The dog Sam didn’t know about becausehe didn’t call on Christmas Daylike a normal, reliable, decent father would.
Gracie swallowed hard and hit the speaker button. “Hey, Sam.”
“Hi, Grace,” Sam’s voice came through, smooth and cheerful, like honey on glass. He never called her Gracie like every other person on the face of the earth. Always just “Grace,” and she didn’t know why, but it irked.
“Hey, Dad! Guess what?”
“And my man, Benny-boy! How’s my champ?”
Benny practically unbuckled himself, leaning toward the dash as though he could crawl through the screen. “I got a puppy, Dad! Just like I told you I would.”
“You did? That’s awesome, bud.”
“I had the best idea and turned Grandpa into ‘Grumpy Santa’ on TikTok and it went viral and we were able to fill the whole lodge for December and Aunt Cindy said if I did that, I’d get a puppy, which I did, but she didn’t know it was me because I’m not allowed to use the phone yet but?—”
“Whoa, whoa,whoa. Hold up there, big boy. Slow down and tell me like I’m five, because I’m confused by your brilliance.”
Benny laughed, but Gracie just sighed. He was so excited to share his life with his distant dad, and all he got was the occasional call. Like this one, two days after Christmas.
Yes, Sam had his own family—a wife and three-year-old son in Las Vegas. Five years ago, he married a girl named Coco, of all the grating names, and then she had a baby and the calls grew so infrequent, sometimes Gracie forgot the man existed.
Maybe Benny did, too. He didn’t say.
“Anyway, Dad, it’s a long story,” Benny said, “and we’re pulling into the puppy training camp. I can’t be late because I want my dog to lead the line to playtime. He’s a natural leader, you should see. Of course, thatotherdog tries to muscle in.”
“Aw, I wish you had more time to tell me about the dog,” Sam said. “Really sorry I didn’t call on Christmas. We were in Reno with Coco’s parents?—”
“The dog’s name is Sir Isaac Newton,” Gracie interrupted, her voice brisk and steel-edged. She wasn’t about to let her son sit through a story about Sam’s shiny new family and their lovely Christmas.
Sam let out a hearty laugh. “Of course it is. What kind of dog, kiddo?”
“Cavapoo,” Benny said proudly. “That’s a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel mixed with a poodle, which makes him really smart.”
“As smart as you, big guy?”
The slathering of meaningless nicknames made Gracie flinch and clench the wheel tighter as she looked for a parking spot. Big guy, kiddo, buddy. It all felt so forced and fake, like Sam himself.
“And Mom just had the best idea for his trick! He’s going to demonstrate Newton’s three laws. Isn’t that amazing?”
“She is…amazing.”
Her eyes shuttered and she kept her lips sealed. Not “amazing” enough for Sam. Not amazing enough to marry and help raise a child.
“There’s a contest, Dad,” Benny prattled on. “Like a talent show at the end of camp. And if we win, which we will, I’ll get a big trophy! It’s on stage and there will be an audience, too.”
“Cool,” Sam said, almost sounding like he meant it. “I’d love to see it.”
“You should come!” Benny exclaimed, making Gracie’s stomach drop to the floorboards of the van.
“I could do that, buddy boy,” Sam said. “I’ll drive over for the day.”
A seven hour drive? Sure, Sam.
“Really?” Benny squealed.
“Sam, it’s on New Year’s Eve day,” Gracie said stiffly. “I doubt you’ll be free.”
“Well, uh…” He cleared his throat. “I’ll make myself free. For Benny. And Sir Isaac Newton.”
