I Thought You Said This Would Work: A Novel by Ann Garvin

Author:Ann Garvin [Garvin, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2021-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

GOT A PROBLEM? GET A DOG.

Holly grabbed my elbow and said, “Excuse us, Doctor, I need to talk to my friend here.”

Griff was no idiot. Likely he sized us up in seconds and knew to evacuate. He gave me a quick nod that held a tinge of worry. I hoped he saw the apology in my smile and not my shaky confidence about how to manage Holly.

“We are not taking that sponge of a dog with us.”

“Yes, Holly, we are.” This was something I could put my foot down about that had no long-term effect on anyone but me. I could see no gray areas for contention.

“No, Sammy, we are not.”

I stepped back and looked at Holly. Same perfect appearance despite camper living. A swath of fatigue under her eyes, two frown lines on her forehead, like two exclamation points punctuating her argument.

“Why could you possibly care if I adopt Moose? Furthermore, I’m not sure why you think you’re in charge of this.”

“Why do you think you can add another animal to this trip?”

“If Moose eases Peanut’s transition, then Moose is going with us.”

“When I agreed to leave Rosie and travel across country to get this dog—”

“Peanut,” I interrupted.

She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I agreed because you needed me, and Katie needed her dog.”

I bit my tongue. I did not want to impulsively protest this statement of need. I knew that was how we pitched it to get Holly out of the hospital, where she was irritating everyone from the housekeeping staff to the oncologists. But it rankled. Needed her, I internally scoffed. If I’d needed her, it had been when Jeff died or when Maddie was too sick to go to day care or the first time I ran myself ragged caring for Katie.

“Peanut. The dog’s name is Peanut.”

“Okay. Whatever, Sam.”

“Not whatever, Holly,” I said, my anger hot and fast. “The dog’s name is Peanut. He deserves to be called by his name.”

“I don’t understand you. Katie doesn’t have a child, so her dog can be a substitute. But you have Maddie. Dogs are not people. I should be home with Rosie, and we both should be at Katie’s side.” Holly leaned into me, her big head on her skinny body, like an authoritarian cake pop without the fun sprinkles.

“We are at Katie’s side right now,” I insisted. “We are comforting her by getting what she needs and bringing it to her. You don’t have to understand why she loves him, although you’d have to be made of stone to not see it.”

Holly pulled her head back as if she’d been hit. “I am not made of stone. If any of us are immovable objects, it’s you.”

“Me?” Stone! The unfairness! I wanted to shut up, pull out, stop this fight. I rooted in my memory for Louise’s list of safe phrases. Instead, all my loss and pain shoved my denial aside, and I said, “Why do you hate me?” It came out like a middle

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