Twin Piques by Tracie Banister

Author:Tracie Banister [Banister, Tracie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

(Willa)

I finally received the call from Brody I’d been hoping for ever since we had our lunch date. How long did I have to wait for this potentially life-changing call, you ask? Well, according to the Playful Puppies wall calendar I have tacked up in my kitchen, it was ten days, a week-and-a-half, one-third of a whole dang month! Perhaps that’s not a lot of time in the grand scheme of things, but for me it seemed like an eternity.

I know I told Sloane that I could be patient and hang in there until Brody figured things out and I really thought I could, but this has not been easy. Technically, we did talk during those ten days, if you can call the brief, somewhat stilted, conversation that occurred when I dropped by Lovey’s garden last week “talk”ing. However that exchange could be classified, it left me feeling sad and discouraged. Chatting with Sloane about the situation did make me realize I need to temper my expectations in regards to Brody, which is what I’ve been trying to do. Still, my heart almost leapt out of my chest when my phone rang yesterday and I saw his name pop up on the display screen. I had to take a few deep breaths to calm myself before I could answer the phone, and even then my voice sounded unnaturally high and squeaky, like I’d been sucking on helium.

I’d love to report that Brody called to say he missed me, or wondered what I’d been up to. Shoot, I would have been thrilled if he just wanted to ask my opinion on the best flea treatment for Roxie (Skin So Soft from Avon, works like a charm and isn’t toxic like drugs can be.), but no, he wasn’t interested in discussing anything personal. The purpose of his call was to inform me, in a very business-like way, that he would be wrapping up his work in the garden on Tuesday and he needed to give me some instructions on maintaining the roses. SIGH

I suppose I could have told him to e-mail me the info, but then I wouldn’t have gotten to see him and I really wanted to. So, here I am, with Cicero, steeling myself for what will probably be another disappointing encounter with the man I was hoping would be Mr. Right.

“Hi,” I greet him with as much perkiness as I can muster when entering the back yard.

“Hey.” Brody looks up from his work, smiling.

I’m taken aback by the smile. What does it mean? Is he glad to see me, or is he just relieved to be done with this job so that he never has to lay eyes on me again?

I’m not the only one with questions. Cicero’s head is swimming with them. Why isn’t Brody petting him? Isn’t he going to offer him a cookie? Aren’t they friends anymore? Where’s Roxie? I suppose I can get an answer to that last one for him.

“Where’s Roxie?” I glance around the yard to see if she’s found some secluded spot to take a nap in.

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