Listen to Your Heart - Fern Michaels [28]
“Me too. If it does, we might be able to take that ski trip in December. All we do is work, Josie. I didn’t realize how tired I was until last night when I let it all hang out. I really didn’t want to get dressed and come here this morning. I’m going to be such a good wife to Harry.”
“The best,” Josie said with a catch in her voice. Everyone was leaving her. First her mother and dad, then Rosie, and now Kitty. She would be alone with a lovesick dog.
“I can’t wait to get married and have kids. Lots and lots of kids. I wonder if I’ll have twins. That would be so wonderful. Harry told me last night he might get transferred to Atlanta. I didn’t want to tell you, but you need to know.”
“Georgia! When?”
“Six weeks. I’m not going to go with him. I’ll finish out the year and move after we get married. Harry said he would come back every weekend. I don’t know how that’s going to work out since our busiest times are the weekends.”
“You love him very much, don’t you, Kitty?”
“With all my heart and soul.”
“Then you have nothing to worry about. Everything will work out just fine. I know you’re worried about me, and that’s not good. I’ll be fine. The worst-case scenario is we sell off the business and I go back to Baton Rouge. Trust me when I tell you it will not be a punishment. I love Baton Rouge.”
“I hear a car.”
“That means our breakfast is here.”
“Do you want me to leave?”
“Absolutely not. Sit down. I’ll get the door. Don’t ask him any questions,” she hissed over her shoulder.
“Okay,” Kitty hissed back.
“Beautiful day, isn’t it?” Paul said as he handed over a bakery box and followed Josie back to the breakfast nook. “Where’s Zip?” he asked, looking around.
He looked so good. He smelled even better. She thought about the suit he’d been wearing the previous night and wondered if it was salvageable. She shrugged. “He’s under my bed with Rosie, and he won’t come out. I made the mistake of telling him you were coming to get him. I’m sorry. He simply won’t come out.”
“You need to be stern. There’s a certain tone of voice you have to use. You have to show animals you’re their superior, their boss, if you will. Special treats or people food usually work. If none of that works, then you have to trick them. Do you have any ham or cheese?”
Josie opened the refrigerator and cut off a chunk of cheese. “It’s not going to work. I think you’re going to have to take the bed apart.”
“That’s rather extreme, don’t you think? By the way, I have to go to New York today. I’m going to drop Zip off at a dog spa. He’s been there before, and he actually likes it. Can I give them your name in case anything goes awry? Just in case he gets sick, which I don’t think he will. He’s healthy as a horse and has had all his shots. A friend of mine used to look in on him when I boarded him, but he’s in Europe.”
No. I’m not a dog-sitter. I’m going to be busy. I think I’m starting to get your schtick, Mr. Brouillette. A dog is a responsibility, and if you aren’t willing to take that responsibility, then you don’t deserve to have that dog. I’m not agreeing to any such thing. Find some other sucker.
“I’ll only be gone a week. Ten days at the most.”
“You’re leaving your dog for ten whole days!”
“I don’t have any other choice. Can I give them your phone number?”
“Yes.” Fool, her mind shrieked. Josie looked up to see her sister clamp her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing.
“Okay, boy, let’s go. Time to come out. Don’t make me come in there after you,” Paul said as he crouched down to peer under the bed.
Rosie’s little head poked out. She snarled and lunged at Paul’s hand. He snatched it back so quickly that Josie burst out laughing. “I think she’s trying to tell you not to mess with her man.”
“Now, Zip. I’m going to count to three! One! Two! Three!”
“No one seems to be moving.” Josie giggled again.
“I see that. All right, we’ll take the mattress and box spring off. How’d he get under there anyway?”
“He crawled on his belly.”
“I’ll take this end. You and your sister take the other end. That way,