#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 living room, Victor takes his phone out

door frame and smiling at them. “You’re going to stay here

don’t look at me, too distracted by

says, drawing a string in front

“No,” Alvin says, “Merlin.”

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

from your client asking for an impromptu meeting. He says

I think,

to set up. Tell him I’ll call him through

back a thumbs-up emoji and

Victor?” I ask, stowing my phone

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

don’t let

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

as I head

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

mechanized voice

“I apologize for missing your call earlier. Do

unscheduled appointment. I’m just…having a bit

on,” I murmur, settling in amongst the boots on

She didn’t even tell me about it

me in

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,”

the rotary 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

he says, after a moment of

you’d like her to be

he says,

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

used

I say, gently. “You are both whole people in this relationship, with different wants and needs. It sounds to me like every time she tries

he growls,

how your relationship would change if you spent more time listening

agreed, from the beginning, that we were going to start a family. It seems like more and more, these past months, she’s been moving

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

just encourage her to

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