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Amber’s eyebrows hit her hairline. “Really? Are you going to do it?”
I nodded decisively. “I am. I haven’t told him, yet, but I am. He’s going to help me take it to the next level. You know he went to work with me for only two days, and I got past that block I had last week? You were right. You and Minty both. I’ll ask for help from now on when I get stuck.” I took a deep breath. “I want to move forward. I’m going back to therapy, too. I’m going to travel!” I squealed and Amber laughed.
Vander
Jace remained tight-lipped the whole way to Spuds. I wondered if he suffered from Bucket Mouth syndrome like his mother, so I decided not to tease him. I didn’t want him to feel bad if he let something slip.
Ruby reminded me of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh when we walked into Spuds. Flushed and bright-eyed, she barely contained her energy.
“Hi, agapimeno mou!” She hugged Jace tightly, and he laughed.
“Hi, Momma. You excited about your surprise?”
Ruby placed her finger over his lips. “Shh! Don’t spill! Bucket mouth!”
I laughed. “Don’t worry. He didn’t say one word to me, about anything, the whole way here. I felt like a taxi driver with an antisocial passenger.”
Ruby laughed and clapped her hands together once. “Okay! Let’s take your car, but I’ll drive.”
“Fair enough.” I grinned and handed her the keys.
“There’s someone I want you to meet, but I don’t want you to figure it out until we get there.”
I raised my eyebrows. I had no idea what, or who, she was hiding. Ten minutes later, she pulled into the driveway of a house a few blocks away from Gus and Amber’s place.
Jace’s tablet buzzed. He must be logged onto either mine or Ruby’s wifi. I peeked over the seat at him. “Don’t take that right now, buddy. Mom has something important going on.”
“It’s George,” Jace explained. “I have to take it.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay!” Ruby waved my concerns away. “I want George to see, too.”
We got out of the car, and it suddenly struck me what this was all about. I reached out and nabbed her elbow.
“You didn’t,” I warned.
“Didn’t what?” She asked, her eyes wide.
“A puppy?” I whispered.
I didn’t think bringing a puppy into the mix was a good idea just yet. There were things I wanted to do with Ruby and the boys, and a puppy at this point would only tie us down.
She laughed then gave me a scathing once over. “What kind of monster doesn’t want a puppy?”
“Ruby,” I warned, but she skipped away from me and grabbed Jace’s hand.
Looking back, she said over her shoulder, “You’ll just have to wait and see!”
Peering at the screen, she said, “Hi Georgie! Are you ready for my surprise?”
George grinned at her, then laughed. “I hope so, Ruby!”
She led us up the overgrown front walk, opened the front door, and stepped inside. We followed her into the front hall.
“Turn the camera around so George can see, agapimeno,” Ruby directed Jace.
“Is anybody home?” I asked. The house appeared to be empty save for a few pieces of furniture.
“That depends,” Ruby answered, her hands clasped together at her chest.
