Page 11 of Summer with a Single Dad

“Are you going to come in?” she asked.

“I didn’t want to impose.”

“It’s no trouble. The boys announced you. Come around back and help me set up.”

“I wish Lucifer would walk next to me without his leash on,” I said just as he lunged forward. He wanted to be with Moose and Rufus. He didn’t like them like I liked Emily, but I understood his desire to be next to them. “Thanks again for your help with the pillow,” I said.

“Did he eat any of the stuffing?”

“Not that I found. He’s taken three massive dumps since he ripped my pillow to shreds. That was fun digging through.”

Emily’s laugh rang out in the large yard. “I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you. Trust me, I’ve had to do my fair share of digging through dog shit too.”

“Well, I used those rubber yellow gloves for washing dishes.”

“Smart,” she said.

When I shuddered at the memory, Emily roared with laughter again.

Lucifer pranced over to us like he deserved a prize. A thick rope hung in his mouth as his tail swiped left and right like a gigantic duster.

“Oh sure, at home, you chew everything but your toys. When you’re with Miss Emily, you follow the rules. I don’t know what I’m going to do with him when I start back to work next week. I still think I should get him a muzzle.”

She shook her head, exasperated. “A muzzle is not necessary. We already talked about this. He’s a good dog, you just have to?—”

“Be consistent,” I finished for her.

“Exactly.” Her cheeks turned rosy when she met my eyes. She cleared her throat and moved her gaze to Lucifer. “Have you considered crate training?”

I looked at my dog, making dopey eyes at Emily, and sighed. “He should be in jail.”

That earned another laugh from Emily. “I mean, for sleeping. But you could feasibly keep him in it while you’re at work as long as it’s big enough. You have to measure him for the right size—length and height of his body, then add a couple of inches.”

“What about a baby gate for the laundry room? It’s a nice size room.”

“That could work, too. Is that what you did in Florida?”

“No. I’d take him over to my parents. My sister would take him if they weren’t available. That’s one of the things I miss most.”

“Having a dog-sitter?”

I laughed. “Yeah. Having my family nearby helped in so many ways.”

Silence stood between us until Lucifer barked. He looked at the rope and then back at us. Emily picked it up, shook it for his pleasure, and tossed it far across the yard.

“You play softball or something?” I asked, impressed.

“Nope. Just a lot of practice throwing for these guys.”

Lucifer ran back over.

“He fetched.”

“Ask him for it. Tell him to give it to you. Squat down, hold your hand out, and tell him to give you the rope.”

As soon as I crouched down, Lucifer jumped up like he wanted to wrestle.

“Tell himdown.”

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