“You could have stoppedat that McDonald’s and let me use the bathroom,” I complain loudly as Graham carries all of our bags up the front porch while Lulu jumps around him, doing her best to trip him.
“Lulu, stop it,” I order.
She ignores me.
“I’m signing her up for dog training class, by the way,” Graham informs me.
“It wasn’t me! It’s not my dog.”
“She has your last name.”
“She was an unanticipated castoff from the VP of Client Relations. She came with no home training.”
“You can’t blame all of it on her traumatic puppyhood. I think bad dog momming is at least seventy-five percent of this.” Graham glances at me.
“Maybe it’s all the crappy men I bring in and out of her life who are doing it.”
“What other men?” Graham snarls, grabbing my arm.
I try to tug away. “Maybe ones that will stop and let a girl use the bathroom.”
“What part of ‘we are late’ do you not get?” he growls, dragging me to him, practically lifting me up off the porch…
Right as the front door swings open.
His parents stand there looking horrified.
Graham drops me in surprise.
I stumble. My knees give out, because no, I didn’t use those Pilates classes my mom pointedly gifted me for Christmas. Then I fall right over the side of the big stone porch into the snow-covered bushes.
“Hi!” I tell them as Graham and his stepfather rush to fish me out of the snowy bushes.
“Just leave it—what is wrong with you?” Frank hisses at Graham as they rush to help me up.
“I’m fine, I’m fine.” I’m embarrassed as I try to extricate myself from the bushes.
Aurora’s mouth hangs open.
“Don’t worry,” I call up to her. “You can go ahead and laugh.” I brush at the snow clinging to my sweater. “Whoo!”
“Dani, I…” Graham hovers. “I don’t think you should be standing.”
“Get her inside. She probably broke something,” Frank snaps. “Call an ambulance.”
“Wow, an ambulance, Frank. Why don’t we overreact a little bit more?” Aurora says. “Maybe we should just go ahead and dig her grave in the backyard. Plan the funeral right now.”
“Whoa, whoa! I’m good.” I wave them off. “Don’t mind me. I sit all day long, and my body just naturally wants to make this pose.”
“Come inside.” His mother ushers me in.
“Just let me grab the food.”
“You brought food?”
“And my granny made her famous punch. I just have to add the fruit and the alcohol. Do you want me to take off my shoes? I think I’m melting snow all over your—wow!”
Even Lulu is silent as we gaze around the cabin.
