Page 40 of Gross Misconduct

“I can manage that. I look forward to meeting her and seeing this union you’ve created. By the way, am I going to be your maid of honor?”

“Goodbye, Tangi.”

I hung up and stared at my phone for a long time. I didn’t want to talk to my mother, but I planned to keep the call as short as possible. I was providing her with information only. Nothing more. She didn’t deserve anything more. I checked my watch, and it was just after four o’clock. That was dinnertime back home, and a perfect time to call. She hated being interrupted during her meals, her shows, her relaxation time, while she was breathing …

I called and it kept ringing. I prayed it would go to voicemail, but then she answered. Damn.

“Hello, Jill.”

“Hi, Mom. How are you?”

“I’m fine. Just about to sit down to dinner with Rick.”

Rick, her long-term boyfriend. The only good thing growing up was that she didn’t bring boyfriends around, but then she’d met Rick. She’d been dating him for years, but she refused to let him move in. Probably for the same reasons she didn’t want a kid around. He’d cramp her style. But they’d finally gotten serious and he’d moved in a few years ago.I figured because she needed a new person to help pay the mortgage and the bills.

“I’ll keep this quick, then.” I took in a deep breath and tried to keep my pounding heart from getting in my head. Why did every call with her have to be so difficult? “I’ve been dating a guy named Jeremy.”

“Yes, I know,” she said in her most disappointed voice. “Linda told me. She said she saw that you posted something online. Isn’t he a player on the team you work for? Is that smart of you? Especially in a job you just started?”

“I cleared it with the team owner. It’s fine,” I said, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. “Anyway, we are engaged. I wanted you to know before Linda saw something online.” I couldn’t help the nasty remark.

Mom tsked. “How long have you been dating him?”

“A few months.”

“And you think you’re ready to get married? How well do you even know him? Do you want to make the same mistake I did?”

“No, I really don’t. But I love Jeremy.”

“Ilovedyour father too.”

She wasn’t going to suck me in any further. “I’ll let you get back to dinner. Say hello to Rick.”

And it was done.

I had the sheets on the bed when Jeremy showed up. I struggled as Chloe kept jumping on the bed and lying on the newly washed sheets, especially because the poor girl could use a bath. I finally got her out of the room and finished up with the bedding. Jeremy showed up an hour later without food. But it was barely five o’clock, so stilla little early.

He set his luggage down in the spare room, and an idea hit me.

“Why don’t we give Chloe a bath? Then we can take her for a walk and pick up the takeout. That way she can do her business.”

“Good idea,” Jeremy said.

He took charge on this because I’d never given a dog a bath before. Chloe didn’t seem overly excited about her bath and stood rigid in the shallow water as Jeremy scrubbed her down with my shampoo. I’d already googled that it was safe on animals. Wolseley was always sending us recommendations on health and beauty items that were as chemical-free as possible, and I’d always trusted her choices. The shampoo had been one of them.

While he scrubbed, I warmed a towel in the dryer. Chloe seemed to appreciate that, but still shook herself out, getting the bathroom—and us—completely wet. I couldn’t help but laugh as I rubbed her gently with the towel, and she gave me kisses on the face.

Jeremy took over while I made our food order online. We had forty-five minutes to kill, so we dried her as best we could, and by the time we set out for the restaurant, she was dry. I got her into her little raincoat that she absolutely hated, but we’d just gotten her clean, and there was no way we wanted her smelling like wet dog.

“She’s a doll,” Jeremy said as we slowly walked to the restaurant about three blocks away. “Whoever had her before us took her on walks. She doesn’t pull on the leash at all.”

She sniffed every pole and tree and deposited some pee on some of them. For some reason, the both of us were on poop watch. Would she, or wouldn’t she? The rescue said she may not go right away as she got used to her surroundings, and to expect the odd accident even though she was house-trained.None of that bothered me, but I guess it bothered other potential adopters?

“I wonder who she’ll sleep with tonight,” I said as we walked the last block.

“Hard to say. You’ve spent more time with her.”

I laughed. “Maybe an extra few hours.”

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