"What about the downstairs tenant?" I asked, following close behind her.
"Who, David?" I followed her as she steered the large dolly past the plumbing section and toward the lumber. "He's cool with it. He just wants to make sure the gym doesn't get touched." She gave me a conspiratorial look. "He's all roid-like, you know what I mean?"
"Gemma, hold on." I pinched the bridge of my nose, easily keeping up with her short-legged gait. "You talked to myneighborabout this?"
"Sure did. Don't worry; this whole plan is mobile, so when I move out eventually, I'll take it with me." She crossed her heart and gave me a serious look. "Scout's honor."
"That's not the correct hand sign—never mind. First of all, what do you mean when you move out?”
She gave me an innocent look. “Well, I mean… I will. Eventually.”
I held her gaze. This girl was clearly not picking up what I’d been putting down. “Will you?”
Her eyes widened. “Won’t I?”
This was short circuiting her train of thought. “Never mind. Gemma, start from the beginning."
She sighed like I was taxing her patience. The irony. "I found this really convenient outdoor pen for dogs in the store's catalog online, and I was like hey, wait a minute, Pumpkin is even smaller than Mini. I bet this would work.”
I kneaded my forehead, trying to keep up with her physically and mentally. "I guess so? I really don't know anything about… ranching."
"I looked it up. The interwebs said it would work." She made a hard left turn down an aisle with yard supplies.
"Oh, well if the internet said it," I muttered sarcastically.
"I already called ahead to have them deliver the kennel—it's too big for my car."
"You don't say."
Gemma entered the area of the store that had fencing options for dogs, and she stopped in front of a wall that displayed several prefab options for indoors and outdoors. She gestured to them. "These are too big too, but I brought you so you can pick the color. Pick one you don't hate, and I'll go ring it up, and they can deliver that, too. Then we can get Pumpkin out of the house."
I gave her an incredulous side-eye. "This is why you brought me here?"
"Yes." She hesitated. "And also, to ambush you with the idea in an irrevocable way so that you would have no way of denying me."
"Ah." I folded my arms, surveying the options. There were several, but they didn't look terribly sturdy. I let out a defeated breath, knowing I had no other choice but to take control of this wild rodeo of an idea. I held her by her upper arms, tilting my eyes down so they were closer to level with hers. "Gemma. These aren't going to hold up to a sheep, and then she'll get out and you'll be beside yourself."
"I'm aware of that," she replied, her plucky enthusiasm giving way to a hint of doubt. "I did my research. It's just that these are… temporary. Easy to move." She watched me warily.
Ah. She was worried about our living arrangement. That didn't sit well in my stomach at all. "Gem… I'm not planning on makingPumpkinmove… anytime soon. That's her home. She should stay there as long as she wants to."
Gemma looked unconvinced. "I'm just trying to find a solution that doesn't put Pumpkin somewhere else, but still gets her out of the apartment. But also… isn't cumbersome."
"You aren't cumbersome," I replied immediately.
She rolled her eyes, clearly half amused and half frustrated. "I didn't say I was. But a fence kind of is, especially when you didn't ask for that."
"Two nights ago, I asked you to stay with me," I reminded her gently. I squeezed her arms comfortingly. "And I'm well aware of everything that comes with you. And will likely continue to show up because there are all kinds of strays out there, and you will always be you."
She gave me a slightly hopeful smile. "So… you don't care if I build a woven wire fence behind your building?"
"I'll foot the bill," I promised. "If you bought the shelter for the animals, then I'll buy the fence. That's fair."
Gemma's vivid blue eyes lit up with surprise. "Wait, you mean that?"
I nodded. "Pumpkin can't live in the apartment forever, and you're clearly dead set on keeping her around for a while, so let's make it worthwhile. I'll consider it a pet-friendly investment for the property."
Gemma wrapped her arms around my waist, pressing the side of her face to my chest and squeezing me so tightly, it breathed life right into my body. "Thank you."
