Page 10 of Merry with a Single Dad

“Hudson,” Chris said, “can you see what’s going on out there?”

Hudson turned the light on out back and opened the slider. Moose dutifully followed him. Gigi raised her head from her perch, sniffed the air, and then laid her head on her crossed paws, looking like the prim and proper lady she was.

“One of the best installs I paid for,” Chris said, referencing the dog doors that lead from the laundry room to the garage and out to the large dog run out back.

Hudson ran back in, out of breath. “Um, Dad, there’s a skunk out there.”

“What?!” Chris and I yelled together.

“It stinks.”

“Oh no!” I said, running to the laundry room door and sliding the cover into the grooves so Rufus and Luke couldn’t come inside. Not knowing how bad the damage was, I didn’t want them bringing the smell of skunk into the house.

“Hudson, stay in here with Moose and Gigi,” Chris said as we made our way outside.

By the time we got to the dog run, there was no sign of the skunk. However, from the odor lingering in the air, it was very clear that Rufus and Luke had made close contact.

“What in the actual fuck?” Chris said.

Luke cowered in the corner, ashamed of himself. His big brown eyes said, “I’m sorry.”

I felt bad for him.

I felt even worse for Chris.

“This is going to be fun,” I said sarcastically.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“For what?”

“I’m sure Luke brought this on. I told you he’s the devil. Fucking Lucifer!” he hollered, scowling.

I giggled. “I haven’t heard you call him that in a long time.”

Chris had referred to Luke as Lucifer when we first met because Luke was so unruly. He was an absolute handful for several months, but he had potential. I’d witnessed his antics and wild ways for sure. With time, practice, and follow-through, Luke had simmered down—for the most part.

Tonight was proof that he still had some of those precarious puppy tendencies that took time to work out.

“What are we going to do?” His voice begged for me to have some kind of miracle cure.

I didn’t.

I sighed. “Well, we’re going to be up for a while.” It was almost eight o’clock. “Why don’t you get Hudson ready for bed, and I’ll make sure they’re okay?”

“Okay? They’re not okay,” Chris said. “They smell like shit!”

It was impossible not to laugh at his outrage. Chris did not think it was the least bit funny. My laughter did not help subdue his irritation. “Babe, I need to check them over to make sure they’re physically okay. If they got sprayed in the face, we might need to take them to the vet tonight.”

“Christ! I swear to God, Luke, if you have to go to the vet, I just might leave you there, you little shit!”

Luke whimpered. It might have been from embarrassment, but most likely, he understood Chris’s threat and knew his master just might follow through this time.

I pulled on Chris’s hand. “Stop. You’re scaring him.”

“Good! Little fucker should be scared.”

I smacked his arm, hushing him up. Inside, I pushed him toward Hudson, who was full of questions. I said good night to Hudson and laughed as I went to the garage to do some damage control.

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