#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.”

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

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

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

drawing a string

“No,” Alvin says, “Merlin.”

minutes before sneaking out. As I go,

asking for an impromptu meeting. He

think, and hurriedly

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

sends me back a thumbs-up emoji and I hurry into

ask, stowing my phone away in my

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

nod and smile. “Please don’t

an eyebrow at me. “No promises,” he

laugh and wave as I head out

numbers on the old rotary phone, dialing the line at the office that connects directly to Victor’s

voice sounds

“I apologize for missing your call earlier. Do you have

says, “and it’s fine, I apologize for requesting this unscheduled appointment. I’m just…having a bit of an issue with

in amongst the boots on

she’s taken an impromptu trip to Milan. She didn’t even tell me about it – just took off

“Can you tell me in more detail about

her reason

sounds like you two have different priorities. She wants freedom

says, after a moment

you’d like her to be on your page?” I

says, more

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

He’s surprised my answer, I assume because he’s used to everyone falling into step with his own

person,” 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 to express what she wants, you punish her and demand that

unfair,” he

your relationship would change if you spent more time listening to what she’s asking for,

start a family. It seems like more and more, these past months, she’s

to do the opposite. Call her

her to continue her

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