#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

them. “You’re going to stay here for

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

Ian says, drawing a string in front of the

“No,” Alvin says, “Merlin.”

more minutes before sneaking out. As

client asking for an impromptu meeting. He says you didn’t pick up. Would you be available for

I think, and hurriedly

set up. Tell him I’ll call him

thumbs-up emoji and I hurry

I ask, stowing my phone away in my

he says, running a worried hand through his hair. “Are

smile. “Please don’t let Ian

at me. “No promises,” he says. “It’s my

wave as

rotary phone, dialing the line at the office that connects directly

His mechanized voice sounds a little

apologize for missing your call earlier. Do you have

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

settling in amongst

even tell me about it – just took off while I was out for the day

in more

“Beyond the fact 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 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 add more

two have different priorities. She

says, after a moment of

be on

he says, more

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

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

in this relationship, with different wants and needs. It sounds to me like every time she tries to express what she wants, you

a little unfair,” he growls, but

highway,’ as the saying goes? I wonder how your relationship would change if you spent

beginning, that we were going to start a family. It seems like more

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. Show her you also

her to

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