I shake my head. “My work is easy compared to yours. How are the goats?” I avoid the question of when I’ll be out to the farm again because I’m not sure. When I mention visiting, they take it as a solid promise that I’ll be there and at an exact time.
“They’re doing well. Pearl misses you.”
My little fainting goat. She’s one of the spunkiest animals I’ve ever had. I got to spend a lot of time with her over the winter break after we adopted her, and then again when I first moved back here two weeks ago.
“I miss her. And you and Grandpa. What do you want for your upcoming birthday?”
“Just a cake I don’t have to make and my grandbaby to visit.”
I mentally go through my calendar and nod. “We don’t have an away trip that day, so I’ll come by, and we can do whatever you want.”
“That sounds lovely. You know your grandpa will love that too. Are you settling in? Making some friends?”
Last night’s events run through my mind, and I smile. “I think so. I mean, it’s mostly people from work, but that’s not all bad.”
“It’s good to see you getting used to being back.” She hesitates, and I have an idea of what she’s goingto say before she says it. “Have you talked to Tim since you’ve been home?”
Bile rises in my throat. “No, I haven’t actively contacted him, though I can’t say the same about him.”
Not that I would ever think about doing that again. He’d charmed me for the six months before I got the job in Seattle, telling me I was his everything and the only woman in his life. Sadly, I was just one of a few dozen.
He could never get over my love of animals. I don’t know if it’s because I was practically raised on a farm or if I’ve just always loved them, but his vision for the future included nothing with four legs. I’d rather become a garden gnome than live without an animal to come home to.
“Did you see the new post about Princess?” Grandma asks.
My phone pings with a notification from the animal app we love called Furever Homes. I found it a year ago, and it’s Grandma Marianne’s favorite thing to check.
We’ve been following a thread about a pig named Princess for weeks now, andhonestly, if the whole saga were turned into a book, I’d read it without hesitation. She was apparently a house pet for a wealthy older woman who passed away, and the adoption company has been trying to find a home for her ever since. Their method of reaching people was to dress up the pig and give hilarious captions.
“I haven’t. What did she do this time?”
“Furever Homes dressed her up in a little dress and a small tiara and took pictures. They’re ridiculous and adorable all at the same time.”
“I’m excited to see it. Well, I have to head into a meeting, Grandma. I love you, and I’ll see you soon,” I say, waving goodbye.
She waves back before the line goes dead.
I need to addbirthday present for Grammieto my to-do list. But what do you buy someone who’s content with exactly what they have?
Maybe a photoshoot of the animals around the farm? I don’t know if that’s the best idea, but she would love it. I’ll have to brainstorm more ideas so I can get it put together for her.
There’s a guy on the train a few feet from me who looks like Burton from the back, but when he turns, he looks nothing like the lacrosse player I met yesterday. I don’t typically look for people’s doppelgängers, but I guess Burton left animpression.
My meeting starts in fifteen minutes, and I still have a lot of information to put together. I sit at a table, open my laptop, and get to work.
FUR-EVER HOMES FORUM
FORUM THREAD: PRINCESS THE PIG REACTS TO HER FAME
@fur-ever_homes_usa:
We showed Princess some of the recent posts and comments about her. She sniffed the phone, attempted to eat the corner of the case, and then laid down directly on it. We believe this means she’s grateful.
@barnyardbestie:
That is the most famous-animal behavior I’ve ever heard.
@oinkonomics:
