“What is he talking about?” Denise asked.
Bree grunted and opened the refrigerator to get a beer. She twisted off the top and threw the cap in sink. She took a long pull from the bottle. “Chad decided to stop by for a visit.”
“What did that shithead want?”
“To scream at me about ruining his life.”
Denise’s lip curled up. “What a douche-canoe.”
“Pretty much.”
“That’s it?” Jase asked.
Denise looked at Jase over her shoulder. “What do you meanthat’s it?”
“That’s all you’re going to say to her? She left her door wide open. Anyone could have walked in.”
Denise looked back at Bree. “Lock your doors.”
Bree saluted her with the beer. “Yes, ma’am.”
Denise looked at Jase again. “Okay? Okay. Now, on to more important things. I brought the mama dog over.”
Bree clapped her hands and jumped up and down. “Squee! Where is she?”
Denise smiled, shaking her head “She’s in the hall bath. I didn’t want to bring her in with all the shouting going on.” Denise stared at Jase.
Bree got a hot dog out of the refrigerator and skipped around the counter. She cracked the bath door open and peeked in. The small tan-and-white dog cowered in the corner. Kneeling down, Bree broke off a piece of hot dog and held it out to the trembling dog. The dog stretched her nose forward, sniffing at the piece of meat. Softly, she took it from Bree’s fingers. Scooting back a few inches, Bree held out another piece, coaxing the dog out of the corner.
“Hey there, sweet girl. That’s not so bad, is it?” Bit by hotdog bit, she brought the dog out of the bathroom and led her over to the kennel she had set up earlier and closed the door.
She walked back into the kitchen. “Poor thing.”
“She should be fine after she settles down.” She took a sip of her water. “She got agitated if there were a lot of other dogs around, but she seemed fine with one or two.”
Bree tore off a sheet of foil and wrapped it over the top of the large pan. “I’ll keep her in the kennel tonight and tomorrow to give her a chance to get used to Charlie and Polly.”
“That’ll work.”
“Dinner with Sarah tonight?” Bree placed the baking pan into the oven and set the timer.
“Yeah.”
“How’s the treatment going?”
Denise inhaled deeply before answering. “Not good.”
Bree walked around the counter and hugged Denise. “You want to bring the kids over this weekend?”
“Let’s see how Sarah’s feeling.” Denise gave her a small squeeze. “Maybe we can meet at the kennel and let them run around with the dogs.”
Bree rubbed her hands over Denise’s back before she let her go. “Sounds good.” She hooked her arm through Denise’s and walked her to the door. Jase lounged against the counter, arms and legs crossed. Bree stopped a few feet away from him and waited.
“What’s for dinner?” he asked.
Bree blinked.That’s it?“Spinach manicotti.”
“How long does it have to bake?”
