Page 104 of Wayward

“Yes, baby,” I agreed, hugging him tight.

“Oh, I really do like the baby,” he sighed.

He bought Misha a ramp. The following night, after we said our good-nights to Ada after dinner and returned to his house, now mine as well, there was a ramp on my side of the bed so Misha could get up and down whenever he wanted.

“You got that for him?”

“Of course I got that for him,” he grumbled. “I refuse to have him ruin my postcoital cuddle with you with his whining.”

“Well, you’re still going to have to get up and open the door.”

“Unless I teach him to stay off the bed during sexy times.”

I groaned loudly.

“What else am I supposed to call it?”

I had no idea.

That Saturday, Viola Berry came to see me at the farmer’s market where Gale and I went to watch Ada sell her pottery that we had set up for her. Viola thanked me lavishly, and we had a nice visit with her daughter, Harper, and the dogs. I’d been so busy; I hadn’t seen her since the first day at the vet’s office. Apparently, Bruce was still locked up since he couldn’t make bail—his family had washed their hands of him—so he hadn’t been able to bother his soon-to-be ex-wife and his daughter. His cousins, Viola told me, had come by to apologize for the misunderstanding. Bruce hadn’t been honest with anyone. They had spent a week in jail each and would be serving some serious community service time. I was glad to hear it. Gale reiterated to Viola that if she had any problems, he should be her first call.

“Or Maks,” Harper chimed in, beaming up at me. “He saved us and our doggies, so he’ll protect us.”

Gale shot me a look.

“What?” I asked.

“You’re always the hero.”

I nodded. “That’s how I roll.”

“Oh,” Ada said, shaking her head and scrunching up her nose. “Don’t ever say that again. That’s just so not you.”

Gale thought that was hysterical.

Viola explained that she and Harper had moved into their new house. It was small, but safe and wonderful, close to the elementary school.

Hearing that, Ada insisted that Viola take eight place settings of dinner, salad, and dessert plates, along with bowls and mugs. “You must be able to entertain in your new home.”

Viola cried, and Harper hugged Ada, then sat down and talked to Misha.

It was a very good visit.

The Snyders were next and Lauren introduced me to first her Chihuahua/Yorkshire terrier mix, Bedelia—I glanced at Mrs. Snyder and she shrugged like she didn’t know why the name either—and then to Thor.

“You know, like the Avengers.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I got it.”

Thor was impressive. He was a Belgian Malinois and the way he was watching that little girl, I couldn’t imagine anyone she didn’t like was getting anywhere near her. He was also enjoying all her pets and hugs and the pretzels they were both eating.

I got a hug from Mrs. Snyder, a handshake from Mr. Snyder, and we set a date for the following Saturday for Lauren to come see the sheep.

“Can I bring my dogs?”

“As long as you promise not to let Bedelia chase the cats or the sheep.”

“You’re not worried about Thor?”