She runs my card. “I think that Pepper might be happier at another groomer.” She hands me my receipt.
“Are you firing the dog?”
She waits a beat. “Yes.”
“How bad can she actually be?”
“She howled the entire time, toppled a very expensive drying machine, and would not stop moving when we were trimming her. There’s a chunk now missing out of her fur.” She shows me the shorn area of Pepper’s hindquarters. “She’s a liability.”
“Just bill me for the damages.”
Pepper getswhipped cream all over my car window as we drive back to Mandy’s parents’ house.
The storm has broken, and the sun is poking through the cloud cover. Behind me, the ocean churns blue-gray.
Mandy is out in front of her parents’ house holding a rake. Pepper sees her through the window. The dog’s ears perk up, and her stubby tail wags.
I gaze at Mandy, wondering if it’s going to be the last time I see her.
49
MANDY
“Mom, is this really necessary?”
A giant portrait of Salinger is hanging over the fireplace when I come downstairs from crying in the shower. The mantel holds candles and cutouts from business magazines with his stupid quotes and has generally been turned into some sort of shrine for my ex-boss.
“People will think he’s dead, Mom.”
“He saved your life,” she reminds me.
“And he got rid of Jaxon too.” Gran makes a slicing motion over her throat. “Have some more wine.” She has a bag of wine under her arm, and she sloshes some into a tall glass.
“Still no sign of Pepper,” Amy tells me.
“I posted all over social media that I’ll show my tits to anyone who can get the dog back,” Lauren adds.
“I offered too.” Gran slurps her wine. “I didn’t get near as many offers as Lauren. I did get some, though.”
“Why don’t you call Salinger and have him help you find Pepper?” my mom coaxes.
I frown. “I’m not talking to him.”
“Mandy, you need to lower your standards.” My mom drops some ice cubes into my glass. “Don’t drink that warm—it will make you sick.”
“If you’re not going to date Salinger, can Amy have him?” Gran asks. “She needs a father for her unborn child, and we need a wealthy man in this family.”
My dad wanders over to me. “Rain’s going to be stopped for a few days. Good time for planting grass.” He hands me a pair of pink gardening gloves. “Some yard work might make you feel better.”
My dadand I work in silence in the yard, raking out the clods and smoothing the surface. It’s zen and relaxing being out in the sunshine. After months of being hounded like prey by Jaxon, it is nice to finally be present and be outside without worrying that he’s going to show up and harass me.
Well, it would be great if I had Pepper. Tears start dripping as I think about poor Pepper out there somewhere, all alone.
“Oh, Mandy girl.” My dad drops his rake and wraps his arms around me, hugging me to his barrel chest. His mustache scratches my cheek. Then he leans back to look at me. My dad smells like fresh earth, and his gardening gloves leave streaks of dirt on the old corgi shirt I’m wearing.
“I really screwed up,” I cry. “I’ll never forgive myself for hurting you like this. I know you’re really angry and upset with me.”
“When you were born, it was the happiest day of my life.” He takes off his gloves and cups my face with a rough hand. “I was a father, and I had the most perfect little angel. You were so small in my arms. I swore to God I would protect you, keep you safe from the world.”
