Shane shuffled his feet but didn’t comment.
“Should she be climbing the stairs?”What if she slips?
Shane said, “We’re going to keep her in the men’s bathroom down here. More floor space than the women’s, more light, and the door is harder to pull open.”
“Watch her, though.” Arthur turned to Shane. “Some dogs learn to get a nose or paw around a door and pull. You might need a real latch.”
I imagined the dog, taken into that echoing, reeking space— well, maybe after two years it wouldn’t smell, but still it’d be hard and comfortless— and left in there. “Won’t she be lonely? Can’t we do better?”
Shane said, “You want to turn the electric back on, Mr. Landlord? Then we’d have heat and light and hot water.”
“Yes, of course,” I said quickly, then backtracked. “I might need to have the building inspected first. What if there were rodents or vandalism? I don’t want bad wiring to start a fire.”
“I haven’t seen any damage, and I’ve looked around a fair bit.” Shane cocked his head at me. “Any other excuses?”
“That wasn’t an excuse. I’d be happy to turn it on. Hell, I’d pay for you to stay in a hotel. Or you could bring her to my place, and Mimsy too, of course.”
“With the white couch? Maybe not.”
“I can buy a new couch if she wrecks it.”
“Yeah, because your money will buy you anything you want, right?”
Arthur looked back and forth between us, then stepped forward. “I think you two maybe should talk. Call me if you need me, Shane.”
“No phone.” He didn’t take his eyes off me.
“Oh, right. Tell Theo to call, then.” Ignoring Shane’s sound of protest, Arthur hurried past me and out the door.
As Shane and I stared at each other, Arthur stuck his head back in. “Um, sorry, I need you to let me out, Theo.”
“Oh. Fuck. Right.” I pulled my gaze away from Shane and went out with Arthur to unblock him.
Once the door swung shut between us and Shane, Arthur said, “Go easy on him, huh?”
“I don’t know what you mean. I just offered to buy him anything he needs.”
“He doesn’t need your money. He needs you to talk to him.”
I wasn’t sure if I could do that, not and say the things that needed to be said. I pressed my lips together and nodded.
Arthur squeezed my shoulder. “Good luck.”
Once I’d backed out of the way and Arthur had driven off, I sat there in my car. I could head out, go home, look into what it would take to get the power restored to the venue. That’d be productive, helpful, easy. It’d make life better for Shane without me ripping the bandage off old wounds.
But I had a feeling if I didn’t talk to Shane today, he might not give me another chance.
After several more minutes, I turned off the engine, got out, and locked up. The door to the venue seemed heavier than usual as I pulled it wide. Digging in my pocket, I found the key I’d offered Shane with its new plastic “S” keychain. I kept my hand on it, running my fingers around the curves of the S.
Shane and the dog were no longer in the kitchen. I followed muffled sounds back to the customers’ bathrooms. Shane was talking to the dog inside the men’s room.
“I hope you like this bed. It’s the biggest one Arthur had. He said it was for a Great Dane—” He cut himself off as I pushed the door open.
“Can we talk?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Can we?” Shane cleared his throat and looked away.
“I’m really sorry. Let me at least say that.” This part was easy, well, by comparison. “I didn’t plan to lie, I just… didn’t find the right time to tell you everything. I’m so sorry.”
