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“We will, dear. I’m making veggie hash for dinner if you’d like to come over.”
One thing her mother did well was cook.
“Can’t. I’m working on some stuff tonight, but if there are leftovers, I’ll take some.”
“I worry about you overworking,” her father said.
“Her aura tells me she is,” her mother added. “Since Leah left you barely leave the house for anything but work.”
“I’m all right.” She bit back the annoyance that welled up inside. She worked to pay bills, not for fun. Her parents’ refusal to acknowledge reality sometimes made her want to shake them.
But they were right, she did miss Leah. They’d been friends since school, but her friend had left Lyntacky to follow her dreams.
“Birdie, you don’t have to carry this family. Your siblings contribute, and your mother and I are starting an online business to further help with money. Since Steve left, betraying us all, you have gone into your shell.”
Everything inside her froze at her father’s words, but not at the mention of the rat who’d been her fiancé, no. It was the talk of an online business that had her wanting to grab handfuls of her hair and tug. Outwardly she remained calm.
“Oh?”
“Vegan dog treats. We haven’t come up with a name, but we have been perfecting recipes on Sage and Basil for a few weeks now,” her mother said.
At the mention of their names, the two golden retrievers came bounding through the open door, tracking dirt on their feet as they ran.
“Hey, you two.” Birdie dropped to her knees to give them hugs.
“Treat?” her father said.
The dogs turned and caught the two turd-colored balls that flew at them. Both gobbled them in a single swallow.
“These are going to sell like hotcakes,” her mother said.
“You hate hotcakes,” Birdie pointed out.
“Banana oat cookies?”
“Or steaming turds because that’s what they look like,” Birdie said.
“Can you do a delivery for us when you have time, sweetie?” her mother said, ignoring her last comment. “That pet shop in Sauce said they’d take a boxful and test how well they do.”
Birdie swallowed down the instant denial and the fifteen reasons vegan pet snacks wouldn’t work and smiled.
“I’ll let you know when I can drive them there. But now I have to head to work.”
“We may need website help too.”
“Okay. I better go now though. Talk later.”
“Birdie!”
She turned back to face her parents, and both were making the Lyntacky symbol. A square out of their fingers. Other people used the heart sign to show their love, but not here. Nope, square dancing had entirely changed their lives.
“Back at you,” she said and then headed outside. A text had her pulling out her phone.
Game tonight. Starts at 7:00 p.m.
She poked her head back through the door. “I’ll take your dog turds to Sauce tonight!”
Her parents yelled their thanks.
