Page 33 of Family Affair
“I’m in awe that such a small dog can dump such a huge load,” Cade noted conversationally. “Horses crap less than that. What does he eat?”
“Chocolate,” she mumbled.
His mouth twitched. “You know, just FYI, dogs aren’t supposed to eat chocolate.”
“I know that! I didn’tfeedhim chocolate, he stole it.”
Chap ambled toward her and sat at her feet with an air of a great accomplishment about him.
She pressed the heels of her palms to her gritty eyes. “Do you happen to have a plastic bag?”
“What for?” Cade asked, immediately suspicious.
“To clean up after my dog.”
"Where're you gonna dispose of it?" His voice held a touch of alarm.
"Where?" She looked around. Naturally, there was no trash can in sight. "I'll do it at home."
He could’ve blinked but it was hard to tell with his glasses on. “Coco, even if I had a bag, there’s no way I’d let you in Dan’s car with this.” He made a sweeping gesture indicating the radius of Chap’s contamination.
“I can’t just leave his mess here!” she argued with vehemence. “We’re supposed to pick up after our dogs. Let me check, I may have a bag in my purse.”
“Wait a minute! How are you going to pick this diarrhea off the grass? It seems like a lot of work, and forgive me for not helping you withthat.”
“I’ll only pick up what can be picked up,” she assured with perfect logic and turned to go look for a plastic bag.
He placed both hands on her waist from behind and turned her around to face him. Leaning forward to be on the eye level with her, he spoke like an adult speaking to a child in the middle of a temper tantrum, with phony calm and exaggerated patience.
“Listen to me, there is nothing wrong with leaving this mud mountain on the side of a highway. Look at it this way: it’s organic matter, good for the soil. It’ll be gone after the first rain, which, by the way, isn’t long coming.”
To back up his words, he pointed to the sky where dark clouds were gathering up for an afternoon shower.
Her mouth trembled, and Coco firmly pressed her lips together. Losing it in front of Cade would put a proverbial cherry on top of her cake.
“I guess you're right." She eyed the soiled patch. "What a crazy day.”
Cade's face gentled. “You’re tired. Come on, the traffic’s clearing up.”
They got back into the car, and soon Cade braked in front of her mother’s tiny house under the rolls of thunder that sounded close.
“I am truly grateful for all your help. You’ve been so kind, dealt with mom’s car, andin return got to watchChap poop his liver out. I’m so sorry.”
“Are you serious? I like to think I can handle a shitting dog.”
With the last grateful smile in his direction, Coco got out of the car yanking the crate unceremoniously after her. The first fat raindrops hit the driveway, and the air smelled of ozone, crisp, fresh, ripe with the changing weather. She dashed into the house and closed the door, leaning her forehead against it, aware of Cade idling in the driveway. Thunder boomed overhead and the rain started in earnest. She waited for him to leave.
Still, he lingered.
And she waited…
Finally, he backed out and drove away, and she watched through the side window how the sheet of water distorted his tail lights.
