Page 12 of Wag More Bark Less

“Yes, I’m sure. I just need some time to take a breath and recalibrate before I face everyone.” Because of course one couldn’t call off their wedding and expect a well-meaning but overbearing family not to constantly remind them. “Plus, Bluebell Springs is possibly the cutest little mountain town I’ve ever seen. This is what I need right now.”

After a few hesitant seconds, Mom asked, “You’ll send pictures?”

“Yes, I’ll send pictures.” I lifted the phone and snapped one of Ellie. She looked up at me as though to say Really, Mom? before rolling onto her side and stretching out for the nap she’d been wanting all along.

“I thought you said your rental host was giving you grief over bringing Ellie,” Mom said after the photo delivered. “Guess you two worked something out if she’s allowed on the bed.”

“Well, he didn’t kick us out,” I mumbled.

“What’s that?”

“Everything worked out.” For now. Just as another yawn assaulted me, a notification from my video messaging app popped up, alerting me to Violet’s latest send. “I think we’re going to find a bite to eat,” I said, stretching out beside Ellie instead. “Can I call you tomorrow?”

“Of course,” Mom said.

“Love you, Mom.”

“Love you more.”

I ended the call and settled in next to Ellie. She looked back at me from the pillow she’d perched her head on.

“She means well,” I said, nestling in beside her, her back pushed against my side, and rested my head against a puffy pillow—hey, at least Officer McGrumpy got something right—to watch Violet’s latest video message.

“Hey, Noles!” Violet waved at me from the screen. “Today we’re in Casey⁠—”

“Is that a Polo for Auntie Maggie?” The camera jerked suddenly, and my four-year-old nephew came into view.

I smiled, adoring the way he shorted Marco Polo.

“Hey, Ollie,” I murmured. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t see me. It was a prerecorded message. But talking to the littles was one of my favorite things. My nephews were the only thing that could make me feel any sort of homesick. In a month, I’d get to spend several weeks with them while Violet and her hubby focused on their newborn.

“It’s a big chair!” Ollie announced as the camera flipped around and a gigantic rocking chair came into view. My brother-in-law was lifting Ollie’s three-year-old brother Carson onto the seat.

“What’s special about it?” Violet asked Ollie.

“It’s the biggest!”

“The biggest what?”

“Chair.”

“What kind of chair?”

“A rock chair.”

“Rocking chair,” Violet offered.

“Yeah! Rocking chair! Mom, can I go sit on it, too?” Ollie begged.

“Go ahead, buddy,” Violet said, bringing the camera back to her face. Her blue eyes that matched mine were hidden behind an oversized pair of sunglasses, but I saw the exhaustion through the lenses. “So, as you might guess, we’re a little behind schedule. Who’s surprised? No one.”

As Violet rambled on about the mundane details of their travel day, my eyelids felt suddenly heavy. Ellie was already softly snoring beside me. I set the phone on a pillow and listened as Violet yammered on. I’d get groceries later, I decided as gravity nudged my eyelids to fall. After a quick cat nap.

FIVE

ELLIE

Slam!