“Okay.” She lifts her chin. “I will. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
We’re silent for a moment, watching the dogs play. We laugh when Otis gets going so fast he blows a tire and rolls in the dirt. “He’s going to need a bath when I get home,” I say. “I haven’t attempted that yet.”
“That should be fun.” She pulls out her phone and checks the time. “I better get going. After I drop off Lola, I have to pick up Apollo. Lola! Lola, come!”
Lola, well-trained girl that she is, trots over immediately. Luckily, Otis follows, because I doubt he’d come if I called him.
“I need to watch some YouTube videos about obedience training,” I say, as we each clip the leashes back on the dogs’ collars.
“I’ve been working with him a bit,” Lilly says. “I, uh, stayed a little while after I dropped him off yesterday and we tried some basic things. He’s smart.”
“You need to show me what you’re doing.”
“Well, I’m no expert.”
“Still. Maybe you could bring him home on Thursday and show me then?”
She doesn’t answer immediately. I give her what I hope is a harmless, friendly smile.
“Okay,” she finally says with as much enthusiasm as if she were agreeing to clean up dog barf. “Sure.”
Chapter 8
Lilly
I’m actually busy the next couple of days. Easton drops off Otis early Wednesday morning on his way to the airport to fly to Detroit. I have my new client, Apollo, who is a hilarious-looking Dachshund. His owner, who lives in the same building as Kent, seems like a very nice lady. I get a text message from Easton’s teammate and arrange to meet with him, his girlfriend, and their dog, a boxer named Loki. And I have a meeting with my lawyer, which is never fun, but we have a court date now, in January. This has taken so long, and it makes my stomach knot up with anxiety thinking about the end of it. At first, it consumed me, but after all these months, I’ve been able to shove it into the back of my mind and let the lawyers do their thing while I try to live my life. I’d probably walk away from it if it wasn’t just about me.
I do my weekly video chat with my mom. I tell her about my new business venture. To say she’s not impressed is a definite understatement.
“I hope you’re not spending money on this,” she says, her doubt clear in her voice.
“I had to spend a little,” I say. “But it’s not like I have big expenses for this kind of business.”
“Do you really think you can make money?”
“Yes! I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t. There are so many people in the city who need help. I’ve got a few new clients already.” And maybe more, now that I’ve added Easton’s endorsement into my ad materials.
“That’s good.” She sounds unconvinced.
Much like Carlin.
I’m annoyed and hurt. Why don’t they think I can do this? I’m not stupid. I have a business degree. I love dogs. All through high school, I volunteered at an animal shelter, and even now I still do, at Amsterdam Dog Rescue. It was a great way for me to feel useful when I couldn’t find a job.
This just makes me more determined, though. Also grateful for Easton’s support. I was reluctant to take him up on his offer, but he was right, it’s stupid not to. I just don’t want to rely on any one person too much, because I don’t want to risk being let down again.
Speaking of being let down…later that evening, I get a video call from Dad. Right in the middle of the hockey game, which the Bears are currently losing, dammit. But I haven’t talked to him for a while, so I mute the TV to take the call.
Oh my God. I barely recognize him. I have to say I’m envious of where he is, though—the background is turquoise water, pale sand, and palm trees against a clear blue sky. He’s at Paradise Beach on Bantayan Island, which I will have to google to determine the exact location.
“You should come join me!” Dad says when I tell him how beautiful it looks.
“Sure, Dad. If you’ll pay for my plane ticket, I’ll be there in a jiff.”
He laughs as if I’m joking. I don’t think he remembers I’ve been unemployed for nearly two years.
“I’ve started a new business,” I tell him. “But you’ll probably be home before I make enough money for a plane ticket to the Philippines.”
“What kind of business?”
“Walking dogs. And dog sitting.”
“That’s great, honey! Follow your heart. Do what you want.”
Well, at least Dad’s supportive, which isn’t surprising since he’s the master of following his heart and doing what he wants. Never mind thinking about anyone else. Ugh. Is that what I’m doing? I owe Carlin money. I think she wants to move out. I owe Mom a little money too. I owe my bank a lot of money. Am I being foolish by doing this instead of getting a job?
“If you don’t follow your heart, you risk spending the rest of your life wishing you did,” Dad adds.
I pause. “Is that what happened to you, Dad? Are you doing this because you always wanted to?”
“Yeah.” He seems surprised I’m asking. “Of course. I always wanted to travel and learn new things. But real life got in the way. And then one day you realize…” He pauses, looks away from the camera, then back. “If you don’t do it now, you never will. And in the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make.”
I go very still. “Dad. Are you dying? Is that why you’re doing this?”
A laugh burst out of him. “No! Good God, why would you think that?”
“You just sounded like you’re at the end of your life.”
“No, no, of course not. I mean, I hope not.” He chuckles. “But I am a lot older than you and I know what it’s like to look back with regrets.”
I nod slowly. “Okay.” I get it. I just wished he’d done it differently. “Tell me what you’ve been doing.”
He talks about how peaceful the island is, how it feels almost therapeutic to be there, about kayaking through a mangrove forest and strolling the white sand beaches. “Tomorrow I’m going cliff diving.”
“Jesus!” I straighten. “Dad!”