Page 59 of Family Bonds- Kelsey & Van

“I try to keep that in mind,” she said. “Sometimes the guy would say that and be embarrassed and I was fine with it. Other times they’d take a twenty out and toss it on the table.”

“Not even close to twenty percent for the meal,” he said.

“Nope,” she said. “Cheap. I try not to judge. It’s not that. People can be cheap when they tip but when you get a free meal and spend less than you thought, that’s more than being cheap.”

“That’s being a dick,” he said.

“You said it, not me.”

Margot brought back his card. He signed it and then pulled cash out for the tip. No reason for the server to get less because there was a transaction fee with the meal.

“Thank you,” Margot said. “You have a great night.”

“You too,” Kelsey said.

The two of them left with a small doggie bag for Frankie.

“How much of this are you going to give him?” he asked when they arrived at her house ten minutes later.

“Just a few bites. He’s still a puppy and it’s rich. I don’t want him used to getting it, but why not give him a tiny treat.”

He’d thought it was funny that Margot put the small bag down for the dog on the table when he had nothing left on his plate. He didn’t even know what it was, but she’d said it was from Duke.

Frankie was happy to see them. The two of them let the pup out to do his business and then Kelsey put the dry food in the bowl and opened the bag that had a container in it.

It was a piece of chicken with only a few seasonings on it.

“What’s on it?” he asked.

“Rosemary, basil and a little bit of ginger. Things that are good for dogs.”

“And how do you know this?” he asked.

“I didn’t. Duke did. He’d never give me anything bad for my dog,” she said as she cut a few pieces off and put the bowl on the floor.

Frankie made a mad dash for it.

“Are you sure you’re okay with me leaving early in the morning? You said you sleep in on the weekends?”

“I’ve got to get up and let Frankie out anyway. I can go back to sleep after. Or I’ll nap later. Maybe I want to make you breakfast before you leave. Let you know that I can cook.”

“I’ve got to be out the door by six forty-five.”

“Urgh,” she said. “Okay. Milk and cereal it is.”

“That works,” he said.

“I’m only joking. I’ve got frozen pancakes and waffles. They are quick too.”

He closed one eye at her. He wouldn’t complain because that was about the same as he ate for breakfast at times too.

“Damn, he’s done already,” he said. The dog was almost pushing the bowl across the floor trying to get more.

“He eats fast. Time to let him out for round two.”

“Round two?” he asked.

“Number two,” she said. “It's like the minute food is in his belly, it pushes it out his butt hole.”

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