“That’s why I brought her to you. I didn’t want to take her to the pound.”
A fierce frown crossed the old man’s face. “No. I’ll take her.”
Nicole nodded. “I thought you would,” she said a bit smugly.
Timbo patted the dog again, then rose to cross the room and fill a plastic bowl with water. He set that on the floor, rummaged in a cupboard until he located a bag of dry dog food, then filled another bowl with that. The two cats roused at the sounds of food, and he filled a bowl for them, as well, pouring cat food out of a box that had been sitting on the counter. Only when the animals were cared for did he turn to Nicole and Andrew.
“Well,” he said, nodding toward Andrew. “Who’s this?”
“This is my friend, Andrew Tyler. Andrew, my great-uncle, Timothy Holiday.”
“You can call me Timbo,” the old man conceded gruffly. “Being as you’re a friend of Nicky’s. What’d you do to your head?”
Nicole spoke before Andrew could shrug off the question. “He was hurt defending me from a robber,” she said, taking Andrew’s arm proudly. “You should have seen it, Uncle Timbo. Andrew beat up a delinquent with a gun who was trying to take my jewelry.”
Timbo’s heavy brows drew together in another fierce frown. “You hurt?” he demanded of his niece.
She shook her head. “No. Thanks to Andrew.”
The old man stuck out his hand to Andrew. “Then I’ll thank you. I’m right fond of Nicky. Wouldn’t have wanted her harmed.”
Rather embarrassed, Andrew shook the man’s hand. Then he couldn’t resist saying, “You should tell her to be more careful. Even when the punk waved a gun in her face, Nicole defied him. I wish you’d help me convince her that a handful of diamonds isn’t worth risking her life for.”
“They aren’t diamonds, they’re fakes,” Nicole commented, touching her necklace. “But that didn’t matter. That kid had no right to take our things just because he had a gun.”
Andrew counted to ten before speaking. “You were willing to fight him over a fake diamond necklace?” he asked tightly.
She gave him a cautious look, then nodded. “It’s my fake diamond necklace,” she explained.
Andrew let out a long, low exhale, deciding he’d better not say any more about it just now. Uncle Timbo might not appreciate Andrew yelling at his niece.
Timbo gave a crack of laughter. “Kid always had more guts than sense,” he said with more pride than regret. “Give me a kiss, Nicky.”
Nicky dutifully, and happily, kissed the old man’s lined cheek.
“You’re all dressed up,” Timbo said, as though suddenly noticing her clothing and heels. He glanced at Andrew. “And you’re wearing a tux. Did you know you’ve got a bad tear in the coat?”
Andrew only nodded.
“Been to a party?”
“It’s New Year’s Eve, Uncle Timbo,” Nicole reminded him. “Well, actually, it’s New Year’s Day. Almost dawn, now.”
The old man seemed surprised. “It’s New Year’s? Guess I lost track of the date. Well, this calls for a drink, don’t it?”
Andrew wondered at the rueful glance Nicole shot his way.
“Sit down, sit down,” Timbo said, motioning toward the kitchen table. “I’ll pour.”
Andrew and Nicole took their places at the table while Timbo dug into the cupboards and pulled out three mismatched glasses.
“Have you seen Nate lately, Uncle Timbo?” Nicole asked as she slipped her coat off her shoulders and allowed it to drape over the
back of her chair.
“He was here a week ago or thereabouts—I suppose it must have been Christmas. He adjusted my satellite dish.”
“I’m sure it works much better now. Nate’s my cousin,” Nicole added for Andrew’s benefit. “He’s an undiscovered genius.”