But, unlike my mother who’d never really forgiven me for breaking up with him, I was over it.
“I hope they’re okay,” I said, and I meant it. I didn’t harbor any ill will against Colin. I was glad it wasn’t me who’d married him, but I didn’t want anything bad to happen to him.
Mom shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s probably for the best that they don’t have kids. Maybe they need counseling. Although I’m not sure if a counselor could fix the fact that he married the wrong woman.”
Time to change the subject before she got into how I’d been the right woman and I should have married him because look at me now, in my thirties and single. “So I start my new job on Monday.”
She smiled. “The smartest thing they ever did was hire you.”
“Thanks. I’m just glad someone finally did.”
I wasn’t so sure about this job but beggars can’t be choosers. After applying to just about everything I could find, I’d answered the posting for the Tilikum Tribune mostly out of desperation. I’d never worked for a newspaper, but I did have a degree in journalism. To my amazement, they’d called me for an interview and offered me the job on the spot.
Employment problem solved. But I’d been living almost seven hours away, in Boise, for the last several years. Working for a small-town newspaper wasn’t a remote sort of job, so it meant packing up and moving.
Tilikum wasn’t Pinecrest, but it was close enough. This whole region, from Pinecrest to Tilikum to Echo Creek, all fell under the umbrella of “hometown” in my eyes. And not in a cute, nostalgic way that made moving back a warm and fuzzy experience. In an I-never-wanted-to-live-here-again way that made me feel like a big, fat failure.
But it was fine. This job was a means to an end—a way to get back on my feet. I’d keep looking for another one—preferably at least five or six hours away—and make the best of it until then.
Without warning, Max jumped to his feet. He took off at a dead run and the leash slid right out of my hand.
“Max!” I scrambled off the stool and went after him. “Max, come!”
Spoiler alert: he didn’t listen.
I ran to the living room with my mom close behind and found Max trying to stuff his entire head into the two-inch gap below the couch. His face popped up for a second, just long enough to let out a bark, and he was back at it again, shoving his nose under the couch.
“Max, get out of there.”
“Oh, no,” Mom said. “Duchess.”
“That must be it. He saw your cat.”
“Don’t you let him hurt my baby.”
“He won’t hurt her. He wants to play.”
Max barked again.
“Audrey, he’ll eat her!”
“He won’t eat her.” At least I hoped he wouldn’t. “That’s his play bark.”
Mom clutched her hands against her chest. “Duchess, stay there. Don’t come out, babykins. Mommy will save you.”
Not that she was actually doing anything to save her cat.
“I’ll get him.” I got close enough to grab the leash but Max let out a loud yelp of pain. I grabbed the leash and led him away. “What happened? Did the kitty get you?”
He had a small scratch on his nose, just enough to draw blood.
“Oh buddy, that must hurt.”
“Duchess,” Mom cooed, approaching the couch slowly. “Come out, kitty-kitty.”
I moved Max farther away and kept a death grip on his leash. “Maybe she just wants to hide under there for a while.”
“No, she needs her mama.” She clicked her tongue. “There, there, my precious little kitty-witty.”
Crouching down, I checked Max’s nose. He wagged his tail and tried to lick my face. It wasn’t a bad scratch. It had probably surprised him more than anything. Now he didn’t seem to notice.
Duchess finally came out from around the back side of the couch. She was a white Persian with a mass of long fur, especially around her scrunched up face, and amber eyes that, as far as I was concerned, made her look evil.
“There you go, sweet baby.” Mom scooped her up and cuddled her. “Don’t worry, the mean doggie won’t get you.”
Max barked.
Duchess hissed.
“I don’t think Max is the mean one in this scenario, but okay.”
Mom scowled at me. “My precious kitten isn’t mean. She was only protecting herself. And that dog is going to have to stay outside.”
“Outside where?”