“Uh, yes. Can you stay forever?” Krissy’s simple question blasts into that dislodged longing when I need it to settle back down.
“They said the main should be fixed tomorrow, but you’re welcome to come over for dinner any time.”
“I am not a good cook, and this guy is eh, so . . .”
I roll my eyes at her lies. “You weren’t complaining when you had food to eat,” I grumble.
Sarah lifts her chin. “I’d invite you, too, but I’m holding off until I prove your skeptical A-double-S wrong with the best chicken you’ve ever tasted.”
I match her stare. The only thing I’m skeptical of is what I’m feeling.
“Look, Kissy.” Ollie holds out his hand to show her the caterpillar.
She squats in front of him. “I used to collect these little guys when I was young, and Slade always tried to run them over with his bike.”
Ollie looks up at me.
Nice, Kris. I glare at her. “I always dodged at the last minute.”
I hear Grover growl and bark on the other side of the door. “Come on, partner. Let’s put the little guy back outside and make sure Grover doesn’t eat the rat next door.”
Krissy holds out her hands for Frankie, who dives for her.
“You think Stone Cold is funny, huh? You’d be in the minority, sweet pea,” Krissy says, taking her.
“I’m funny,” I say, following Ollie outside. “Your sense of humor just sucks.”
I hear her and Sarah snicker as I close the door.
I’m funny as hell. I just don’t give that shit away to anyone.
Ollie runs into the backyard, where Grover is pacing the fence, tracking the taunting wiener on the other side.
I call the dog, and he comes, shoving his head under my hand. I inhale the fall evening air, needing it to clear my brain from the fog of a really good day. The kind of day I want to hold onto. But that’s the problem. Tomorrow, things will go back to normal.
I exhale through my nose. I need everything to return to the way it was before the broken wheel bearing and water main, so I can focus on running my business and helping Krissy move out. Thenmaybe, at some point, I’ll sort out if I want to do anything about these feelings I thought I had become immune to long ago.
Ollie squats next to a tree. “Do you th-think he will like it here?”
I drop down beside him. “I think so. He can either climb up if he wants or stay in the grass.”
He rests his hand against the base of the tree. “Here you go. I hope you find your f-family.”
Grover’s nose starts inspecting, but Ollie pushes him away. “No, Grover.”
“Come here, boy.” I grab the massive furball’s collar, realizing I’ll miss him terrorizing Brandon’s mini wiener.
I chuckle to myself.See, I’m funny.
I stand. “You ready for dinner?”
“Yeah.” He sounds sad. “I hope he f-finds his mama.”
I put my hand around his shoulder. “You know what I think?”
He shakes his head, still staring at the ground.
“Moms are really smart. If he can’t find her, she’ll find him.”
