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She muttered something followed by the familiar tapping sounds of nails on hardwood.
The dogs were free.
No sooner had that thought surfaced than a bark broke the morning calm, and when one dog barked they both barked. She winced and kept going, though she was braced for an ankle nip at any moment. The little hellions liked her well enough when it was just them, but they were loyal to Saaina. In a way, that was sweet. Saaina had no children of her own. Robin didn’t know if it that was by design or if biology had dictated it. What she did know was that Saaina came from a world governed by men, where she went and did what men told her. To Dad, she was a companion and a possession. Not a person. And so in a way, the dogs were all that Saaina had.
For that reason, Robin had promised herself to always treat the furry brats well, no matter how many times they nipped her or pooped on the carpet. They were her siblings. Caring for them was the only thing she could do to prove to Saaina that in this house, they were not enemies.
Robin heard the hushed voices of the two men before she rounded the corner. She pasted on a bright smile and entered the sun-drenched room.
“She lives,” Uncle Daar said over his coffee cup.
She grinned back at him. “She does.”
Dad didn’t quite frown at her, but he clearly wasn’t pleased. “Saaina said you were out late.”
Robin slid into the chair to her uncle’s left. “She’s right. Harper and I talked for a long time after dinner. I completely lost track of time.”
Uncle Daar peered at her out of the corner of his eye. “Relax, Cassim. It was their first date, and we ruined it.”
Dad’s eyes widened. “First date? Really?”
Seriously? Did he hear nothing she said ever?
Robin didn’t sigh, just amped up her smile a little more. “It was. I met Harper at the park on Tuesday. Remember, I said that Button and Bow got away from me? Harper managed to catch them for me.”
Dad nodded slowly. “I do remember you being gone a while.”
“Harper was quite interesting,” Uncle Daar commented.
“What is he?” Dad asked.
Robin paused. “I’m sorry?”
“What is he?” Dad asked this time with a wave of his hand. “What’s his last name again?”
“Your father wants to know where his family hails from,” Uncle Daar explained.
Yeah, Robin had understood that, she was just surprised. Maybe it was a sensitive question for her given that sometimes people asked herwhatshe was. As if being human wasn’t enough.
“Based on his name, I can only assume his family is Hispanic or Latin.” She wished she had something to do with her hands. “You know that’s kind of a rude question, Dad?”
He snorted and waved her off.
Uncle Daar leaned toward her. “It’s clear you inherited your mother’s manners.”
“Thank goodness for that,” she muttered under her breath.
He pitched his voice lower. “I concur.”
“What are you two whispering about?” Dad demanded.
Uncle Daar wiped his fingers on the linen napkin. “I was asking Robin when she planned on working in the office today. I’d hoped to make use of her skills.”
“We aren’t done talking about this man yet.”
“I’d quite like to have him over for coffee. He had interesting things to say about cyber security.”
“Cyber security. Bah.”
