#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.”

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

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

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

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

“No,” Alvin says, “Merlin.”

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

impromptu meeting. He says you didn’t pick up. Would you

I think, and

Yes, just give me a few minutes to set up. Tell him I’ll call

back a thumbs-up emoji and I hurry

ask, stowing my

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

and smile. “Please don’t let Ian name

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

laugh and wave as I head out the

the old rotary phone, dialing the line at the office that

voice sounds a

say. “I apologize for missing your call earlier. Do you have a moment to

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

murmur, settling in amongst the

me about it

you tell me in

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 if she can’t handle this chaos,” he hesitates, “that…well, that

my fingers. “This sounds like you two have different priorities. She wants freedom

he says, after

like her to be on

he says,

laughing a little, “that’s unfair, and it’s not

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

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

he growls,

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

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

space. My advice would actually be to do the opposite. Call her

this just encourage her to continue

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