“Me too,” she said and hung up the phone only to turn and see her cousin Alex Bond standing there grinning at her while she was on her hands and knees in a skirt. Alex’s eyes dropped to her shit-covered bare foot and then back to her face.
“Looks like the pup is getting the better of you,” Alex said.
“Figured you’d be here first,” she said.
“I was the closest,” Alex said. “I heard the address come over the radio. Once I realized it was a puppy and his name, I knew who it had to be.”
“Very funny,” she said. “Is anyone else coming to witness my calamity of errors?”
“Just me for the moment,” Alex said. “If we can’t get him out, then I’ll see if I can get Carter here. We know he’s good with dogs. If he brings Dopey or Doc, maybe Mr. Franklin will want to come out and play. Otherwise, I’ll bring the fire trucks in and we’ll start pulling the deck out a few boards at a time.”
Carter Bond was Alex’s first cousin who owned a garage on the island. Alex worked there on his off days. Carter was not only known for his two St. Bernard dogs that stayed at the garage daily but also was married to the island vet.
Maybe Kelsey had it in her mind she could have a companion like that too.
One to bring to work and then keep her company at night.
It’s not like she was having any luck looking for another male species.
“Frankie,” she said. “We can call him that now that I’m calming down and know I’m not alone.”
Alex laughed even harder. “Good lord, Kelsey.” Alex grabbed the ball and got down on his knees. His black dress pants in his captain’s uniform were going to get dirty, but she supposed that was part of the job.
Alex squeaked the ball a few times and called out.
“I’ll go get some treats. Maybe that will help.”
“Sure,” Alex said. “You might want to wipe your foot off before you walk in the house.”
She walked to the grass and wiped off as much as she could and held in the gag as she envisioned it going under her toenails.
The hose was close by so she turned it on and started to rinse her foot off. Her puppy must have seen the water from where he was holed up and the next thing she knew Frankie was darting out and over to the hose and licking the water.
She dropped the hose and picked up her little fugitive. “You were a bad boy, Mr. Franklin.”
“What happened to Frankie?” Alex asked.
“Right now he’s Mr. Franklin.” She was hugging the puppy to her chest, feeling the silky fur against her face, all the while checking him over for any injuries.
“Are we good now?” Alex asked.
“Yes,” she said. “I don’t see any issues here other than my baby is a mess. He needs to at least be wiped down. I don’t have time to bathe him.” The signature long soft ears of her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel were coated in dust and cobwebs. There might be bugs on him too. She held him at arm’s length when that popped into her head.
“Then I’ll return to the inspection I was doing.”
“Thanks, Alex. I don’t suppose we can keep this to ourselves?”
Alex laughed even harder. “Considering it’s on public record, nope. Besides, I’m positive you’re going to be telling it to people anyway. Need to explain your wardrobe change returning to work.”
She looked down and saw the grass and dirt on her skirt. Her shirt was untucked and wrinkled on top of it.
There might be dirt on her peach shirt too.
“You’re right,” she said. “I guess now that I’m calmed down and Frankie is safe, it is funny.”
“Sure made my day,” Alex said. “When I’m done with the inspection, I’ll cover up that hole for you. I’ve got some scraps of wood at the house and can just temporarily nail it in place until he’s bigger.”
“Thanks, Alex. I owe you one.” And this would save her from having to do it herself or asking someone to do it for her.