My vision blurs, and the hot tears roll down my cheeks. I need to leave, but I can’t leave Kingston.
Wait. Joey’s here. He can take the dog. It’s his dog anyway. Not mine…
Not mine.
Kingston isn’t mine. Nonna isn’t mine. Joey isn’t mine. I have nothing.
I can’t stop it, and the tears unleash until I can’t breathe.
“Jenny?” His voice is a beam of light in the darkness of my grief. Arms wrap around my back as I’m pulled into his chest. His fingers rub up and down my back. “Shh. It’s ok,” Joey whispers in my ear.
He holds me, rocking me back and forth for a few minutes before I can slow my breathing down.
“I told you it would come out at a socially awkward time.”
Joey runs his fingers through my hair and says, “You warned me.” A few feet away, Kingston is whining as the water hits his ass. But it’s not the screaming we heard earlier. “Sounds like he’s having a rough day too.”
In this moment, as the emotions flood, I’m not alone.
And it’s nice.
My breathing slows and the tears stop before I’m able to lift my head off his shoulder. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” He peers deep into my eyes, and with all seriousness, he asks, “Why the hell would anyone get matching ties for themselves and their dog?”
My eyes bulge. “They’re back in stock?” Wiping the tears with the back of my hand, I say, “Show me.”
He shakes his head, disbelieving the amazingness he’s about to witness. He keeps his hand on my back, leading me down the aisle, and yes, there’s a little tie with a white shirt collar for the dog and a larger one for the owner. There’s herringbone and green plaid and, “Oh my god!” I yank it off the hook. “Ducks!” I shove it into his hand. “You need this in your life. You’ve never needed anything more.”
He blinks down at his hand with the duck tie. “Why?”
“Because it’s the most amazing thing ever. There are the eight wonders of the world and this duck tie.” I lift it up. “Look, this duck even has sunglasses. He’s a rebel.”
Joey snorts, and while it’s not the most attractive sound, my cheeks burn. I make him laugh, and not in a mean “I’m laughing at you” way.
“Why does the dog need a tie?”
“Because he’s a sophisticated gentleman, that’s why.”
“If I buy it, will you stop crying?”
“I already stopped, but passing up on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will make me cry for your future and centuries to come.”
He shakes his head and smiles. “Fine. Come on, let’s spend more of my money. Kingston is coming to live with me tonight. What else does he need?”
“Obviously he needs the tie, so he can run his business meeting,” I say.
“Yes, obviously. Already in the cart.”
“You don’t have a cart. You should go get a cart. But they don’t have carts, they have baskets. Go get a basket and I’ll pick out his food.”
Chapter Ten
Joey
My stomach growls, and it hits me, I haven’t eaten much all day. With dog food in one hand and various treats and toys hanging in a bag off my wrist, it’s a juggling act. Jenny has Kingston and is walking free and unencumbered. But when Kingston does his business and she is stuck carrying a poop bag for a block before she can throw it away, I realize she gave me the easier job.
“Are you getting hungry?” I ask, and for the love of God say yes.
