Page 28 of Why Not Both?

He looks back at the television as the credits roll and offers the information without my having to ask, his smile slipping away.

“She died when I was fourteen. Lymphoma.”

My heart aches for the pain I can still hear in his voice.

“Vic mentioned your families were close before, but she didn’t mention before what.”

He nods, confirming my unspoken question.

“Will you tell me about her?” I ask softly.

“She probably spoiled me a little too much. She was always baking. Muffins, cookies, cupcakes. She always had something sweet for me. We read together a lot. When I was little, she would read me any book I brought her. No matter what she was doing, she would stop and read to me. When I got older, we would read the same book and then talk about it. She got me to watch all these weird and cool movies. My father hated a lot of it. He thought I should be focused on more serious things.” He laughs a humourless laugh. “He still thinks that.”

I’m about to say something—maybe something about how his mother sounds like she was wonderful, maybe something about how his father is wrong—but then the front door opens and I’m prevented from saying anything.

“Hey Vic,” Spencer calls. “Come meet Cerberus. He’s got the shortest legs you’ve ever seen.”

Except it’s not Vic who comes down the hall from the door first. It’s a regal blonde woman with cold grey eyes.

“Well, aren’t you just the picture of hetero bliss,” she says.

I would move away, except Spencer’s arm tightens around my legs, keeping me in place.

Vic trails after the blonde woman, a contrite look on her face. She and Spencer exchange a look loaded with meaning. Her eyes are begging him. His fill with annoyance and then resignation.

“Emily. It’s so nice to see you again,” he says.

“Don’t lie, Spencer,” Emily says. “We all know the truth.”

Vic steps around the other woman and smiles at me. “How are you, Lis? Did you have a good hike?”

“We did. We got caught in the rain at the end, but otherwise, it was a nice trek.”

“Is this Cerberus?”

My dog has gotten up and stretched at the sound of the extra people. He pads over to Vic who crouches down to greet him.

“Hey, pup,” she says, giving him the required head scratches. He sniffs her pants and wags his tail as she continues to scratch him.

I notice that Spencer and Emily are still staring at each other with open hostility.

“Spencer?” I say, trying to diffuse the tension. “I should probably take Cerberus out and then get home. Daze will be wondering where I am.”

He turns to me, the hostility disappearing in a second. “I’ll walk you out. Come on. Let’s get your things.”

He lets me go and I stand, following him to gather my clothes from the dryer and bathroom. I’m about to get changed when he says, “You can just wear those. Give them back later.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. They look better on you, anyway.”

“Oh, gag,” Emily says. “Can we please go to your room, Victoria? These two are revolting.”

“Emily,” Vic protests. “Stop it.” But her voice is small. Not at all like the smart, decisive business woman I know her to be at work.

“Come on, Cerberus,” I call and he trots over to me so I can connect his leash. As I do, I tell him quietly, “Let’s leave the mean lady alone.”

Spencer helps me get my things into the backpack I’d used before, and as we’re about to leave, Vic comes over.

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