Page 8 of Guard Dog

“I always liked your brother,” she says with a smile. “Not as much as I like you, obviously.”

“Thank God. How do you want this”—I squeeze her again— “to play out? You’re the one with the kid.”

“Slow and easy but definitely not glacial. Peony already knows you. We should start with you coming around. Often. I have a babysitter right now. Romy got here this morning which is why I’m not worried about how long I’ve been here.”

I can do that. “What’s next?”

“I’m thinking an official first date.”

It was almost supper. I don’t have enough time to prepare anything close to what she deserves. But I sure as fuck can let it be known that we’re together. “How do you feel about steak?” Taking her to the Lonesome Bar and Grill would make the statement I want.

Violet tells me that she can’t stay much longer. The garage is closed on Sunday, leaving me free, so I follow her home. If she wants me to spend time with her and Peony, I’ll start this second.

Romy greets us at the door with a finger to her lips. “Peony is napping in her big girl bed. She just went down, so let’s enjoy the peace and quiet.

Violet giggles. “A little much for you?”

“She’s a little much compared to a tornado, but awesome Auntie Romy did fine, thank you. It looks like you didn’t do too badly yourself.”

Violet reaches for my hand and pulls me inside. “I straightened him out.”

“From your glow, I’d say you straightened all parts of him. Repeatedly,” Romy says to her. Then she looks me dead in the eye. “For the record, I approve.” She peers past us at the driveway. “You didn’t bring Russo back, did you?”

Violet barks out a rough laugh. “Not hardly.”

“I thought you liked Rick,” I say.

A minute later, we’re on the sofa and Romy is handing out beers while she takes a seat in Keith’s old recliner. “This is all you, babe.”

To my shock, Violet drains a third of the bottle in one go. “Rick who was Keith’s friend was fine. Rick who is Keith’s executor is a pain in my ass. The second Keith died, I suddenly lost fifty I.Q. points and the ability to do anything for myself. Rick wouldn’t even let me do the banking on my own.”

That doesn’t sound right. “To sign the paperwork? That would be part of his executor duties.”

“No,” she says sharply. “To authorize withdrawals from my own account or Peony’s trust fund. He demanded to see every file in the house.”

“To which Violet rightly told him to fuck off,” Romy adds.

“I gave Romy my personal files because I didn’t trust him not to snoop. Then he insisted on double-checking every box I packed for the move like I’m some sort of incompetent. I am done with him. I don’t care how close he and Keith were. Everything is in my name now. Kat checked and verified that the estate is closed. I don’t need Rick around anymore and I don’t want him here.” She shifts on the sofa, arranging herself so she faces me. “He’s a brother in arms. I get that. I’ll be polite when he’s visiting. But he’s not welcome in my home after the way he behaved.”

Something is very, very wrong. She’s not describing the Rick I know. But something else has caught my attention. “Who is Kat?”

“Katrina Strong. She’s a lawyer friend. We met her in self-defence class,” Violet says.

“Is Rick going to be a problem?” Romy asks.

“No.” My promise is a guarantee. Nobody else is going to be a problem to Violet, not ever. Especially somebody who should have been on her side. At long last I’m the one she can count on to stand up for her and I am not going to fall down on the job.

“Excellent. I’m going to head into town for a bit while you reorganize what I’ve unpacked. See you later. Payment for tonight’s babysitting will be a medium thin-crust pizza. Pepperoni and mushroom. I’m a fan of the classics.” Romy sashays out the door, leaving me alone with Violet.

Finally. “This sofa looks comfy,” I say. “Why don’t you join me on it?”

“Peony is in the other room,” she protests, but she’s already moving to straddle my lap.

“Then you’d better be quiet.”

Chapter Seven

God, I haven’t been on a date in…years. Keith took me out for dinner the rare time he was in town and we could find a sitter, but even those nights had been few and far between. I slicked my hair back into a smooth ponytail, so it looks more elegant than it actually is, and added some chunky silver jewelry that Romy gave me for my last birthday. I smooth the skirt of my little black dress that feels shorter than I remember. I haven’t looked this fancy in a long time. Romy approved of me before I left the house but I’m having second thoughts.

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