Page 48 of Frosted and Sliced

“Does she wear hats?”

“No, I have never once seen her wear a hat,” Burke said, shaking his head.

Georgie rubbed her temples again.

“You keep doing that,” Burke pointed out. “Are you sick?”

“No, my brain is somersaulting,” she said. “You have to think like your mother. What does your mother like?”

“Machiavellian mind games, control, manipulation, and guilt,” Burke said.

“Have you considered buying her a small country to run,” Georgie said.

“Yes, but I haven’t been able to find one for sale,” Burke said.

“What about music? Does she like that?”

“I don’t know,” Burke said.

“Clothes?”

He shrugged.

“Shoes?”

“I presume so, because she usually wears them,” Burke said.

“Does she have any hobbies?” He opened his mouth, but Georgie preempted him, “I mean besides mind control and manipulation.”

“Oh, not that I know of.”

“Does she like getting her nails done? Is she into hair products or makeup?”

He shrugged.

“Reading? Gardening?”

He shrugged again.

“Does she have any pets?” Georgie asked.

“No,” Burke said.

“Why not?”

He stopped short and stared down at her. “I don’t know. Now that I think of it, she’d do well with something she could love on and control.”

“There you go, there’s an idea. Dog or cat?”

“Definitely cat. She wouldn’t want to have to take a dog out all the time. And dogs are too happy. She needs something with more anger to match energies.”

“So, here’s what you do: assemble a care box for everything she’ll need for a cat and then tell her you want her to pick one out and you’ll pay for it.” She paused. “I mean, assuming you can afford all that?” She glanced up at him in question.

“I can afford a cat and cat supplies,” he assured her.

“Good, let’s go to the pet store,” she said, tugging his sleeve to lead him behind her.

With a final reluctant glance at the time, Georgette shoved the phone in her pocket and led him to the pet store.

---