The Leafing: the 2nd book in The Green Man series

by Sharon Brubaker

  Sylvia didn’t know how to respond and said, “No problem.”

  Sylvia waited as Tony seemed to search for words for a conversation. She took another sip of her wine and motioned for Percy to come to her. She petted him absently in the awkward silence.

  “I don’t know how to ask this,” Tony began slowly, “but, have you seen Joyce recently?”

  Sylvia stared at him. She remembered she had seen Joyce in the grocery store with another man.

  She answered carefully, “Yes, I saw her a few days ago,” she answered. “She seemed surprised when Percy stopped because he could smell the treats in my pocket.”

  That made Tony smile, but it was gone a moment later.

  “She’s gone,” he said with a catch in his voice and continued sadly, “I don’t know where she is.”

  “Excuse me?” Sylvia asked surprised.

  “Look, you don’t know me,” Tony said, “and I don’t want this to be a case of ‘too much information,’ but it’s no secret that we are very different.” He paused. “She was not happy in our marriage. She always wanted bigger and better and I think she’s left me,” he said. “But, I loved her,” he said. “I feel,” he hesitated, as if searching for words, “helpless.”

  “I’m sorry,” Sylvia said immediately. She felt a little uncomfortable with his confession about problems in their marriage and the pain in his voice.

  “The odd thing is,” he paused, “is that she left Percy.” Percy turned and looked at Tony at the sound of his name.

  “And she won’t answer her cell phone. I don’t know where she could be,” he told Sylvia. “She, she didn’t want to see me on New Year’s Eve, but I thought I would come down early today to start to make amends for the New Year,” he said. His face was contorted. He looked as though he could cry, but also was in a lot of anguish.

  Sylvia felt guilty about the other guy she saw Joyce with. Should she tell Tony about this?

  “I hate to bother you,” Tony began, “because I don’t really know you; my request probably seems odd,” he paused and Sylvia wondered what he was going to say. He hesitated a minute and she waited patiently. “Percy likes you. Do you think you could watch him for a few days? I mean, I thought it would be better than being in a kennel. I thought I would fly to a couple of our other houses and check to see if Joyce was there,” he said. “I wondered if I could track her down. I mean, even if she’s really angry, she always has her cell phone with her. This isn’t like her,” he said.

  Sylvia felt a swell of sympathy. She had never cared for a dog, but it couldn’t be that hard.

  “I guess so,” Sylvia began, “yes,” she concluded. “But, you need to know I don’t know a lot about dogs.”

  “Oh, I think you would do well. Percy likes you a lot,” Tony said encouragingly and gestured at the dog.

  Percy had wandered away from Sylvia and was sitting by the doors that led to the deck. When he heard his name, he stepped back from the French doors and lay at Sylvia’s feet with his head between his paws.

  “See,” Tony said.

  “Will he be okay when I’m at work?” Sylvia asked.

  “Sure,” Tony said. “You just need to walk him in the morning and when you get home and feed him a couple of times a day. He’s a really good dog.”

  “I know,” Sylvia said, patting him on the head.

  “Well, that’s settled,” Tony said. “I don’t know how to begin to thank you. Is it all right if I leave him here while I go and get his food and some toys?”

  “Sure,” Sylvia said wondering what all Tony might bring.

  Tony brightened. “Thanks, I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”

  He turned before he rushed out the door, “Do you think your boyfriend will mind?” he asked.

  Sylvia gave a bitter little laugh, “No worries, he’s no longer here,” she said.

  “Oh,” Tony replied awkwardly, “Sorry.”

  “No problem,” Sylvia said, “It’s new and a fresh wound. How would you know?” she asked with a shrug of her shoulders.

  Tony nodded and went out the door. Sylvia had risen to her feet as he exited. Percy had stayed on the floor.

  “Whew!” she said, patting Percy on the head. “New Year’s resolution number one coming true, at least temporarily,” she said faintly to herself. “Percy,” she said, “this is a bit surreal.”

  Tony returned with food, dishes, treats, a leash, some toys and a puffy bed for Percy. They exchanged cell phone numbers and he was gone within minutes.

  After he had gone, Percy turned his head to look at Sylvia quizzically.

  “I know,” Sylvia said to Percy, “It’s a surprise to both of us. Do you think you can bunk here with me on the other side of the tracks?” she asked the dog.

  He wagged his tail and sat up and then licked her hand.

  “Okay, boy,” she said. “Let’s get some dinner and then go for a walk.”

  She microwaved herself a frozen meal and put some food in Percy’s dish and gave him some water. He half-heartedly took a bite or two and drank some water, then lay back down at her feet.

  “Are you okay, Percy?” she asked him.

  He looked up at her with big eyes and thumped his tail when she spoke to him.

  “I’ll bet you miss your Mommy,” she said to Percy. “I hate to say this, but I don’t think I’m much like her.”

  Sylvia finished her meal and tossed the plastic into the recycle bin and the fork in the dishwasher.

  “Come on, Percy,” she told him, “Let’s go for a walk.”

  Sylvia fetched the leash and he leaped to his feet and followed her eagerly to the door. He was a very well trained dog as he sat obediently while she hooked the leash and they went outside.

  “Oops,” she said, “I need to get one of those bags Tony brought in case you decide to leave any presents in the neighborhood,” she said tactfully and went to fetch a plastic hydrant shaped object that bags came out of on the side.

  “Okay, I’m ready now,” she told Percy and they went out for a walk along Bayside Road.

  Sylvia found the experience pleasant. Percy didn’t pull or tug, but walked nicely with her, occasionally stopping to sniff and pee where other dogs left their mark. It was nice to have company on an evening stroll. Darkness was falling quickly and Sylvia turned to go back home. She had neglected to bring a flashlight with her.

  She and Percy returned to the house where he lay at her feet when she turned on the television. Although her cold was much better, she was still tired.

  “C’mon, Percy,” she ordered, “Let’s head up to bed to read for a while.”

  Sylvia locked the doors and turned off the lights. She picked up the puffy bed and hauled it up the stairs. Percy stayed at the bottom of the stairs watching her. When she had deposited the bed in her bedroom she stood at the top of the stairs to call him.

  “Come on up, Percy,” she called to him. “You can sleep up here with me.”

  Percy trotted up the stairs sniffing as he went. Sylvia patted her leg and led him to her bedroom.

  “Here’s your bed,” she said and pointed to the puffy thing.

  Percy padded over and stepped onto it. He turned in a circle twice and curled up with his head between his paws.

  “I’ll be back in a minute,” Sylvia said.

  She went back downstairs to get some cold medication and a glass of water. She glanced at the bag of things Tony had brought. There was a well-loved soft toy in the bag. She picked it up gingerly and took it up to Percy.

  “Here boy,” she said, handing him the toy. “Everyone likes to have a teddy bear,” she told him.

  Percy took the toy gently between his teeth and put it down on the bed with his head on top of it.

  “Back to work tomorrow,” she talked to Percy as she got ready for bed and set the alarm. “You’ll need to get up early,” she told him. “Pleasant dreams,” she said to him as she turned out the light.

  Chapter 8

  Life is r
eally simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

  Confucius

  A cold damp something pressed into Sylvia’s arm. She jerked away in surprise and her eyes opened up with a start.

  “Percy!” she blurted out as she stared into his big dark dog eyes. Yesterday came back in a flood of memories and she groaned. Percy nuzzled at her shoulder.

  “Okay, okay,” she said, “I’ll get up.”

  Percy pranced in a circle and gave a happy little bark in reply.

  She got out of bed and Percy bolted down the stairs.

  Quickly she put on her sweat pants and slippers and followed him. He was waiting by the door impatiently.

  “Wait a sec,” she told him as she pulled her coat from the closet and grabbed his leash. “Remember, I’m new at this,” she reminded the dog.

  Percy sat, albeit impatiently, to have her attach the leash and she unlocked the door. At the last minute she grabbed the flashlight that was plugged into the electrical socket near the door. It was still very early and very dark.

  She walked Percy out into the yard. It was frigid. She wasn’t so sure about this dog sitting business as her teeth chattered. She pulled her coat tightly around her and stamped her feet to keep warm while Percy did his business. She had forgotten a bag. Oh well, she thought, it was her own property. She would get it later when it was light. She urged Percy to go inside.

  “Brrr!” she told Percy when they entered the house. “How cold is it out there, Perc?”

  Sylvia made coffee and toast and gave Percy some breakfast.

  She sat and ate her breakfast while he ate his. He looked expectantly at her toast and she laughed and gave him the last bite.

  When she was dressed for work she took his puffy bed back downstairs. He had finished his breakfast and returned to the living room to sit at the French doors and stare out at the bay again.

  “Here’s your bed, Percy,” she said.

  He didn’t seem to notice.

  “I have to go to work, but I’ll be back as soon as I can,” she told him.

  He seemed intent on looking at the water. She didn’t have much experience with dogs, but she thought this was odd. She went over to give him a pat on the head goodbye.

  At work her boss had returned from his holiday. She was happy to see him. Although they had exchanged small gifts prior to the holiday, she was surprised that Mr. Carter had brought her some trinkets from his travels, a mug, some coffee and gourmet chocolates.

  “Thank you,” she said and gave him an impulsive hug. “I can use all of these, especially the chocolate!”

  “You’re very, very welcome,” he said, lighting up like Santa Claus himself.

  “Things have been quiet,” Sylvia said. “I think everyone took last week off.”

  “Good, good,” Mr. Carter said, “so, we can ease into the new year.”

  “Um, unfortunately I was pretty sick last week with a cold and I didn’t get everything accomplished that I had planned on completing,” she admitted honestly.

  “You were,” he coughed emphatically, “sick?” he asked, “or sick with Owen?” he added mischievously.

  “Oh,” she said, turning her eyes downward, “You see…” she hesitated, “Owen and I…” she trailed off.

  “No!” he exclaimed disbelieving.

  Sylvia nodded.

  “When you’re ready to talk about it, let me know,” he said. “I’m sorry.” He reached and gave Sylvia a fatherly hug.

  Tears pricked at her eyes as she hugged him back.

  “Back to the grindstone,” he barked good naturedly.

  “Okay,” she agreed.

  Sylvia worked on the projects steadily until a bright voice came through the doorway, “Hey, girlfriend! Happy New Year!” Carol called out.

  Carol had been the first person Sylvia met at Thurmont Industries. Sylvia loved her chutzpah and excellent sense of humor. They had become fast friends since her hire the previous May. They exchanged hugs.

  “Lunch in our favorite cafeteria?” Carol asked. “We have a lot to catch up on.”

  Sylvia logged off her computer and told Mr. Carter they were headed to lunch. Carol was as brown as a nut from her vacation cruise with her mother. She launched into stories immediately as they walked down the hallway towards the cafeteria having Sylvia laughing hysterically about some of the other passengers on the cruise line.

  They picked up their lunches and sat down at a favorite spot near the windows. Carol took a large bite of her sandwich. Sylvia sipped at a cup of soup.

  “Okay,” Carol asked. “You need to fess up about your vacation. Let me see that hand of yours. Better yet, let me ask that good man of yours,” she said spotting Owen in line and waving to him.

  Owen waved back with an embarrassed wave to Carol and left the cafeteria area with his lunch. Sylvia’s eyes were glued to her soup.

  “What’s going on?” Carol asked. “What’s up with Owen?”

  “Um,” Sylvia hesitated, “Owen decided he didn’t want a relationship anymore.”

  “What?” Carol blurted out rather loudly. She was not a quiet sort of person.

  Some heads turned to look in their direction for a moment before returning to their food. Sylvia closed her eyes.

  “It was pretty sudden,” she said quietly. “He found a bridal magazine addressed to me in the mail and flipped out. He accused me and our Moms of trying to push him into marriage before he wanted to and he left.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding! How did you get a bridal magazine subscription?” Carol asked. “That’s not like you to jump the gun. Did your friend Gwen send it?”

  “No,” Sylvia said, “It was our Moms. I guess he was planning on proposing some time during the holiday, so they wanted to help out. He changed his mind, but didn’t let the Moms know.”

  Carol, for once, was speechless. She stared at Sylvia. Sylvia sipped more of her soup and started on her sandwich.

  “Wow,” she said finally, “That sucks.”

  Sylvia nodded. “It’s been tough,” she admitted.

  “Tell me more about your cruise,” Sylvia asked Carol changing the subject.

  Carol launched another story of shipboard life when Sylvia’s cell phone rang. She looked at the number, puzzled and then realized it was Tony.

  “Hello?” she answered.

  “Hi, Sylvia, it’s Tony,” he greeted.

  “Hi,” she answered back. “How are things going?”

  “Nothing yet,” he told her. “It’s too soon. No answer on her cell. Nothing I can find here.”

  “How’s Percy doing?” he asked.

  “Fine,” Sylvia said. “I’m at work and I’m assuming he’s okay. He seemed comfortable through the night and ate breakfast with me this morning. He’s a wonderful dog.”

  “I can’t thank you enough,” Tony said. “I’ll check back with you soon.”

  “Okay,” Sylvia told him. “Good luck.”

  Again, she did not tell him she saw Joyce with another man at the grocery store. Pricks of guilt assailed her conscience.

  “Earth to Sylvia,” Carol said. “Everything okay? You really stepped out of the continuum there.”

  “Sorry,” Sylvia said, flushing a bit. “It was my neighbor.”

  “And…” Carol prodded.

  “His wife disappeared. He’s trying to find out where she went,” Sylvia said it bluntly, “and I’m taking care of their dog.”

  “You’re what?” Carol spluttered through her soda.

  “I know, I know, I’m not really a dog person,” Sylvia admitted. “But, Percy is terrific,” she told Carol.

  “Wow. This is unbelievable! A dog?” Carol asked before she said. “What’s this guy…Tony; I think I heard you say…what is he like?”

  “Quiet, deep, nice,” Sylvia told her slowly.

  “Good looking?” Carol asked.

  Sylvia laughed at her friend. Of course Carol would ask that.

  “Yes, he’s very good looking in a dark s
ort of way,” Sylvia said. “He’s dark and quiet.”

  “Be careful,” Carol warned, “Sounds like your type, but this one’s already taken and he’s needy right now.”

  “Carol, I’m helping him with his d-o-g,” Sylvia said exasperated. “Lord, you sound like my mother.”

  “Sorry,” Carol said. “I just don’t want you going from the frying pan into the fire,” she told her friend. “You’re at a precarious point, my friend.”

  Sylvia shook her head at Carol. “Trust me, I’m not his type. His wife is a trophy wife – blond, beautiful and more socially adept than I’ll ever be. C’mon, it’s time to get back to the office,” she told her and picked up their lunch trash to discard.

  “Don’t sell yourself short, Syl,” Carol replied.

  “Now you sound like my grandmother!” Sylvia said in a warning tone.

  “But, Syl,” Carol prodded, “Don’t you think it’s a little weird he asked you to watch his dog?”

  “I don’t know,” Sylvia replied. “I hadn’t thought about it except it was a holiday and he was upset and…I didn’t know what to say to him…so, I said ‘yes,’” she said lamely.

  “I don’t know,” Carol shook her head. “You are nicer than me!” she said emphatically.

  “And, I forgot to ask,” Carol interrupted, “with all of this amazing news, where did you get that gorgeous ring?”

  “Oh,” Sylvia said with a pensive and sad note in her voice, “It is a last gift from my grandmother,” she told her. “My Mom picked it up to give to me this Christmas.” Sylvia started to choke up a little and held out her hand for Carol to admire the heavy gold and glittering ring. Mom said it was mandala –some kind of ancient design. Sounds like Gran. She could get really mystical at times.”

  Carol admired the ring and left Sylvia at the door to her office and went jauntily off to her office down the hallway.

  The afternoon passed quickly. Sylvia told Mr. Carter about the dog sitting duty and left right on time. He had waved a hand at her and told her to go when she needed to so she hurried home.

  Percy was still in the living room staring out at the water with his head between his paws. He really seemed to miss Joyce and Tony.