“Mr. Oates, how you doing?”
“Good. Hell of a meeting last night. Haven't enjoyed anything so much in a long while. Especially when you took those big city lawyers on, TJ.”
Brad shook the man's hand and said thanks. Macy could see he was uncomfortable with the praise. He then excused himself to follow Billy.
“He’s a keeper, that one, Macy.”
“Oh no… we’re not. Just friends, Mr. Oates.”
“Sure.” He didn’t look convinced, but thankfully left it at that.
People were starting to pair them up, she realized, and that was not a good thing. After today, she needed to put some distance between herself and Brad Gelderman.
“Billy's getting one of Mac's pups, so we're just picking up a few things for it.”
“Good choice. Those pups are well bred, and will make him a loyal pet.”
She agreed with Mr. Oates, then went to listen to the discussion taking place between Brad and Billy.
“Brown wouldn't get so dirty is my take on this, Billy.”
“I like the red though.”
Billy was chewing his lip, eyes focused on the soft square before him.
“Well then red it is.” Brad got to his feet and picked up the bed. “I'm thinking a nice soft toy too, because Razzle is leaving his family for a new one, and will need something to keep him company in his bed at night.”
“He's sleeping with me.”
“No,” Macy said, “he's not. He can sleep in the kitchen or on the floor in your bathroom, but not in your room.”
“Aww, Mom.”
“I mean this, Billy. He'd do his business, and that stuff’s hard to get out of the carpet. So until he's trained, he's near his dirt box on a tile floor.”
Her son had never been overly argumentative, but lately he'd developed a spine that she wasn't that unhappy about, although it was making parenting harder. Some days she just wanted the easy life, but she knew from personal experience that getting everything your own way was good for no one, especially not Billy.
“I say the fact that your mom's changed her mind and allowed you to get a dog should be enough for you, buddy, so maybe cut her some slack on this one. Why don't you go and choose that soft toy now.”
They watched Billy walk away, his attention already diverted to the next purchase.
“I got this, Brad. I don't need you backing me up, because when you're gone it's just me again.”
Macy knew she sounded ungrateful, but there was a small, mean part inside her that was jealous that this man could reason with her son so easily, when she spent her days battling him.
His eyes looked gray in this light. They were focused on her and she suddenly wanted to shuffle her feet, but she kept still. Macy had had many years of a man intimidating her; she could handle it better than most.
“Just trying to help.”
And didn't that put her firmly in her place.
“Thanks, but he's just finding his argumentative voice, and I'm trying to deal with it my way.”
“Got it, don't interfere if he's giving you a hard time.”
He walked away from her after those words, leaving her feeling pathetic and pissed off at him and herself.
“Well, hell,” she muttered.
