Page 31 of Salty Pickle

It is. I’ll have to ask Court if it’s okay to keep these.

“Thank you so much.” I impulsively give Kaliyah a hug, taking in the rich coconut and sage scent of her.

“I’ll see you again when we get more milk.”

“Yes!”

We head back to the waiting room. Court sits on a chair, a bag tucked between his knees. He stands and pulls out his wallet.

The sudden movement startles the goats, which sets the dogs to barking. The cats scurry out of the room, which causes Matilda to rear back.

She spots Court and runs toward him, head down. Simone is apparently on her side, because she’s close behind.

“Matilda!” I call, but I’m too late. She rams Court’s knees, knocking him back into the chair. Then Simone gives a second shot.

“Ladies!” Kaliyah calls. “Calm yourselves.”

The two of us pull the goats away from Court, whose glare is murderous.

“I’m so sorry,” Kaliyah says. “These two had their minds made up.”

“I’m getting used to it.” Court brushes goat hair off his knees. He opens his wallet.

Kaliyah raises her palms. “Lucy and I worked out a deal for her goat’s milk. Her services are all covered.”

“Oh. But I offered triple.”

She sits at her desk. “We’re all good here. Feel free to wait for your ride. We’re open another hour.”

“Thank you.” I sit next to Court with the coolers in my lap. “I sold all the milk.”

“That’s great.” He pushes the paper bag toward me with his shiny shoe, eyes on the goats. They’re standing stock-still, staring at him. “I bought a few things you might need.”

We trade bags, and I lift the fuzzy socks out of his. “How adorable. Kaliyah, look!”

“I love them,” she says, her smiling eyes moving from the socks to Court.

“And the shirt!” I lift it and hold it over my chest. “My other dog is a goat!”

Then there’s a pretty yellow dress. “Court! You shouldn’t have!”

“Ladies need to be spoiled,” Kaliyah says.

Oh, she has no idea what Court is really like. I can tell by her pleased expression that she thinks we’re a happy couple, even if my goat hates him.

At the bottom is a shoebox. I’m hoping he didn’t get the leather Birkenstocks. I worried about this as I got my pedicure, convincing myself it would be okay. I would thank the cow for her sacrifice and wear them, anyway.

But he’s gotten the microfiber ones, in a style I haven’t seen before. “They’re so cute!” I slide my toe through the loop. “I can go dancing in these!”

I stand to show them off, tilting my feet and posing.

Matilda breaks her stare to turn to me.

“Look, Matilda!”

Matilda sniffs at my toes with their smell of products and new shoes.

I want to give Court a happy hug, but he’s busily staring at his phone.

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