Page 68 of The Broken Heart Playlist
She glances down at Uno, then back up at Gideon. “Okay.”
“All right, then.” Gideon stands, and Lisset and Uno follow suit. “The first part of our task is to bathe Uno.”
As Gideon leads the greyhound to the sunniest spot in the courtyard, he explains to Lisset that a bath helps to ensure there’s less of an allergic reaction and less of a smell.
I’m put in charge of hauling bucket after bucket of warm water, while Gideon and Lisset rub shampoo into Uno’s coat. Although Uno stands docilely under their ministrations, he appears so dejected I feel compelled to give him a quick pat every time I return with the bucket.
“He smells nice,” Lisset declares after they rinse him off and towel him dry.
Gideon hands her a dog brush. “Time to brush him.”
Sporting a huge grin, Lisset eagerly takes the brush from Gideon and brushes his black coat until it shines. Uno looks like he’s about to pass out from pleasure.
“Great job,” Gideon compliments her.
“What next?” she asks excitedly.
“Dogs should have fresh breath while children read to them, so here’s a dental chew to help with that.”
Uno takes the treat gingerly from her hand and makes short work of it.
Gideon scratches under Uno’s chin. “Okay, Mister, you rest a bit while we take a coffee break.”
Like he’s on some sort of canine catwalk, Uno preens and struts his way over to his dog bed in the living room. He circles his bed three times until he finally flops down.
While Lisset drinks her apple juice and nibbles the grilled cheese sandwich Gideon made for her, I lean against his spotless kitchen counter and sip my coffee.
“Do you go through this every week with Uno?” I ask him.
“Every week,” he confirms.
“Don’t you get tired of doing it?”
His eyes meet mine over the rim of his mug. “You make time for things you care about,” he tells me softly.
My body heats and I can’t blame the coffee.
“What next, Gideon?” Lisset asks, saving us. Rather, saving me, because I’m the one drowning.
He turns to Lisset with a smile. “Now we have to check the backpack to make sure we have everything we need.”
We settle on the thick rug in the living room. Gideon deposits a large red backpack in front of Lisset.
“Ready to run through the items with me?” he asks.
“Ready!” she responds in a loud voice. She’s so committed I’m half expecting her to salute.
“Blanket for the kids and Uno to sit on?” he asks.
Lisset rummages in the backpack and pulls out a checkered picnic blanket. “Check.”
“Stickers for the kids when they finish reading?”
Out comes a laminated sleeve of colorful stickers. “Check.”
“Uno’s work vest?”
“Check.”
