One Little Bit

by Tey Holden

  Addy smiled and kissed her. She started to unbutton Karen’s shirt. “Do you want me to fix you a bath?”

  Karen smiled. “Are you going to be in it with me?”

  “Honey, after a whole week without you, I think we both need that bath badly.”

  Karen held her tight and kissed her neck. “Let’s get to it quickly. You have no idea how much I need to be scrubbed.”

  Addy combed her hair back. “Oh, yes I do.”

  ***

  Life went on as usual. Alex was doing well at preschool and she also started her swimming lessons. Karen had her work, and Addy got very involved with the stables during the time Alex spent at preschool.

  Carol and Marshall continued to see each other and they appeared to be very happy. Carol still had the coffee shop in town, which had done very well. Every time Marshall and Addy got together they talked about horses. “I was in Kentucky for a long time dealing with thoroughbreds. Ever thought about getting into that line of business?”

  “With us, it all started with providing horseback riding entertainment for the guests at the inn. Then, after we sold the inn, we kept the horses because we liked riding. Then someone suggested boarding horses and that’s where we are now. Tell me more about this thoroughbred breeding.”

  Marshall was an expert on horses and Addy loved the subject. Soon, they found themselves researching breeders and horses’ family trees. Addy thought it would be exciting to have a racehorse. Then there was that small issue of talking to Karen.

  When she got around to it, Karen’s reaction was the usual. “What?” At the same time Karen showed her astonishment, she grinned and then laughed.

  Addy just stood there smiling. She knew what to expect. When Karen finished laughing, she had some questions. “I don’t know why I’m going to ask these questions, but I think it’s the very least I can do.”

  “What are your questions, baby?”

  “Who is going to be looking for this horse?”

  “Marshall and I.”

  “And what exactly are Marshall’s qualifications, other than the fact that she lived in Kentucky?”

  Addy smiled, she knew Karen was mocking her. “Ker, she knows about horses, you should hear her talk.”

  Karen shook her head. “Do we even have a resume from her? I mean, one thing is taking care of the stables, but purchasing and training a racehorse is a totally different thing. There are professional people out there who get paid a lot of money to do that, yet we are going with the stable woman? I don’t know Addy, you know me. I always have my concerns about some of your ideas, but I have to admit, you have a great track record so, I will say no more. And since it seems that you are resolved, go for it!”

  “I’m glad you are onboard, baby!” She kissed her on the lips to really put an end to her rambling.

  “So, when are you getting this horse?”

  Addy smiled. “To be announced. Hang in there, sweetie pie, you’ll be the first one to know.”

  “Check all four legs. Make sure it doesn’t limp!”

  “Ha, ha, Very funny, Ms. Larsen.”

  During the fall and winter, Addy and Marshall researched horse farms and made plans to visit several breeders in the spring. At the first sign of spring, they went to the adjacent shire to meet one of the breeders.

  ***

  Karen was home working on financial issues when her cell phone rang. The call was from Alex’s preschool.

  “Is this Mrs. Larsen?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Mrs. Larsen, I don’t mean to alarm you, but Alex fell on the playground and hurt her arm. The nurse thinks it might be broken. We’ve stabilized her, but we would like you to come and take her to the hospital, if you can, if not the nurse—. ”

  “I will be there in ten minutes.” Karen ran. She was sure that she was exceeding the speed limit and when she got to the school, she was sure also that she was parked illegally.

  She found Alex with her arm in a sling and looking very sad, her face was smudged with dirt and tears. When Alex saw her mom, she started to cry again.

  “Mommy!”

  “Baby, what happened?”

  Amongst sobs, she told her mom. “I fell from the tree.”

  “What were you doing up in a tree?” Karen looked at the nurse and the teacher and the principal who were all very concerned.

  The teacher was a nervous wreck. “Ms. Larsen, it happened in seconds, I don’t know how or when she got up there, I’m so sorry.” The teacher was crying also.

  “I went up to get the cat.” Alex was trying to explain.

  “Well, let’s get you to the hospital, baby. You can tell me all about it on the way there. Come on.” Karen picked her up, held her and kissed her.

  “We were going to call the EMTs but thought that it would be best for you to take her.”

  “Thanks, I’ll take her right now.” With shaky hands, she managed to get Alex in the car seat.

  In the car, Karen kept glancing back at Alex.

  “Hey, you okay back there, baby girl? I think I’m going to call Mommy Addy to tell her where we are, okay?”

  Alex was not talking. She looked frightened and in pain.

  “Addy, she’s fine, just want you to know that I got a call from school, Alex hurt her arm I’m taking her to the hospital to have it checked.”

  “What? How did it happen? Is she okay? I’ll meet you there.”

  “Yes, she’s okay. Be careful.” Karen didn’t even have the opportunity to explain.

  At the hospital, they took them inside straightaway. The nurses and doctors immediately took x-rays and began tending to Alex’s arm. She was crying and holding on to Karen. Twenty minutes later, Addy rushed through the emergency room doors like a lightning bolt.

  “M’Addy!” If Alex cried when she first saw Karen, she cried even more when she saw Addy. Addy was the nurturing type and catered to all her ailments while Karen was more the tough love type.

  From the moment Addy walked into the examining room, Alex clung to her through the entire time they were there. Addy held her tight, kissed her and wiped her tears as Alex sobbed and pouted. After reviewing the x-rays and examining her, the doctor confirmed that all was fine and that it was just a simple fracture. Karen intervened when the medical staff was setting up the cast because Alex became restless.

  “I want to go home, Mommy.”

  “Alex, you need the cast on your arm. If you hold still, they will be done sooner, and we will be able to go home. Do you understand?” Alex nodded.

  “Okay, it will just be a little while longer.” Karen combed her hair back, kissed her, and took her hand. “Remember, we need to be brave sometimes.” Alex resigned to her fate and leaned her head on Addy’s chest while the doctor worked on her arm. There was the occasional whimper, but she’d stop the minute she felt Karen’s firm hand caressing hers, and Addy’s kisses on her head. When they left the hospital, they were all drained. In the meantime, a promised stop at the ice cream parlor helped to ease the pain and suffering of all.

  As they drove home, everyone was quiet. “Hopefully she won’t wake up when we get home and will sleep until tomorrow.” Addy noted after looking at the back seat and noticing that Alex had fallen asleep.

  “Good, I have had enough commotion for one day.”

  “What did the teacher say? Where was she when all this happened, and why was Alex up on a tree?” Addy was upset with the school staff.

  “Mrs. Templeton was in tears. She said it happened in a moment, and I believe her. You know that our lightning bolt here is quick in her doings.”

  “Yeah, but a kid going up a tree is something a teacher should have noticed. What the hell was Alex doing climbing a tree?”

  “There was a kitten involved,” said Karen.

  “Are you okay? I practically stopped breathing when you told me about it.” Addy stroke Karen’s thigh as she spoke.

  “I am now, but to be honest, I don’t even know how I made it to the schoo
l. My hands were shaking, thinking of what to do, and what would happen if anything ever happened to her. Maybe we shouldn’t send her to school yet, Addy. She’s too young. Maybe we should keep her home for another year. Why does she need to go to preschool? I didn’t go, and I did well in school. Did you go to preschool?”

  “Karen, this is one of those things that happen to kids. And what we are going through is part of being a parent. We may not have gone to preschool, but it was probably because there weren’t any. Now, all kids go to preschool. If they don’t they are at a disadvantage when they start grade school. Alex is a very intelligent child, and she deserves every opportunity available, that is why she needs to go.”

  Karen was quiet. She knew her argument had been illogical.

  Addy chuckled. “Ker, I have to tell you something.”

  “What?”

  “You are a great mom.” Karen smiled, they were already home. She unbuckled her seatbelt and went to the passenger side to get Alex from her car seat. Addy followed them inside. Karen walked up the stairs and directly to Alex’s room.

  “Undress her. I’m going to get towelettes to wipe her hands.” When Addy came back, Karen had removed Alex’s pants. “I don’t want to deal with the t-shirt and the arm. She might wake up.”

  Addy wiped her hands. “No, don’t. Tomorrow will be another day, and we can clean her up better. Now she needs to rest.”

  “So, do we, Addypooh.”

  Addy smiled. “Okay, but I think we both need a glass of wine first. Let’s go downstairs and relax.”

  “Yes, I may need two glasses. I may also need a massage.”

  “Baby, no promises. I’m pooped.” Karen laughed and put her arm around her once they were in the kitchen.

  ***

  Having an arm in a cast for a three-year-old was a terrible thing. Almost any activity presented problems. To make matters worse, it itched sometimes. The moms would put baby powder inside the cast and came up with several techniques to safely scratch Alex’s arm. The itching sometimes led to crying and there was very little to do to deal with her until they took her mind off of the problem.

  In an attempt to distract her, Karen offered to take her to a nearby farm to see farm animals. It so happened that the owner of the farm had a Havanese dog, which had just had puppies, and he was giving them away because there were so many of them. These were rare dogs, very cute and hairy.

  When Alex saw them, she was immediately enchanted with the furry balls. One of them immediately took to Alex, and she was delighted with the little thing. She asked Karen if she could take it home. Karen explained that maybe Mommy Addy would not be too thrilled with the idea, but they agreed to give it a try, and if Mommy Addy was totally against it, they’d return him. On those terms, they took the dog from the farmer. The farmer gave them all the details about the breed. Good with children, some grooming, no shedding, friendly subdued dog. Karen thought that there might be a chance since it was not one of those hyperactive dogs that Addy disliked so much.

  Mother and daughter took the long way home so that they could talk about how to introduce the dog to Addy. Among the many subjects of conversation was a name for the dog. For totally unknown reasons Alex chose the name Peanut Crunchy, which made Karen laugh, and so it became the dog’s name.

  When they got home, Alex was holding a cream color, hairy, and tiny dog.

  Addy looked at Karen very seriously. “What is that?” She pointed to the ball of hair in Alex’s arms.

  “It’s a puppy! His name is Peanut Crunchy.” Alex exclaimed very excitedly. Addy continued to stare at Karen.

  “And whose puppy is this?” Addy continued to have a stern inflexible look on her face.

  “Mine!” Alex exclaimed. She then pursed her lips and looked to Karen, thinking that she might have spoken too soon. Alex was very smart and had realized that each mom had some way to always convince the other about whatever needed to be agreed upon.

  Addy looked at Karen but didn’t say a thing. She just turned. “Karen, may I have a word with you?”

  Karen and Alex looked at each other. They both had the same look on their faces. Trouble loomed and they were guilty as charged. Alex knew that Addy was not much into dogs and may not allow her to keep it. They both knew that they were taking a risk, and Karen had even told Alex that she was probably getting her in a lot of trouble with Mommy Addy.

  Addy was not mad, she was fuming. “What the hell is this? Don’t you know how I feel about dogs or cats, or anything not human? What am I supposed to do now? Look like the bad mom who won’t let her kid have a dog?” Addy paced and raised her arms in the air as she talked. Karen remained quiet. She knew this was the best thing to do. “I hate it when you do this kind of thing to me!”

  Karen couldn’t figure out where that was coming from since this was for sure the first time anything like this had ever happened. However, knowing her wife, she remained quiet. Alex was outside listening to the whole incident. She hid so as not to be seen, and also because Karen told her to let her handle it.

  Addy was momentarily quiet, but Karen knew that silence only meant that she was recharging her batteries. “I just want you to know that I’ll have nothing to do with that animal. I will not walk it, bathe it, or feed it, and much less pick up its poop! I also don’t want that thing on the beds, or any of the furniture! And what about all that hair? Can you imagine the whole house full of dog hair?”

  “It’s the type that doesn’t shed.” Karen replied.

  Addy didn’t answer. “I can’t believe that you did this without checking with me.” She looked hurt and about to cry when she went upstairs and slammed the door of their room. Alex came out of hiding. “I think she’z really mad. I have never zeen her zo mad. I think we better take Peanut Crunchy back, Mommy. I don’t want Mommy Addy to be angry at uz forever. She lookz zcary.” Her eyes were wide, and her nose wrinkled when she spoke.

  Karen smiled hearing Alex’s comments and seeing the funny face. She looked at Alex and at the dog and sat down on the sofa. Addy was intimidating when she was mad, but Karen knew that it would pass and that she’d come around. She was too loving to be mad for a long time.

  “Alex, let’s give Mommy Addy some time, and then I want you to go upstairs and tell her exactly what you’ve just told me. If she still wants us to return the dog after you talk to her, we’ll take him back, and we will say our apologies. We should have asked her before we took the dog. I also don’t want her mad at me, and I’m afraid I’m going to get the worst of it. What do you think?”

  “You ztay here, Mommy. Let me handle thiz.”

  Karen chuckled. Those were her exact same words earlier. They always talked to Alex like an adult and Alex’s responses always sounded very mature.

  “I hope you have better luck.”

  Twenty minutes later, there was a little knock on the door. “M’Addy, can I come in?”

  “Yeah, baby.”

  “M’Addy, I’m sowy. I think we are going to take Peanut Crunchy back. I don’t want you to be angry at uz forever. Mommy Karen zaid you weren’t going to like it, and that we might have to return him. I love you more than I love the doggie. I don’t like it when you are mad at me and you are never mad wiz Mommy Karen, until now. It’s my fault. I made her do it. It was me who wanted Peanut Crunchy.”

  All of a sudden, Addy thought of when Karen agreed to have her. Karen didn’t deny her what she wanted even though it required so much of her. And there she was, denying something when she had been denied nothing. Twenty minutes passed and there was no sign of Alex or Addy. Karen was growing restless downstairs. Then she heard the door and little footsteps. It was Alex. She was smiling. “Mommy Addy zaid I could keep him!” Then she wrinkled her nose. “But I have a lot to do, I don’t know if I can do it, I can’t remember all she said.” Alex looked preoccupied.

  Karen smiled. “Well, let’s talk about it, and maybe you will remember.”

  Then they heard Addy coming down. Addy didn’t s
ay a word or even looked at Karen. Hum. I think I’m going to be getting the silent treatment for a while.

  “Oh! I remember something. Mommy Karen, we need to get the crate from the car. That’s where Peanut Crunchy iz going to zleep.”

  “Alright, I’m going to get it immediately.” Everyone seemed to be adhering to their orders. The crate was brought in, and placed in Alex’s room, as Alex instructed.

  “Are you sure, Mommy Addy said to put it here in your room?”

  Alex nodded.

  “You better make sure that Peanut Crunchy learns not to get on the bed or the furniture.”

  Alex nodded again. “That’z what Mommy Addy zaid, and we have to walk him in the morning zo he can peepee and pooppoo.”

  Karen chuckled. “Yes, I think I will take care of that in the mornings, okay? Then you can take her out later in the afternoon. But you have to ask Mommy Addy if you can take her out. She’ll tell you when.” Alex nodded obediently.

  Addy couldn’t help overhearing the conversation from the laundry room. “Alex, we are going to have to be very good at keeping our part of the deal. If we don’t, Mommy Addy is not going to be happy and if Mommy Addy is not happy, nobody will be happy around here. Do you understand that?”

  Alex chuckled. “Yes. Don’t wowry, Mommy. I will be very good about Peanut Crunchy. I want to keep him, and I want Mommy Addy to be happy. I don’t like it when she iz mad.”

  “Good. Let’s read about taking care of a dog.” Alex sat on her lap as they browsed the Internet.

  “Look! That dog iz like Peanut Crunchy. Let’s wread that, Mommy.”

  Later that evening, they had dinner. Addy still wasn’t talking to Karen. After dinner, Karen helped to clean up as always, but stood next to her when she was done.

  “Addy, you know I can’t handle you being mad at me. How can I make amends? I know I should have asked you. I’m sorry. It will never happen again.”

  Addy looked at her with menacing eyes. “It better not! And you better make sure that the ball of hair adheres to every one of the rules, or he’s out!”

  “Okay.” Karen looked at her, still waiting for more discharge from Addy. No more came, so she went back to the table and sat with Alex to eat dessert.