Page 31 of Love It or List It
Linda smiled then, small but genuine.“Good.Let’s talk fees and care.”
“Shouldn’t you—” Austin gestured and glanced at the door she’d just come through.
“Five minutes to make sure you’re giving informed consent won’t make a difference.”
Joe snorted.“Let’s hear it, Doc.”
Linda walked them through the fees involved in the upcoming surgery, but Austin barely paid attention.What difference would the cost make?Austin wasn’t changing his mind.Though figuring out how to pay for everything without having to take out loans or relinquish the house would be a task.
Unless….He was barely sleeping at the garage these days.He pretty much lived full-time in the trailer.If he rented out the apartment, that would help.Besides, he was pretty sure he wouldn’t even have to advertise or go looking for a tenant.The baker who rented out the shop next to Austin’s garage had been grumbling about his long morning commute and his horrible landlord.
“Okay, that covers the basics.I’m going to get back to her,” Linda said.Austin hoped Joe had been paying attention.“Afterwards, one of my people can get all the paperwork sorted and we can go over aftercare in more detail.”She slapped her thighs and stood.“Oh, by the way, any thoughts on a name?We’ll need one eventually for paperwork.”
Austin answered without thinking.“Josephine.”
Linda grinned.Joe gave him a look.
“Why, exactly, are we calling our new dog Josephine?”
Austin shrugged.Because it feels right?“It’s about time one of your kids was named after you.”
“We can talk about late-life adoption and naming rules another time.”
“Okay.I’m going to go do the surgery.You two should head home.”
“What?”She wanted Austin toleave?
“There’s nothing else you can do for her tonight,” Linda said kindly, “but you’re gonna want to be well rested tomorrow when you come to pick her up.”
“Come on,” Joe cajoled.He knocked their shoulders together.“We both need sleep.Josephine”—he pulled a face—“is in good hands.”
Austin chewed his lip, but he could see their point.With a sigh, he nodded and let Joe pull him toward the door.
Then, surprising himself, Austin gave in to the impulse to lean forward and pull Linda into a hug.“Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me for doing my job.”
“Can’t stop me,” Austin said with a grin and waved goodbye.
THE NEXTmorning, Joe woke up at 5:26 a.m.
He groaned, rubbed his face, and cursed beating his alarm by half an hour.
He was used to early starts, what with working in landscaping—one didn’t waste the coolest hours of the day—but Joe wasn’t exactly an early bird.He liked sleeping in on days off, and usually the only perk of cool weather and shorter days was getting to do just that.But with a house in need of renovations, Joe had glumly kept his alarm set even on days off.
He thought about rolling back over.After all, what would it hurt if he slept past the alarm?
He pressed his face into the pillow when the memories suddenly came back to him.Josephine.(God, that name.) They had to pick her up this morning, and Austin wouldn’t want to be late.
Joe wouldn’t be surprised if Austin was already awake and pacing the trailer.
With a groan, he rolled out of bed and headed for the shower.
By the time he got to the house, he was fortified with coffee and donuts and ready to take on the day.
As he got out of the car, he glanced at the trailer but figured he should leave Austin to it if he was actually sleeping and headed for the house.
Of course, Joe had only just stepped into the front hall when he realized his hopes were in vain.From the sound of it, Austin was moving things around in the living room.
