I stuck my tongue out in defense, then swished side to side, letting my butter yellow sundress fan out. I ignored the unruly bunch and told Jane, “I have to look over the new recruits.”
She nodded and offered an elbow, which I took. Ker walked over and bumped my hip. “See ya, Tempe. Jane. Winnie.”
Then Jess, in typical fashion, pulled me from Jane's arm and dipped me low, faking a kiss, by putting her hand between our lips. “Runt.”
I blushed and slapped her arm, squeaking out a reprimand for the unrepentant woman, “Hey! You're engaged, Red.”
She wiggled her eyebrows, looking good in her biker leathers. “True. But I ain't dead.”
Jane wiggled her fingers in a dismissing motion, an eyebrow cocked at her ex. “Shoo, Red. Lips off the merchandise.”
Jess leaned over and playfully kissed her cheek. “Whatever Five-O.”
Mom was shaking her head at the display, causing Garrett to ask, “What, mom?”
She shrugged. I just think it is wonderful how tight-knit our family is. It warmed my heart every time she included Jessie and Kerry as part of our family since we all felt the same way. Not only were they my best friends, but the sisters I never had.
Gar and Becky said their goodbyes, and we watched my poor sis-in-law waddle off, holding her back and not letting my brother hold Oscar's leash. I smiled knowing she was going to be an awesome mom.
Speaking of awesome moms. She stole Puddles' leash from me then crouched to grab Calvin's. She looked past us to the dissipating crowd, and she paused and looked almost coy for a moment as she gave a slow wink to someone, then turned to us. “Shall we girls?”
Wha? Huh? Jane and I had both spun to scan the crowd behind us. Who had made mom react that way? There were only two suspects in that direction, both walking away in different directions. One was a salt and pepper haired, well-muscled man in a tight black tee. Slim and trim and yummy. The other I would have just dismissed out of hand before I had come to terms with my own sexuality. A red-headed woman about mom's age who had a decidedly nice ass.
Eeep! I said nothing!
Jane apparently hadn't caught who the recipient of the look and wink was either as she asked, “Who was that aimed at, Winnie?” Her cop instincts kicking into interrogation mode. She should know by now she could never get a May girl to confess.
Mom just shrugged and said, “I'm sure I have no idea what you are talking about, Jane honey.”
I smiled hugely. My mom was showing interest in someone after all these years! Woooo! I was so happy she was brave enough to move on. I dog walker strutted with the ladies as we headed toward Central Park Tails.
I was so happy when mom took me up on the offer of taking one of the apartments above the dog rescue. I worried less and was thrilled I could see her more than once a week. She even let me go through and label everything in her apartment for her once she was unpacked.
I admit I'm not as strong as my mom, as Jane would find out after we got married and combined our finances. I... am still not ready to really say goodbye to dad yet. I know how pathetic that makes me. But my memories are still tied to the family home.
I had reshuffled my finances, started an LLC and had the LLC purchase our family home. The Company rents it out to pay the mortgage and pay a property management firm. I see it as an investment in Jane and my future. My real estate portfolio was becoming quite diverse, and they weren't making any more land, so real estate was a smart retirement option.
I know, I sound like I'm just trying to convince myself.
I'm so glad mom kept dad's recliner, well her recliner now. That was where most of my memories resided. One day maybe I'll be as strong as mom and will be able to move on, since, like she says, dad lives on in our hearts, and there is plenty of room for others.
I prompted her as we walked, “Who you gonna filch tonight?” I grinned at her. Almost from day one, after her last evening walk with Puddles, mom had started going into the rescue and swiping a dog for the night to keep her and Puddles company.
It is an amazing thing which has twofold benefits. It helps socialize the dogs, and it keeps Puddles... and mom, from being lonely. I can see the same pain in mom's eyes as is in mine when she has to carry Puddles upstairs because the stairs are difficult for the old girl. I'm dreading the day we lose that Cocker Spaniel that stole my heart when I was a kid. Until then, mom, Calvin, and I are on a mission to give her as many days filled with happiness and companionship as we can.
When mom is going to be out for more than a few hours on assignments, she brings Puddles down to the rescue to play with all the other dogs while she is gone. The pups all treat her like their co-alpha along with Ruff, Barney's old Golden Retriever. And I swear that her doggy grin is a real smile when she is teaching the puppies how to be a proper dog.
On occasion Mellisa calls for help with Tinkerbell, I like to walk her with Puddles since I'm pretty sure my old Spaniel is in love with Tink. Calvin loves the play dates.
She smirked at me and supplied, “Was thinking about Wiggles.”
Ah, Wiggles was the small, long-haired dachshund. The last one of the group that I started in Central Park Tails with. I was so happy that every single one of them will have found a home once Wiggles goes, and not a single one of them had to go to the doggy jail that is Animal Control. I feel as if I have accomplished something.
At any given time, we had thirty dogs needing homes, and I have lost count of how many we have found forever-homes for. Fine, that's a lie. One hundred and twenty-three so far. I know that if there is a God, this is what he had put me on Earth to do.
This, and love my future wife. I looked up at her and stole a quick kiss as we arrived.
“What was that for?”
I shrugged and squeaked out, “No reason. I just love you.”
It amazed me how such a strong and fierce woman could become so shy and vulnerable as she said, “Love you too.”
Mom was hugging her chest, bursting with rainbows, hearts, and unicorns.
I told her, “You're such a mom.”
She winked.
Speaking of God. I told Cardinal Collins I would attend mass tomorrow. Maybe I could get Jane to come. I compromised with the man when he kept calling to get me to come all the time. I still don't know if I believe, and he doesn't try to shove religion down my throat, so I got to one mass a month if I can for the wily old man. And as Jessie says, it doesn't hurt to hedge your bets.
I stole Calvin's lead, and told the girls as they headed to the door to the residence stairs and elevator, “See you in a minute, I have to inspect the latest group of volunteers.”
They had smug looks on their faces as they continued on. What? Jerk-faces.
As I walked into the rescue and into the chaos of fresh faces trying to wrangle the dogs, Ralph clapped his hands twice and called out, “Everyone, line up!”
They hustled into a line as Calvin, and I walked past the group with a brow cocked, all I could think as I looked at the eager faces was, “Damn, these rookies are green!”
The End
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Romance Novels by Erik Schubach
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Books in the Music of the Soul universe...
(All books are standalone and can be read in any order)
Music of the Soul
A Deafening Whisper
Dating Game
Karaoke Queen
Silent Bob
Five Feet or Less
Broken Song
Syncopated Rhythm
Progeny
Girl Next Door
Lightning Strikes Twice
June
Dead Shot
Music of the Soul Shorts...
(All short stories are standalone and can be read in any order)
Misadventures of Victoria Davenport: Operation Matchmaker
>
Wallflower
Accidental Date
Holiday Morsels
What Happened In Vegas?
Books in the London Harmony series...
(All books are standalone and can be read in any order)
Water Gypsy
Feel the Beat
Roctoberfest
Small Fry
Doghouse
Minuette
Squid Hugs
The Pike
Flotilla
Books in the Pike series...
(All books are standalone and can be read in any order)
Ships In The Night
Right To Remain Silent
Evermore
Books in the Flotilla series...
(All books are standalone and can be read in any order)
Making Waves
Keeping Time
The Temp
Books in the Unleashed series...
Case of the Collie Flour
Case of the Hot Dog
Case of the Gold Retriever
Case of the Great Danish
----------------------------------------------
Novels by Erik Schubach
----------------------------------------------
Books in the Techromancy Scrolls series...
Adept
Soras
Masquerade
Westlands
Avalon (2018)
Books in the Urban Fairytales series...
Red Hood: The Hunt
Snow: The White Crow
Ella: Cinders and Ash
Rose: Briar's Thorn
Let Down Your Hair
Hair of Gold: Just Right
The Hood of Locksley
Beauty In the Beast
No Place Like Home
Shadow Of The Hook (2018)
Books in the New Sentinels series...
Djinn: Cursed
Raven Maid: Out of the Darkness
Fate: No Strings Attached
Open Seas: Just Add Water
Ghost-ish: Lazarus
Books in the Drakon series...
Awakening
Dragonfall
Books in the Valkyrie Chronicles series...
Return of the Asgard
Bloodlines
Folkvangr
Seventy Two Hours
Titans
Books in the Tales From Olympus series...
Gods Reunited
Alfheim (2018)
Books in the Bridge series...
Trolls
Traitor
Unbroken
Books in the Fracture series...
Divergence
-------------------------------------------------
Novellas by Erik Schubach
-------------------------------------------------
The Hollow
Novellas in the Paranormals series...
Fleas
This Sucks
Jinx (2018)
Novellas in the Fixit Adventures...
Fixit
Glitch
Vashon
Descent (2018)
Novellas in the Emily Monroe Is Not The Chosen One series...
Night Shift
Unchosen (2018)
-------------------------------------------------
Short Stories by Erik Schubach
(These short stories span many different genres)
-------------------------------------------------
A Little Favor
Lost in the Woods
MUB
Mirror Mirror On The Wall
Oops!
Rift Jumpers: Faster Than Light
Scythe
Snack Run
Something Pretty
Summer Break (2018)
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