Page 68 of Papa's Bébé
“There’s no way you can know everything.”
“Sure I can. Now, introduce me to Tank.”
Maya realized that she was procrastinating. What if Tank didn’t like him? What was she going to do? She didn’t want to be rude, but maybe this was for the best anyway.
“If he doesn’t like you, then you can’t stay.”
She waited for him to get angry at her. Or to tell her how ridiculous she was being. That an animal’s care and safety shouldn’t be put ahead of her own.
Instead, he squeezed the back of her neck again and it reassured her, grounded her.
Lord, that feeling was amazing. She wished she could feel like this all of the time.
“Stop stressing. Your dog will like me. And everything will be fine.”
How long had she waited for someone to tell her that? It was all she wanted. To be told that everything was going to be fine. That it would all be okay. So that she didn’t feel so alone.
Maya took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then she nodded. It would all be okay. Of course it would.
“Just come in easy. Don’t be too loud and don’t try to touch him. Let him come to you,” she bossed.
Shoot. Would he take offense to her telling him what to do?
“Of course. I’ll do whatever you tell me to do.”
“Wouldn’t that make me in charge?”
“Of this, not of anything else.”
Dear Lord.
She might just have to kill him. Or kiss him.
It was a fine line and she didn’t know exactly on which side she was going to land.
Taking a deep breath, she reached for the handle and opened the door, walking in.
A snort greeted her and Big B walked around the end of the bed.
“Hey, Big B,” she said to the pig, walking over to scratch her behind the ears. “You doing good? Need to go potty?”
The pig butted against her, snorting happily until she caught sight of Matthieu.
Then her snorts of greeting turned to ones of alarm.
“Hey, it’s all right, Big B. This is Matthieu.”
Maya stepped back and instinctively grabbed hold of Matthieu’s hand. Big Berry backed up too, watching them both.
“He’s a friend. Matthieu is friendly, see?”
To her surprise, Matthieu crouched down. “Hey Big Berry, aren’t you a pretty girl?”
Big B snorted at him.
“I promise you’re safe with me. Want to give me a smell? Wait, is that what pigs do? Do they smell you?” he asked.
“Well, Big Berry is really a pig who identifies as a dog so I think she might sniff you,” she explained.
