Page 97 of This Baby Business
“No. Maybe it isn’t what I told him but what Ididn’ttell him. It looked like I was lying, but all I wanted was to find the right time to tell him. And I waited too long.”
“Youshouldbe honest,” Zoey said. “Always. Because men are like dogs.”
“This is what I’m saying,” Jill said.
“They’re loyal and loving. Fiercely protective of the ones they love. And like Digger here—” Zoey patted his smooth head “—they want to know they’re not going to be abandoned.”
Jill narrowed her eyes. “Seriously?”
“Yes,” Zoey said, chin up. “I know you all think I’m just an animal nut, but I pay attention to other things, too.”
“Of course you do,” I said.
“I noticed a kindred spirit when Levi first came into the shop with Digger. He didn’t just buy what he needed, but also some of the stuff he thought Digger would like, too. I think I knew before he did that this was no temporary adoption. Digger’s always going to be with him. Huh, Digger? See, I think Levi’s a rescuer. Maybe not an animal rescuer, like I am, but a people rescuer. And who knows? Maybe he’s hurt because he thinks you’re abandoning him, Carly.”
“But…but I told him I wanted him to come see me in New York.”
“Those are just words. Don’t you think Digger heard them once, too? ‘Oh, you’re so cute. You’re coming home with me. It’ll be fun. Oh, wait, I changed my mind.’ Do you know how many times that happens?”
“You’re getting sidetracked, Z.” Jill nudged Zoey. “I don’t think she’s going to leave him at the pound.”
“Well, you know what I mean,” Zoey said. “You need to put your words into action.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” I said, near tears again. “Levi’s my dog.”
“Exactly!”
“What are you two fools talking about?” Jill said.
“He needs to understand that I didn’t lie to him. There’s such a thing as changing your mind. And I’m not going to abandon him when I go to New York. He needs to know that. More than words. I need more than words.”
Actions, more so than words, could never lie.
“Uh-oh,” Jill said, turning to Zoey. “What have you done?”
Zoey just smiled.
“Would you two watch Grace for me?” I said. “I’ve got to go to the airport.”
CHAPTER40
Levi
Today had beenthe day from hell.
His day had gone as if all the forces in the universe had gotten together and decidedthiswas the day Levi Lambert would be tortured to within an inch of his sanity.Thiswas the day he’d have difficult, entitled passengers.Thiswas the day he’d have mechanical failures and have to change planes.Thiswas the day every damn delay possible would present itself.Thiswas the day a woman would make her way on to the tarmac and wave her arms around like ground control.
Wait. What?
Okay, that was not possible. Yet right before him, his twenty-twenty vision did not lie. He saw Carly arguing with Jedd, who was trying to pull her into the hangar. Levi removed his aviator glasses. She was still there, the crazy woman.
Good thing this wasn’t yet a regional airport or she’d probably be under arrest by now.
“Dude, who the hell is that?” entitled passenger number ten of the day asked.
He was taking a skateboarding pro and his entourage to some kind of exhibition in Reno. “Another delay.”
“Dude, she’s hot. Maybe we can take her with us. As long as she’s not nuts.”
