I stare at her for a few seconds before saying anything. “Let me get this straight, you bring the dog and tell me you’re finally deciding to move in so that I’ll be more focused on the fact that you’ve said yes and forget all about the hairball you’ve brought with you.”
“Oscar is not a hairball. He’s a baby.”
“Kendall.”
“Aaron,” she offers right back at me.
“Woman,” I say in warning and she actually laughs at me.
“Come on Aaron, isn’t he cute?”
I look at the dog who is currently trying to lick the left side of her face.
“All I see when I look at him are shit piles bigger than my fucking head all over the damn yard.”
“Stop being a baby.” She pats the dog’s head with her hand. “Oscar and I are moving in, be happy about that.”
“The you part makes me happy, the him part,” I point to the dog, “I’m not quite sure.”
“I figure if one day you and I are gonna have kids,” I shift my full attention to her and yet she is avoiding my stare. To say I am shocked by her statements wouldn’t be the right wording to choose. “Just thinking maybe we should probably practice first.”
Again I remain quiet because I can’t seem to form the words, or any words for that matter.
“Oscar seems like the kind of guy that even if we screw things up at the end of the day he will still love us anyway. As long as we love him and feed him and when he messes up we forgive him, he’ll be safe and secure and that’s really all he wants.”
“Is that right?” I am starting to feel like this isn’t all about what Oscar needs.
“Yes, isn’t that right Oscar boy. You just want to know you are safe. You want to know that you have your independence and that we will always be right here by your side. Loving you, andcomforting you, without taking any of the independence away.” She hugs him and takes the chance to peek up at me.
It’s when I see it, the glossy look in her eyes. And I remember what my mother said and what Brantley said earlier today. She has to believe it was her idea, because trying to force Kendall to do anything is a mistake. Trying to take away her choices, it will never end in your benefit.
“Well, then it looks like Oscar has chosen the right home, because he will most definitely get all those things and more here.”
She ruffles his hair and cuddles him.
“So what you’re saying is,” she peeks up at me with a smile that I feel deep in my gut, “we can keep him.”
“Yeah baby we can keep him.” I reach out and pet the dog’s head. My mother was right, and it still baffles me that she knew the woman I’m in love with more than me. Or at least she knew this part of her, and it’s because my mother was once like her. Kendall needs to be the one to lead, her thinking that moving in is her idea and her referring to Oscar as the practice run before we have children, all of it. Being a mother one day, her idea, not one that is being thrusted upon her, but a choice she is making.
“When you gonna start packing your things?”
“I’ve been slowly packing things up for weeks,” she says, still snuggling Oscar and avoiding my stare. “Figured we can call all the guys and start moving some things over this weekend. I already talked to the landlord and since my lease was more verbal than an actual written contract, he really can’t say much about me moving out.”
Had she been working on this since the day I asked her to move in? Has this been her plan all along? Either way, I’m over the moon.
“This weekend sounds good to me,” I tell her with a smile so big my cheeks ache with joy. This is what I what, her, and a life with her. This is what I’ve wished for. What I’ve dreamed of, and it looks like now Oscar is a part of that dream.
I waketo the sound of barking and stare up at the ceiling. I can hear the clinking noises of the gate, and the hushed whispers of Kendall as she talks to the dog. I want to be annoyed, but I can’t help the smile on my face.
She is really owning this dog mom thing.
I hear her telling Oscar that he is going to wake up daddy and want to laugh.
Climbing out of bed, I tip toe across the bedroom and peek out, looking left then right. Stepping out into the hallway again I hear his playful growl and then Kendall laughs.
“How can you always have this much energy,” she grumbles and I keep walking in the direction of the spare bedroom.
Pausing at the door I find her sitting on the floor in front of the kennel, holding a chew toy as Oscar tugs on it and shakes his head from side to side. His growl sounds vicious but I will admit he is a cuddler. He likes to sleep on my lap.
