“You knit?”
“Well, I sew. Kit knits.”
Huh.
Apparently, there was still a lot to learn about them.
“So, yeah, bring Lolly up whenever she’s ready.”
“Oh, shit. I forgot to mention. She has a dog.”
“Well, hopefully, it is dog-friendly, because we have a whole pack here these days.”
“She’s a tiny little toy poodle.”
“So, basically, she will be bossing the entire crew of guardian dogs around within a week,” Kit said. “We don’t mind more dogs. And we have some extra fencing for her if she doesn’t end up appreciating the company of other dogs. Or cats. Or chickens, ducks, mini goats…”
“Alright, great. Thanks again, guys. I think you’re really going to like Lolly. She’s sweet. A little fragile right now, but I think she just needs to feel safe. What?” I asked, hearing whispering from their end.
“What? Nothing,” Kit said. Not at all convincingly.
“Yeah, sure,” I said, shaking my head even though they couldn’t see me. “Alright. Tomorrow. Sometime after four in the morning. We’ll be there. Do you need anything?”
“Oh, worms!” Kit said.
“Excuse me?”
“Worms. We need worms for the birds.”
“Guys, I love you and everything, but I’m not fucking digging for worms for your chickens.”
That was, apparently, funny.
“No, idiot,” Kit said affectionately. “No, they sell these dried mealworms at the farm supply store. We could use more. The store doesn’t deliver.”
“Alright. Mealworms. Got it.”
“We wouldn’t turn down coffee,” Ria added.
“She’s Bean Around or Deja Brew. We’re not picky.”
“Actually, can I be picky?” Ria asked.
“Sure,” I agreed.
“Can it be Deja Brew? Shale has this limited-edition cheese danish that I literally was lying awake thinking about tonight.”
After a little back-and-forth to figure out what everyone wanted to order, we hung up, and I made my way back inside.
“Seen her?” I asked Dezi.
“Nah. After the life she’s been living, can’t imagine she’d want to come out in this crowd. You figure it out with your cousins?”
“Yeah. We’re heading there tomorrow.”
“You figure out what you’re gonna tell the boss man?” he asked, glancing over toward where Fallon looked like he was ready to go home to his woman and his bed.
“Gonna have to be the truth.”
