“Now I wish I’d done my pelvic floor exercises,” Louise muttered as they made their way to the living room when she’d finished.
“I’m glad to see your sense of humor is returning,” Zona said.
“Who said I’m joking?” Louise retorted. She studied Zona. “How are you doing with all of this?”
“I’m fine,” Zona said. “I’ve got a call in for someone to come help you next week when I’m back at work.”
Louise did not look pleased. “A stranger helping me bathe and dress? I’m sure not looking forward to that. Wait. Is he young and handsome?”
“See? Your sense of humor is returning.”
“You keep saying that. Tell me about this person.”
“He is a she and she’s not young. It’s Gracie’s aunt.”
Louise sighed. “Maybe I won’t need help once I get a shower chair.”
So far Louise wasn’t doing all that well with maneuvering herself onto chairs. She half fell onto the couch with a grunt.Yes, leave this woman home alone. Great idea.
“I don’t want you stuck here all by yourself when I’m working,” Zona said firmly, and her mother frowned and looked out the window. The frown turned to surprise. “Oh, my gosh, Darling,” she said, sounding panicked.
Zona had been so busy with her mother she’d forgotten all about the dog. “He’s in the backyard.” Wasn’t he?
Louise leaned toward the window and squinted, shook her head vehemently. “Zona, he’s loose!”
Zona looked out the window. Sure enough, there went Darling, trotting down the sidewalk. His second escape in twenty-four hours. Great.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll go fetch him,” Zona said, and started for the door.
“Hurry, before he gets run over,” Louise said, panicked.
Zona rushed out the front door and reached the porch in time to see Darling trotting toward Martin’s house, probably in hopes of finding a treat, since Martin spoiled him nearly as much as Louise.
“Darling!” Zona called, racing down the front walk.
Darling ignored her. He had places to go, people to see.
“Treat,” she called. “Come get a treat!” She should have thought to grab a dog biscuit out of the cupboard.
Darling obviously didn’t trust her to come through. He kept right on moving.
“Darling! Come here!” Zona commanded, running after him.
Of course, he didn’t come. He’d spotted his friend Martin, out checking his mailbox.
Martin petted him and began looking around for Zona. At the sight of her, he waved. Then he gave Darling a good rub behind the ears, keeping him in place.
Darling’s tail was still wagging like a metronome when Zona reached them. “Thanks for holding him here,” she said. “I had him in the backyard, but he escaped.”
Martin nodded. “Ah, our boy is a digger, is he?”
“I guess so,” said Zona. She knelt to pet Darling, who was busy trying to lick Martin’s hand. “You are a bad dog,” she informed him.
Darling knew women loved bad boys, so he merely barked and licked her face.
“He’s a good boy. He just wanted to come say hi,” said Martin the softie. He looked at Zona, puzzled. “You’re not at work.”
“We’ve had a development,” Zona said. “I should have called you earlier, but it’s been crazy.”
