#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.”

check on the boys, and then head home.” As I make my way to the living room, Victor takes his phone out

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

don’t look at me, too distracted by the

to call him Lizard,” Ian says, drawing a string in front of the dog,

“No,” Alvin says, “Merlin.”

for a few more minutes before sneaking out. As I go, I feel my phone buzz

client asking for an impromptu meeting.

think,

few minutes to set up. Tell him I’ll

me back a thumbs-up emoji and I hurry into

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

through his hair. “Are the boys in there with

and smile. “Please don’t let Ian name it

“No promises,”

as I

twirl the numbers on the old rotary phone, dialing the line at the office that

voice sounds a little

missing your call earlier.

says, “and it’s fine, I apologize for requesting this unscheduled appointment.

settling in amongst the boots on my closet

taken an impromptu trip to Milan. She didn’t even tell me about it – just took off while I was out

in more detail about why

she’s getting away from the ‘chaos’ of our life as her reason for needing a break. I’m worried that if she can’t handle this chaos,” he hesitates, “that…well, that she’s not going to be willing to

phone’s chord around my fingers. “This sounds like you two have different priorities. She wants freedom and fun, whereas you seem to be very focused on another

after

like her to be

says, more

say, laughing a little, “that’s unfair, and

because he’s used to everyone falling into step with his own

and needs. It sounds to me like every time she tries to express what she wants, you punish her and

a little unfair,” he

ask. “Or is it kind of ‘your way or the highway,’ as the saying goes? I wonder how your relationship would change if you spent more time listening to what

family. It

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

her

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