“I just meant it really doesn’t matter. Others do it.” He tries to backtrack.
“I know.” I smile, but inside I’m angry at him. “But I’m not like others, I’m responsible for my dogs.”
“Yeah, right.” He nods.
Talk about awkward.
“How long do you think you’ll be. I’m getting hungry,” Tina says.
“Not long. I’ll take the dogs for a walk, then we’ll be back. Ten minutes?”
“Okay, cool.”
Dylan and I start to walk away, Zhen and Zorro follow behind us. “I know it’s not my place to say anything, but that guy is a jerk,” Dylan says when we’re far enough away that Tina and Preston can’t hear.
“I’m trying to keep an open mind.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No, it’s okay. I’m struggling to find anything nice about him too. I’m not sure what Tina sees in him. But he may be nervous around me. I don’t know.”
“So you’re giving him the benefit of the doubt. I get it. But usually first impressions count for something. I won’t be going out of my way for him.”
“I know.” I swallow back and watch as Zhen runs ahead to pee. Zorro stays beside me.
“He’s really well trained.” Dylan points to Zhen. “And I’m surprised how easily this little guy has slotted into your family. I can only imagine the horror he would’ve come from, what with the guy who hit him. If he hit him in public, likely chance is he did worse to him in private.”
“Animal cruelty angers me. It makes me see red. People who hurt animals should get the same treatment as they gave their animals.”
“You should do something with animals. It’s blatantly obvious you love them. And look how these two are. You can see they love and respect you. You’ve got a certain way with them.”
“Animals are easy. They need attention, and boundaries. And if you have their attention and respect, you can set boundaries for them. We’ve been lucky with Zorro. It’s almost like he was looking for a family like us.” I duck down and pet Zorro’s head. He wags his tail. “I’ve got to get him neutered soon.”
“Buddy.” Dylan turns to Zorro. “You’re only going to be a half man.” I laugh out loud. “No grandchildren for you then?” he asks.
“Not from my fur babies.”
“Do you want kids?”
“I’ve never thought of having them. Maybe, one day. But it wouldn’t be for a long time. You have to remember, I’m not in my twenties, like you, grandpa.”
“Hey!” He playfully knocks his shoulder into me. “I’m not that old.” We keep walking to where Zhen has left a lovely present for me to scoop up. Yuck. “I’ll do that.” Dylan reaches for the bag.
“You don’t have to get my dog’s poop. I do it all the time.”
“Poo doesn’t bother me. I’m good.” He walks over, puts his hand inside the bag, and shovels the poo into the bag. “See, natural.”
“You’re definitely in my good books now.” Zhen wags his tail, proud of his deposit. “Good boy.” I pet Zhen. Zhen gets a pat from me, then goes to Dylan. He waits for Dylan to give him a scratch. Oh my God. Zhen likes Dylan. Not a little bit, but quite a lot.
“Hey boy.” Dylan scratches Zhen, and gives him a gentle slap on the stomach. “Your poo stinks.” Zhen’s tail hasn’t stopped wagging, proud of his smelly poop.
We head toward a trash can so we throw the bag away. “Do you?” I ask.
“Do I what?”
“Want kids?”
“Yeah, I do. One day. I’m in no rush though. I’d like to travel first.”
“You haven’t travelled?” I ask.
“I’ve been to a few states, but never overseas.”
“What country would be your first stop?”
“The land known as ‘down under.’”
“Oh, Australia. Really? I hear it’s hot. And every dangerous animal in the world lives there.”
“Gemma went two years ago. She loved every moment of it. She said she felt safe, and saw no dangerous animals anywhere, unless she was in the outback, or at a zoo. She can’t wait to get back there. She said she loved Sydney and her favorite was climbing on top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and she’d go back in a heartbeat. I want to go with her.” I smile. I like the relationship they have. It’s what I think family should be. “You’re smiling.”
“I am. I would love to go to Australia one day. But most of all, I love how you and Gemma are close. Tina and I aren’t close with our cousins.”
“Why?”
I shrug my shoulders. “We get on fine, it’s just, they’re kind of snobs. All they talk about is what they’re doing, and how wonderful their lives are. They’ll ask us a question, and find a way to direct the conversation back to them. My aunts are exactly the same.”
“How many cousins do you have?”
“Four on my Dad’s side, and two on my Mom’s. I like one cousin, Jeffery. He’s nice. He’s cool, but we don’t see him much. They live up north. It’s really just us.”
“Can I ask you a question? It might be too personal though.”
“If I don’t want to answer it, I won’t.”
His face instantly cracks into a huge smile. “You’re refreshingly different, Molly. I like how straight up you are. Do you know anything about your birth parents? Where you came from, anything?”
I lift my shoulders. “Mom told me a bit, but she didn’t know much. All I know is I lived with my birth father, and my birth mother was nowhere to be found. I don’t know who she is, or even where she is. I have no recollection of or contact with my birth father. Actually, I don’t want to have contact with either of them.”
“I don’t know how you do it. If it was me, I’d want to know where I came from.”
“Why? For whatever reason, he couldn’t keep me safe, or even offer me something as simple as food. Why would I want to know about that? There’s nothing for me there.”
“I might want to know one day, but for now, I don’t. I actually don’t think I’m in the mindset to find anything out. I don’t know how I feel about them, and I don’t want to feel like shit.”
“I get it. You’re incredibly strong, Molly. I will say this, I’m glad you’re here, and I’m even happier that I met you.”
“Hurry up! I’m hungry!” Tina yells from where she and Preston are sitting.
“Sounds like we’d better head back,” Dylan says.
Dylan, the dogs, and I all head back to the picnic blanket. Zhen sits beside me, and Zorro lays down beside him. “Preston, what do you do?” I ask as I hand Dylan the hand sanitizer after I squirt some on my hands.
“I’m about to graduate.”
“What were you studying?” Dylan asks.
“Food and drink production. I want to make my own beer. Top of the line, expensive beer.”
“Wow, making your own beer. That’s cool,” Dylan replies.