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Violet
I looked at my phone and read the text that had just come in from Margaret. She’d called an emergency meeting at Doll’s. I’d never seen her do that before, so I felt a sense of urgency to get there for her. I looked over at where Forrest was playing in the yard with the dogs and frowned.
“What is it?” Ben moved closer and tipped my chin up so I would meet his gaze.
“Margaret needs me to come over…”
“We can hang out with Forrest while you’re gone.” He saw my hesitant expression and cupped my cheek. That gesture melted me every time and I felt like he knew it. “Go see Margaret. We want to get to know Forrest better and he’s having so much fun with the dogs. We won’t let anything happen to him, Vi.”
I knew that. Watching them with Forrest that afternoon, I’d seen how good they were to Forrest right away. Even when they were in Principal Boyd’s office, they’d made me feel like I wasn’t alone for a change. They had my back. More importantly, they had Forrest’s back.
“We’re not going to do anything or say anything to jeopardize our time with both of you.” He smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I said both of you. After the way we’ve been throwing ourselves at you, I’m a little surprised you seem surprised by that statement.”
Forrest yelled for me and when I looked, he was proudly walking Captain around on his leash. “Captain is so cool, Mom!”
I couldn’t help the smile that stretched my lips. “Yeah, he is. Now I know you can walk him, I think I’ll sleep in on those cold mornings this winter and let you walk the dogs.”
“Okay!” He walked Captain back to Justin and then took General. General immediately took off at a sprint and dragged Forrest along behind him. Back and forth across the yard they went, neither of them stopping until Mason stepped in and scooped up the little dog. Forrest flopped onto the ground. “Whoa.”
I laughed and bit my lip before looking up at Ben. “Okay. I won’t be gone long, though. And I can grab dinner while I’m out, so you don’t have to feed him.”
“We’ll take care of it, Vi. Take as long as you need.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead like he’d been doing the same thing every day since the night we met. “Don’t take too long, though, because I like the view when you’re around.”
I groaned. “You don’t have to butter me up.”
“One of these days, Violet… One of these days.” He patted my ass and nodded to Forrest. “Anything we need to know? Allergies? Fears?”
“He’ll tell you everything he will or won’t eat, so that’ll be clear for you. He’s not allergic to any foods. He is allergic to penicillin and wasps. And as long as you don’t try to give him a shot, you don’t have to worry about his fears.” I walked over to the fence and called Forrest. “I’m going to go meet with Ms. Margaret. The guys volunteered to hang out with you while I’m gone. How does that sound?”
He threw his fists in the air. “Boys only night!”
I frowned. “It’s too early for you to be that excited about getting rid of me.”
He reached over the picket fence and gave me the best hug he could from that angle. “I still love you, Mom. Mason said he has racing games we can play, though.”
“Fine, fine. I love you, too, Forrest. Be kind and respectful, okay?” I caught his little face in my hands and leaned over to blow a raspberry on his forehead. “I’ll be back.”
He groaned and wiped his forehead before running back to play with the dogs. He started telling an animated story to both Justin and Mason, instantly forgetting about me leaving.
I turned to Ben and smiled. “I don’t know how you’ll manage to tear him from me when he’s so clearly clinging on for dear life.”
He laughed. “Sorry, but it’s boys’ night. No girls allowed.”
I grunted and headed towards the apartment to grab my purse. “I’ll be sure to remember that.”
When I got to Doll’s, the back room was full and the energy chaotic. Margaret stood with her back to the door, facing the room, and her arms were windmilling as she ranted. “And then he said this store is a waste of space and would be better for the community if it was used as more training space.”
Joanie waved me over and I squeezed onto the couch between her and another woman I didn’t recognize. I smiled at her and thanked her for making room for me.
“Leaving someone standing during one of Margaret’s rants against Mayor Stevens would be criminal.” The pretty blonde held out her hand and shook mine. “Billie. You must be Violet.”
I let out a surprised laugh. “This really is such a small town.”
“It is. You can’t miss a new face.” Billie nodded over at Joanie. “Plus, Joanie might’ve mentioned something about Violet heading our way.”
Margaret raised her voice over us and we had no choice but to focus on her. Brenda and Coco were standing behind her like good soldiers. “I’m done being pushed around by that man. I swear he’s had a stick up his ass since I turned him down all those years ago. He’s twenty years younger than me! I was doing him a favor!”
Brenda crossed her arms over her ample chest and shook her head. “He has no idea who he’s messing with.”
