Page 39 of Property of Mongrel

Each picture of their early years, before us kids started coming along, is a showcase of how much they loved each other. They had holiday pictures with just the two of them, and occasionally Uncle Leroy and my grandma. My grandfather and Uncle Bobby were in a couple, but it was mostly just them.

Then, as us kids came along, I saw how they expanded the love they felt for each other to encompass us. A lot of smiles, candid shots of them laughing, and memories that live on in my mind come to life once again. “I remember that,” I say, pointing at a picture from the last Halloween we had together. “Mom decided we were going to be themed with respect to our costumes. So, Dad was a bag of milk chocolate M&Ms, Mom was a bag of white chocolate M&Ms, and us kids were bags of mini M&Ms.”

“That’s so creative!” she exclaims, leaning closer to look at the smiles on our faces. “Y’all look so happy.”

“We had a great life with them. It wasn’t perfect, I’m sure, but as a kid, I thought it was,” I tell her.

“I never celebrated holidays until Betty took me in,” she admits, her face falling as she remembers something painful. Then she brightens up and adds, “But since then, she’s gone all out every single year. Not only does she buy for me and vice versa, but we usually adopt multiple kids from the Angel Tree and take care of their gifts too.”

“I can’t wait to meet her,” I say.

“Yes, we need to get that sorted out as soon as we can, because she wants to meet you too. She’s got a crazy work schedule, but she told me last week that she’d make it happen because she knew you were important to me,” she replies.

“I am?” I ask.

“Mongrel, I very nearly had you switch therapists,” she retorts. “It was either that or risk ruining my professional reputation, and it got a bit dicey in my head for a bit.”

I burst out laughing because she’s disgruntled right now, and so damn adorable I want to hold her and never let her go. “I’d have gladly switched to another therapist in order to go out with you sooner. But I don’t know that JB would’ve let me.”

“He’s something, isn’t he?” she muses.

“Do you want kids?” I suddenly ask.

“Someday, yes. For a long time, I was firmly in the ‘no kids, ever’ mindset because of my childhood, but then I realized that I couldn’t allow what I went through to color my perception of what a good parent was like. Betty will probably never get married or have kids because she’s married to her job, but she was the best thing that could’ve ever happened to me as a kid.”

“I do as well, down the road, of course. My parents were a couple for a few years before we started coming along, and I remember my dad saying one time that it helped cement the bond they had before late, sleepless nights joined the chat. It was them against the world, and while we grew up knowing they loved each one of us, we also understood that Mom came first for Dad and vice versa. That’s what I want. Kids are important and they should know they’re loved, of course, but eventually, they grow up and move on to create their own lives. If the parents live for their kids, what’s left when all the kids spread their wings?”

“That’s a good point,” Addy says. “I guess I never really thought about it like that, but it makes sense.”

I eventually put a movie on, but I have no clue when either one of us doze off. All I know is I wake up curled around Addy with my arm across her waist. Glancing at the clock on my wall, I see it’s about four in the morning, so instead of waking her up, I snuggle closer and fall back to sleep.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-ONE

Addy

I wake up to a firm, muscular arm wrapped snugly around my waist and freeze. I definitely didn’t anticipate falling asleep in his bed last night, but I have to admit, it feels wonderful being held in his arms. I wouldn’t mind staying in this position, but my bladder has come alive, so I slowly move until I’m standing and walk to the ensuite to take care of business. While staring at my reflection, I realize that I don’t have a toothbrush, or even a hairbrush. Sighing, I pull the scrunchie out of my hair then finger comb it before putting it up in another ponytail. Spying mouthwash on the counter, I swig some of that and then rinse my mouth with water. It’ll have to do until I can get home. I briefly notice that Mongrel’s bathroom is spotless, then grin because in this respect, we have a lot in common. Nothing’s out of place and the tub, toilet, and sink are not what I would’ve expected for a single man.

Returning to the room, I see him sitting against the headboard, wide awake. “Morning,” he says, his voice raspy with sleep. “I think all the fresh air and good food knocked us both out last night.”

“Yeah, I think you’re right,” I reply. “I should head home, though.”

“Why? You’re going to be helping Gretchen today,” he says.

“I need a shower and to brush my teeth, all that jazz,” I tell him.

He climbs out of the bed and my mouth dries at the sight. He had changed last night into a pair of cut-off sweats, and seeing his muscular body on display has my core clenching in need. “I’ve got an extra toothbrush, a T-shirt you can wear, and if you give me a few minutes, I’m sure I can borrow some girlie shampoo and bodywash from Gretchen so you can take a shower.”

“Are you sure?” I ask. “I don’t want to be a bother.”

“Addy, at some point, you’ll have stuff here. Last night, we both fell asleep, but there’s no reason for you to go all the way home to get cleaned up when we have shit here you can use.”

“Okay, if you’re positive, then yeah, I can do that,” I reply.

“Give me a few minutes,” he says as he heads into the ensuite and closes the door. I don’t miss the bulge at the front of his shorts and shiver in anticipation of the future. I’m definitely one lucky woman based on what I saw.

I’m somewhat self-conscious about using his shower, especially since we’ve just started dating, but there’s something right about it that I can’t explain. He brought back stuff he borrowed from Gretchen, found a new toothbrush for me to use, then kissed me and said he’d see me downstairs. Instead of luxuriating beneath the rainfall shower heads he has, I rush through bathing myself. Once I dry off and dress, I brush my teeth, fix my hair, then use the moisturizer I carry in my purse on my face, grateful that I keep some things with me at all times ‘just in case’.