Page 47 of Impurrfections

With my new— no, myfosterdog at my side, I followed Arthur toward his side gate.

CHAPTER12

THEO

In almost twodays since getting back to Gaynor Beach from San Diego, I’d only driven past the wine venue a couple of times. Well, four. I only went in once. Just to make sure all was well and no one else had taken advantage of the door I left open.

This time, as I happened to be going past— again— I saw a pickup with a topper parked along the side. I swung in and parked behind it, blocking the truck against the dumpster. This was still my building. There was only one trespasser allowed, and he didn’t own a pickup.

I yanked open the door and heard muffled voices toward the front. A few anger-fueled steps toward the kitchen, and the louder tones resolved into Arthur’s voice. Slowing my charge, I listened more carefully.

“…fresh water and food. If she doesn’t have too many, you don’t need a heat lamp, just a snug enclosed bed for them. The mom’s body heat will keep them warm. I’m not sure you can get a heat lamp with batteries.”

Shane said, “We can ask that bastard Theo to turn the juice back on.”

My stomach did a bit of rollercoaster action.Shane’s okay. He called me a bastard. But he came back.A demanding meow at my feet heralded Mimsy giving me away. I squatted to stroke her, fixating on her pale fur in the dim corridor so I didn’t have to meet anyone’s gaze.

“Hey, Theo,” Arthur said, when I’d braced for Shane’s voice. “I hope it’s okay we’re here.”

“Yes, of course.” I gave myself one more breath, then straightened and turned toward them.

Arthur stood in the kitchen doorway. The light behind him was better than in the hall, thanks to the small block windows, but not great. I couldn’t read Shane’s expression. He looked healthy, though, standing tall over by the counter, his chin up.

I said, “Hi, Shane.”

“Hi, Tee-bo.”

“Please don’t call me that,” I said before I could stop myself. “Not in here.” It wasn’t my grandmother’sThibault,but was still too close of an echo.

“Sorry.” Shane’s voice lost some of its mockery.

“I wasn’t sure you’d come back.”

“I didn’t plan to, but…” He moved his hand, and a fuzzy dog stepped into view behind him.

“What’s that?”

“This is Foxy. She needed somewhere to stay, and Arthur’s already sleeping on his couch.”

I didn’t quite follow that, distracted by the dog. “She’s really fat.”

“She’s reallypregnant.”

“She’s going to have babies?”

“Duh.”

“Like,now?”

Shane laughed, but Arthur said gently, “Not now. I’m guessing not for a few days. Her milk’s not come in yet.”

“Dog milk.” I slapped a hand over my mouth to stop more inane things from escaping. This wasn’t the conversation I imagined when I’d hoped to find Shane here.

Shane said, “Her owner was going to dump her off to fend for herself, so I took her.”

You have no money. You have no home.I managed not to say that. I’d fix both of those if Shane would let me. I doubted he would, though. Not now, maybe never. “What can I do to help?”

“Let her stay here,” Arthur said. “Shane’s going to look after her till we figure out something better.”

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