“I am, sort of. I help Jon with his calendar and events and whatnot. He’s a tad reclusive.”
Miguel’s eyes immediately narrow. “Too reclusive, if the other night’s any indication.”
“I know. I really am so sorry about that. As I mentioned, I’ve been trying to get ahold of him for days.” Her eyes lower and land on me. “Oh,” she says, and though the gate is still closed, she takes a big step backward.
I know that “oh,” and it’s not good.
“Sorry,” says Miguel. “Are you allergic?”
Fiona shakes her head. “No, it’s not that. I’m…not a dog person.”
What? But I just likedher!
“Harold’s not a dog,” says Miguel, and although this is patently untrue, I’m pleased by his defending me. Seeing her confusion, he says, “I mean, technically he is. But he’s…Harold.”
She’s still regarding me fearfully. “I’m sure he’s lovely. I had a bad experience, though, so…”
“Bummer. Just takes one,” says Dane. “But this li’l puppers might be the dog to help you change your mind. I mean, look at his mug,” he says, pinching my jowls the way people do with human babies. “This guy wouldn’t harm a soul! Unless it belonged to some creeper who was bothering you. Then he’d defend you to the death.”
“Mm,” says Fiona, who’s clearly not convinced.
“You’re sure Jonathan’s not here?” Miguel asks, looking past her.
“I wish he were. I’m just down the street, so I stopped by to water his plants and bring in his mail. Since you’re here, too, would you like something to drink?”
Personally, I’d love to be watered. But she must have just remembered I’m here because she glances nervously atme.
“I can take him to the car if you need,” Dane quickly tells Miguel.
“It’s too hot to just leave him outside, and he doesn’t really like to be alone,” Miguel explains to Fiona.
She pivots to look over her shoulder, which is when I remember the girl on the roof. Where is she, anyway? I don’t seeher looking over the edge anymore. “I guess it’s okay,” she says, turning back to us. “He seems tired, and itishot out.”
“He’s just old. Around fourteen, we think,” says Miguel. “He’s never bit anyone in the entire time I’ve had him.”
Except that poor squirrel, but I’m happy to keep that betweenus.
“I’m glad. Just…hold on to him?”
“Of course,” Miguel reassures her. “Thank you for the invitation—I’d really love the chance to speak with you about this situation.”
“That makes two of us. While this is a bit of a surprise, I’m glad you’re here.” She opens the door and waves us inside.
The house is new; the smell of plaster and paint competes with the perfumed air wafting from the candles in the hallway and living room. I’d love to sniff everything, but Miguel’s got me on a tight leash, and I don’t want to mess things up for him, or worse, be sent to the car.
The kitchen’s big, with a stove twice as large as ours. The spotless surfaces tell me no one’s cooked here, or even served a bowl of cereal, in a long time. “Wow,” says Miguel, glancing around. I can see the wheels turning behind his eyes; he’s thinking about how this is what JMB sees every day before he sits down to write.
“Please, make yourselves comfortable,” says Fiona, gesturing to the long counter in the middle of the room. There’s a bowl of glass fruit on one end of the counter, which is probably for the best; I once scarfed down an entire chicken after Miguel and Amelia made the mistake of mating before eating the bird he’d just pulled from the oven. Amelia said she couldn’t help herself when he cooked for her—and apparently, neither couldI.
Dane seems nervous, which is really him looking like most people normally do instead of half-asleep. I wonder if it has anything to do with Miguel’snotbeing so wound up for a change. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was happy to be hanging out with a stranger.
“Tea?” asks Fiona.
“I’m good, thanks,” says Dane.
“I’ll take tea if it’s not too much trouble,” Miguel tells her.
Wait, did he just accept the beverage he usually refers to as swamp water? His eyes follow Fiona as she retrieves a kettle from one of the tall cupboards and fills it, and I decide this is a stellar sign. He’s intrigued enough to stay and sip his least favorite beverage.
