Page 104 of Lorcan
“Maybe?” Something about fruit came to mind, but the memory was pretty hazy.
“Trifle.”
“I’ve had Pina Colada trifle. With pineapple. Totally—”
“You need to get over the pineapple.” His tone was dry. “But Trifle was the cat Mei used to live with.”
“Oh.” I eyed the dog as her nose got dangerously close to another yellow spot. By the time we were done with this walk, she was going to know the smell of every dog in the building. “What about Trifle?”
“So, he’s being fostered. One of the nephews is deathly allergic. He was out of town during the autumn. But he visits regularly. So, like…”
I smiled as I leaned over. “Mei, would you like Trifle back?”
She gazed at me with those stunning dark-brown eyes and her tail wagged so hard that her butt moved.
“That’s a yes.”
“Oh well, that’s good.”
I straightened. “Sweetheart?”
“He’s in a carrier in the SUV with me.”
I smiled. “Of course he is. We’ll meet you in the garage. I take it he’s got a ton of stuff?”
“Uh, yeah. He got spoiled too. Plus the litter, food—”
“I’ll get my wagon.”
“That would help.” He let out a long sigh.
“It’s all good.”
“I could try—”
“It’s all good. Mei deserves company while we’re at work.” If I’d been thinking about it, I might’ve suggested it earlier. The little guy had slipped my mind, and Carter hadn’t brought him up.
“They were really sad.”
“So we’ll take pictures after he settles in.” We’d done that with Mei. Carter had sent back a flurry of heart emojis.
“Thank you.”
“My pleasure. It’s your home too, Lorcan. Never forget that.”
A long time passed before he said, “Thank you,” again. Then he cut the line.
“Pee and then we’ll go inside.”
As if understanding the new urgency, Mei squatted on the closest bit of snow and left her own offering for any dog who might wander by.
Hours later, as Trifle slept on his bed next to Mei who snoozed on hers, I wrapped Lorcan in a hug. “He’s the cutest thing ever.”
“The family considered renaming him Tripod.”
The cat was missing a front paw, but one would never know that. He flew through life on three legs just fine. He’d explored every inch of the condo, even as I’d followed behind him, trying to make certain all the valuables were not in a position to be knocked over. “I like Trifle.”
“We’re never having Pina Colada trifle.”
