#Chapter 36 – A New Pup

“That’s your dog,” I say, my fingers pressed against my temple as the puppy whines in the back seat. The boys fuss over him, fighting over names.

“We are going to call him Lucky,” says Alvin.

“No. Slug!,” says Ian, laughing.

“You are not naming him Slug,” I say, angry, twisting to glare at the boys. “He has to live his whole life with that name.”

“If it’s my dog,” Victor says, smirking, “Then why do you care?”

I roll my eyes, murmuring “Fine, do whatever you want. But have fun explaining to your constituents why their First Dog’s name is Slug.”

Victor nods, considering. “True. Boys! Slug is off the table.” Alvin cheers and Ian moans.

“Seriously, Victor,” I say, turning to him. “I don’t have the time or the energy to take care of what is essentially a third child. The dog stays with you, in your house.”

He laughs softly and nods. “It’s fine, Evelyn – the dog stays with me. I have a full household staff – we can handle it. It’s just a puppy.”

“Just a puppy,” I say, mocking. “That’s what you thought when you brought these two home,” I gesture over my shoulder with my thumb, “and then called me in a panic saying they were wrecking your house.”

“Ah, that was just first-night jitters. We figured it out.”

With that, we pull into Victor’s driveway just as the sun is starting to set. “Mama, can we stay and have dinner with the doggie? I want to eat out of a bowl on the floor with him!” Victor says, clutching the poor creature to his chest as we walk up the driveway.

“Whatever you want, Ian,” I say, smiling graciously at him. “Stay with the dog in your dad’s house as long as you want.”

“I want to stay too! I want puppy chow!” Alvin says, trying to grab the dog from his brother. Poor pup!, I think as it looks at me with wide eyes. But also, not my problem.

When I come in the door, I see Victor standing by the kitchen island reading a note.

“What’d you get?” I ask, moving to the fridge to grab a cold bottle of water.

“Note from Amelia,” Victor says, looking off into the distance.

“Oh?” I say, studying his face. He’s suddenly glum after being so cheerful all day. “Is everything okay?”

“She’s off to Milan,” he says, shaking his head. “For a couple of days with her girlfriends. Says she needs to ‘get some space.’”

I grimace as I twist open my bottle’s cap. “Guess it’s a good thing she wasn’t here for the arrival of the puppy. Might have sent her overboard.”

see the frustration on his face. “Okay,” I say, deciding to leave him to it. “I’m going to check on the boys, and then head home.” As I make my way to the

say, leaning against the door frame and smiling at them. “You’re going to stay here for supper

nod but don’t look at me, too distracted by

call him Lizard,” Ian says, drawing a string in

“No,” Alvin says, “Merlin.”

more minutes before sneaking out. As I go, I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. I

got a call from your client asking for an impromptu meeting. He says you didn’t pick up. Would you be

think,

few minutes to set up. Tell him I’ll call him through the

back a thumbs-up emoji and I hurry into the

right, Victor?” I ask, stowing my phone away

worried hand through his hair. “Are the boys in there

and smile. “Please don’t let

quirks an eyebrow at me. “No promises,” he says.

and wave as I head out

my closet, I twirl the numbers on the old rotary phone, dialing the line at the office that connects directly to Victor’s cell. It

mechanized voice

missing your call earlier. Do you have a moment to

it’s fine, I apologize for requesting this unscheduled appointment. I’m just…having a

amongst the boots on my

girlfriend, she’s taken an impromptu trip to Milan. She didn’t even tell me about it – just took

me in more detail about why

that she didn’t tell me, which seems common courtesy, she cited the fact that she’s getting away from the ‘chaos’ of our life as her reason

like you two have different priorities. She wants freedom

he says, after a

her to be on your

he says,

I say, laughing a little, “that’s

He’s surprised my answer, I assume because he’s used

It sounds to me like every time she tries to express what she wants, you punish her and demand that she adhere to your

a little unfair,” he growls, but

the highway,’ as the saying goes? I wonder how your relationship would change if you spent more time listening to what she’s asking for, and consenting to give

we agreed, from the beginning, that we were going to start a family. It seems like more and more, these past

your concerns there,” I say, working to show him that I understand. “But I don’t think the solution is to punish her for taking her space. My advice would actually be to do the opposite. Call her and let her know you hope she’s having fun, send some flowers and wine to the hotel at which she’s staying.

just encourage her to continue her

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