#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.”

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

them. “You’re

too distracted by

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

“No,” Alvin says, “Merlin.”

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

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

I think,

give me a few minutes to set up. Tell him I’ll call him through the safe

me back a thumbs-up emoji and I hurry

I ask, stowing my

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

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

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

laugh and wave as

line at the office that connects directly to Victor’s cell. It rings several times before he picks

voice sounds

apologize for missing your call earlier. Do you have a moment

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

settling in amongst the boots on my

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

in more

it should be obvious. “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

my fingers. “This sounds like you two have different priorities. She wants freedom and fun, whereas

he says, after

her to be on

says, more

“that’s unfair, and it’s not going to

he’s used to everyone falling into step with his

like a full person,” I say, gently. “You are both whole people in this relationship, with different wants and needs. It sounds to me like

little unfair,” he growls, but I

it kind of ‘your way or the highway,’ as the saying goes? I wonder how your

going to start a family. It seems like more and

to do the opposite. Call her and let her

this just encourage her to continue

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