Page 32 of Cats and Dogs

That was a mind-blowing idea, although feeling responsible for keeping the peace was a little frightening.

"Anyway, all of that to say, we need you, every day, all day. So don't you feel weird about needing us from time to time. I know Tracey's body was sent to her parents but we could hold a wake here, on the lake, with scented candles and bad pop music. Someone could read her last book."

Fuck, could someone just stake her heart? That ought to hurt less than this. Christine sobbed like a blubbering idiot, and Ace shifted her now very awake baby onto one shoulder, to hold her tight with her free arm.

"I suck at hugs. Let me know if I do this right."

Christine chuckled. "It's the best hug. And thank you. Tracey would love that, wherever she is."

Ace let go of her and seemed hesitant for one second.

"What?"

"I was just thinking about something, but it might not work out, so let me keep it to myself for a bit. In other news, though, a wolf. Really? I can't say I saw that coming. You can't stand dogs."

Christine shrugged. "Wolves smell better."

"They still totally act like idiotic dogs. I'd know: my best friend is one. I can't fucking stop Vi from chasing me when we're in our animal form."

"Well, then you're very well placed to know that it happens to be kind of fun."

"For me?" Ace chuckled. "Yeah, sure. She pounces, I shove her, she barks, I hiss, then we chill for a minute and I scratch the fuck out of her without warning when I'm bored." She grinned like the crazy bitch she was. "That's how we roll. But whenever we’re having our fun, you stay as far as possible from us, so what changed about you?"

Christine looked in the distance, shrugging. Nothing had changed about her today. She was just plain old Chris. It just happened to be a Chris who liked playing cats and dogs.

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