Page 103 of Family Bonds- Kelsey & Van

“And that bothers you?” she asked.

He shrugged. “I’m trying to get a handle on things.”

“I know and I think it’s great. Especially since you’ve got another job. How much longer are you going to stay working as a nine-one-one operator?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “It gives me something to do.”

“You’ve got something to do with the hotels,” she pointed out.

“Not yet,” he said.

She didn’t ask what he meant by that and they got to the entrance so she stopped talking.

Van held the door open for her and she went in with Frankie trotting ahead of her.

As always, her pup got a ton of attention.

His copper-colored hair was brushed and shiny, looking as soft as it felt. He pranced his way to the check-in area, the wind he created with his walk sending his long ears floating behind him.

“Good evening,” the woman at the counter said. “How may I help you?”

“Checking in,” Van said.

“Can I get your name?”

“Van Harlowe,” he said. There was no reaction from the employee so she was assuming they didn’t recognize his name.

There was just some clicking on the computer. “And it’s just the two of you and a dog?”

“It is,” he said.

“Can I have your credit card please to scan?” the employee asked.

He handed it over and then waited while she processed everything. Explained the fees and then told them where they could find the restaurant, vending machines, ice machines and told them how to call for service at the desk if they needed anything.”

“Thanks,” he said, reaching for the keycard.

They went to the elevator. “She was nice,” she said. “Very thorough and polite.”

“Yep,” he said. “Which is good to know.”

“I just realized we can’t go to the restaurant with Frankie.”

“We could,” he said. “Are they going to tell me no?”

She giggled when he said that. “Do you want to try it and see what happens? How long it takes security to tell you to leave?”

“No,” he said. “I could be a dick and do it, then override them, but I wouldn’t. Would your father do something like that?”

“Never,” she said. “He wouldn’t throw his weight around like that.”

“Neither would I,” he said. “I’m sure we can order dinner somewhere and just eat here. It’s nice out for early October. We could eat outside by the fire pits if we wanted to.”

“That’s a good idea,” she said. “I could feed Frankie here and then let him out with us while we get food. Do you think the restaurant would let us eat outside with him? I mean if we got a dinner there?”

“We can find out,” he said.

When they reached their floor, they got out and went to their room. Kelsey started to unpack and get Frankie’s food and water bowls set out. Her dog didn’t have a problem finding it and eating. When it came to Frankie, nothing stopped him with food.

---