is pushing his boundaries for you."
"Well, he admitted to having a crush on me too growing up. But he doesn't want my brother to know he's here yet, and I know that will be a problem. I told my dad though, and he said to just go slow."
"I agree with your dad."
"So, what’s going on with that kitchen guy? I was so focused on Easton that I didn't see what happened."
"After the first incident, we moved him to work in the dining room. With Easton not leaving his room, we thought it wouldn't be an issue. But then after this last time, we’ve confined him to the kitchen downstairs. But the way Molly was acting, and the way he acted, I don't know, my gut is screaming. So, Noah is looking into him some more, but we’re trying to do it quietly, so not to spook him."
"You guys need to get a security team on the place. First Whitney, and now this," I say.
Whitney is Noah's ex, and when they opened the place and started to get publicity, she showed up, trying to win Noah back and latch on for her fifteen minutes of fame. When they tried to get her to leave, she threw a huge fit, and the cops had to be called.
"Yeah, Noah offered Easton the job as an incentive to get better, but we might have to get some volunteers in before then," Lexi says.
"Put some feelers out with some other veterans. They protect their own, and many would be happy to be here and protect these guys, especially if they can partake in events, get some food on shift, and hang out with the guys."
"That's a really good idea. Do you have any contacts?"
"I might know someone. If nothing else, he might know some people," I say, thinking of Jake.
We wrap up lunch, and Lexi promises to talk to Noah's doctor right now, while I head home and switch out Molly and Allie. On the way, I decide to call Jake.
"Hi, Paisley," he says.
"Hey, I have a question for you, and you can say no, but I'd also like to see if you know anyone who would be a fit.”
"That sounds ominous."
"Remember the place, Oakside, I was telling you about?"
"Yeah, the veterans’ military rehab home. I wish they had something like that when I needed it."
"Well, they’re new, and still getting off the ground. They need help working security. Some guys to volunteer just to be there, if things go south. While there, they’ll feed you, and you can hang with the guys, swap stories, participate in events, and all that. Plus, a huge bonus, the guys there love Atticus, so he'd be welcome."
"I'd like that. I need something to focus on," he says.
"Perfect. I’ll have Lexi get in touch with you.”
I hang up, as I pull up to my house.
"I'm sorry, Molly girl, but today, you’re staying home. Catch up on your sleep." She wags her tail and pads off to her favorite couch.
I head to the guest room, where Allie likes to sleep, and sure enough, there she is curled up on the bed.
"Want to go for a ride, Allie?"
She jumps up and follows me out to the car, as I drive back to Oakside. I'm excited to see how Easton and Allie do together. I’m hoping they get on well together, because I think Allie could really help Easton.
I put on Allie's working vest, and her demeanor changes almost instantly. She knows she's here for a reason and is ready to work.
Heading in, I go straight to Easton's room. I don't really want to take Allie to see all the guys, because I want her to bond with Easton.
He smiles, when he sees me.
"How did your lunch go?" He asks, his eyes landing on Allie. "Who's this?"
"This is Allie. She was a rescue I picked up, thinking I'd find a home for her, but she just fit and took so well to training that I kept her. Right now, I'm waiting to find her an owner, because she's passed all her training with flying colors."
He and Allie both stare at each other, but neither makes the first move. I just chuckle, as it's like a really awkward first date.
"Allie, go say hi," I tell her, and she slowly moves over to Easton.
He pets her for a minute then invites her onto his lap, and Allie climbs up and gets settled and just like he does with Molly he pets her like he isn't even thinking about it. I smile and take my seat.
"Do you like her?" I ask.
"She's beautiful."
"She seems to like you," I say, watching Easton look down at Allie, who looks back up at him.
"I think you two would be a good fit.”
Easton looks up at me. "Really?"
"Yeah, I was talking to Lexi, and she agrees. She's talking to your doctor about getting approval, and if he does, she can be yours. We can train her, and she can be here with you even."
I can see it in his face. He wants her, and he likes the idea, but then he shuts down.
"I don't think that's a good idea," he says.
"Why not?" I ask, trying to keep my tone neutral and soft.
"Well, I can't even leave my room, so how would I take care of her? She has to go out, she needs to play, and she doesn’t deserve to be cramped up in a room all day." His voice echoes the anger on his face.
"Oh, Easton. There are so many people here willing to help you. I wish you’d see that. Your nurse can very easily take her to go potty. There’s a courtyard right down the hall, so she won't have to go far. Lexi and Noah can take her out to play. When I visit, I can leave Molly with you for a bit and take her to run. Plus, even now, she has all the freedom in the world, and she'd rather sleep on my guest bed than go run and play."
He stares out of the window and doesn't say anything.
"Just think about it. Easton, you don't have to make a decision today, or even next week. As far as I'm concerned, she's yours. I can bring her with me when I visit, and we can start working with her."
He still doesn't say anything.
"I really just want to help, Easton, and this is the only way I know how. Unless you tell me what else you need, this is what I know I can do." I whisper, but I know he heard me.
"Okay, we can work with her for now."
"Let's get on it then."
"I have a therapy appointment tomorrow. Maybe, you can bring her, and I can take her with me?"
"We’ll be here."