I dropped myself onto the couch. Vee stood leaning against the kitchen island, a look of sheer wonder on her face. Did she think the surprise was for her?
“Cill James, I think you might be the sweetest guy I’ve ever met.” Her eyes twinkled as she spoke to me. Oh, shit. I knew that look. Jesus, I hadn’t even chased this one and she was good to go. I, however, was not.
“You need to get out more, Vee. I’m far from sweet,” I said, but she wasn’t listening.
“Yes, you are. You know, we should maybe hang out more. Go out for dinner or something?”
I could sense Wednesday standing in the doorway listening. It put me on edge. I didn’t want her hearing this. I didn’t want her to think there was anything going on with Vee and I.
“Vee, I’m sure you’re gonna make some guy who isn’t me really, really happy someday.” She grunted and folded her arms. I wasn’t convinced she’d taken my comment on board.
“Yo, Wednesday. Come. Sit.” I patted the seat next to me, but she sauntered across the living room and chose to sit on the couch opposite.
It pissed me off, but I kept that shit locked down. Instead, I shuffled over to sit next to her as Vee huffed in the corner. Then I placed the box on the couch in the space between us.
“So, I’ve been doing a lot of research about trauma and stress, and I found this website that talked about the whole healing process thing. It said that animals can help humans to find peace. It called them comfort animals or something. Anyway, at first I thought about taking you to see some horses at a local farm, but I didn’t want to trigger any flashbacks or bad memories for you with the stables and all that.” She flinched when I mentioned the stables, but I ploughed on. “So, when I found this lady online, Judy, she helped me with this…”
I didn’t want to say anymore yet. I pushed the box a little closer to her, feeling the bump and jostle from the inhabitant inside. Wednesday pulled the ribbon open and a fluffy head of cream curls popped up from the box. As it did, she gasped in wonder. My girl gasped, and it filled every inch of my body with warmth to hear it.
“Oh my God, he’s so cute!” Vee sang from across the room, pressing her hands over her heart.
“Not a he, she.” I lifted her out of the box and sat her on Wednesday’s lap. The ball of fur sniffed around her face and neck before settling comfortably on her with her paws dangling over Wednesday’s knees. Wednesday’s face was alight with awe and wander. It made the skin on my neck prickle.
“She’s called Xena. I thought it was fitting. You know, Xena the warrior princess. Now we have two warrior princesses in the house.” I reached over to ruffle Xena’s head, and Wednesday stroked her back as I did. She didn’t shy away or flinch like she may have done previously.
Little steps.
“That’s a cool name. Did you choose it, Cill?”
“No.” I laughed. “I didn’t choose the name or the dog, she chose me. I went to visit Judy, to pick something more… I want to say manly. I guess I was thinking of a guard dog of sorts. But then this little beauty sat on my feet and wouldn’t move. When Judy told me her name, I knew it was fate. I’m good at finding beautiful warriors.” Wednesday blushed and smiled.
“She’s a Bichon Frise,” I announced, as Xena wriggled in enjoyment at Wednesday’s petting and fussing. “Apparently, they’re very affectionate and sensitive dogs. They have a gentle quality about them which makes them perfect companions. Playful yet gentle were Judy’s exact words.”
“Just like you,” Vee replied.
“You clearly don’t know me if you think that.” I gave her a pointed stare. The little snort Wednesday gave from beside me, made me realise that she too hadn’t forgotten where we first met. Gentle wasn’t something people usually associated with me.
“I’ve got the dog bed and other stuff she’ll need in the boot of the car. I wasn’t sure if you wanted her to sleep in your bedroom, Wends?”
She didn’t look up, just carried on nuzzling and stroking the dog, but her nod told me that was exactly what she wanted.
I leant closer to her to ask my next question. I didn’t want Vee being privy to this information.
“You don’t think I’ve been insensitive, do you? Giving you a dog after the name they called you?” My throat felt like gravel as I asked her, but I had to know she was okay.
She stopped petting Xena and looked straight at me, and then she beamed. I swear, the sun’s rays in summertime couldn’t have felt as bright and warm as her smile did right then. It was the biggest smile I’d ever seen her give, and it made me feel fucking giddy. I was becoming a seriously weak-ass pussy for this girl, because in that moment, I knew I’d have done anything for her. She shook her head vehemently, and if she could’ve talked, she’d have told me thatthiswas the greatest gift she’d ever received.
Those little steps were turning into little butterflies in my stomach, and it was all for her.
With each passing day,I felt more and more at home. Maybe that process had been sped up thanks to Xena’s presence. She really was an angel of a dog. I loved her from the moment Cill placed her into my lap. She followed me around like my little shadow. Whether it was sitting with me in the garden and watching me work, or trotting up to my room to be close to me as we slept, she was always there. He was too.
Xena stayed in my room every night, and although the nightmares hadn’t stopped, they had become less frequent. On the nights I did wake up startled and distressed, Xena was there to jump up on the bed and give me the nudge and cuddles I needed to come around. Not long after, I’d usually hear Cill leaving his room to get a drink or something from the kitchen. I had no doubt that I was waking him too. He never complained though. The next morning, he’d always be bright and cheery, making his signature pancakes or some other feast for breakfast. He was a feeder. He certainly loved to watch me eat.
Days had turned into weeks, weeks into months, and even though I missed my family terribly, I felt as if a new life was beginning to take shape. Slowly, but surely. One where I didn’t live in constant fear, or continually look over my shoulder. They didn’t know where we were. I knew the brothers, and if they were going to find us, they’d have done it by now.
* * *
I trudgeddown the stairs into the living area to find Cill packing a bag and whistling away.
