Page 39 of Why Not Both?

“He knows where we’re going?”

“He does. And he knows that they’re going to spoil him rotten.”

She pulls into the driveway of a nice, two-story house on a quiet street. It’s blue with a white door and white trim. The front lawn is neatly mowed and there’s a rhododendron with bright pink flowers to one side of the front stoop. She doesn’t bother with a leash for Cerberus, partly because she lets him out of the car and he races straight to the front door, pawing at it and looking back at us like we need to hurry up.

His excitement eases something in me. No one who can make a dog this excited can be bad. Of course, no one who could raise a woman like Lis could be that bad either, but there’s something different about seeing it from a dog’s point of view. He’s staring at us, wiggling and waggling in his impatience to get inside.

Lis just laughs as she opens the door, calling out, “Mom. We’re here.”

Cerberus takes off into the house, up the stairs. We remove our shoes and follow him. At the top, there’s a woman crouched down, smiling, giving Cerberus a treat.

“That’s enough, Mom. You’re going to make him fat.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Until I get some human grandbabies, I just have to spoil my fur grandbaby.”

“Mom!”

I grin as I watch Lis’ face turn red.

Her mother doesn’t even acknowledge us until after Cerberus has eaten his treat and received plenty of head scratches. Then she stands and turns to us with a smile.

“Mom. This is Spencer. A friend from work.”

“A friend or friend?”

“Mom!”

I stretch out my hand to shake hers. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Stone. I feel like we’re going to get along great.”

“Please. Call me Linda. Would you guys like some coffee or tea? Your father should be home in about an hour, so we can sit and chat for a bit before he gets here.”

“Coffee would be amazing,” I say.

“I’ll make a pot,” Lis says and then heads into the kitchen. I follow Linda into the living room where we sit down.

“Tell me about yourself, Spencer. You work with Lis at Blue Vista?”

I tell her about what I do at the venue. Cerberus jumps onto the couch and snuggles up with her. Lis brings out the coffee. She hands her mom a mug and then me one. She’s already added cream and sugar. I take a sip and it’s exactly how I like it.

I don’t remember telling her how I take my coffee. And given how much sugar she adds to hers, I’m impressed that only put a small amount into mine.

We chat for a while. Lis tells her mom about the wedding this weekend and I jump in with commentary and praise for Lis’ quick thinking and impeccable planning.

“That’s my Lis,” her mom says with a proud smile. “She always wants everything to go perfect.”

Cerberus lifts his head and hops down from the couch, his butt wiggling as he looks up at the women with a doggy grin.

“Does he need to go out?”

“No,” Lis says with an eye roll. “Dad’s home and he knows he’s about to get another treat.”

As soon as she’s said the words, the front door opens and a male voice calls, “Where’s my grandpup?”

Cerberus takes off, all excited wiggles. They take their time coming back.

“That’s my cue,” Lis says, standing.

“Cue for what?”

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