She’d already decided that she was never going to be the reason that Tom said no to something. She never wanted him to have a smaller life because of her. She would support him at every step, even if it meant spending her whole life carrying his water. And watching his dog.
“I want you to do as well as you can on this movie,” she said. “I want it to be a good experience for you. And I think it will be better if you really invest yourself in it.”
Tom rubbed her stomach. Cherry didn’t have to roll over to know that he was frowning. She could scent his unhappiness in the air now. (Like her dad’s.)
He sighed. “Yeah, all right,” he said. “I’ll go.”
Chapter 47
“Okay, I know. I know—I’m sitting on the floor, and you don’t like it...
“Stevie.
“Stevie.
“Hey. Calm down.
“Calm down.
“Okay, sniff me. Yep. See, I’m okay. I’m just trying to talk to you...
“Stevie, down. Down.Off.
“You don’t listen when I say it, do you?
“Do you want a treat? Steven, sit.Sit.
“Good girl. That’s better. Yeah, that’s better. Look at you. So pretty. So nice.
“Just let me say this, okay?
“Yeah, eat your treat. There you go.
“Here’s the thing, Stevie... Are you listening?
“Hey, I’m talking to you—listen.
“I want you to know that I love you.
“Do you understand that? I love you.
“But I think Tom will do a betterjobof loving you. I can’t just keep you because I want to cry into your fur every day. Do you see what I’m saying?
“No, no more treats. No more, see? Look at my hands. They’re empty.
“I don’t even think you’ll miss me, Stevie. I don’t think your memory has much permanence, if I’m being honest—I think you’d go home with the mailman and never look back.
“But I’ll miss you. I’ll reallymissyou.
“I know, you don’t like it when I cry. I know.
“I’m okay. Yep. Look, I’m okay. Look at me. Stevie. This is all I’m good for. Crying on you.
“I don’t want to take you for walks. I actuallyhatetaking you for walks. And I hate cleaning out your ears—yeah, your floppy ears—even though I know they’re prone to yeast infections.
“I know. Yeah, I know. You want me to shake your hand? Okay. We’re shaking. Yep. Look at you. You’re so civilized. You’re so tender.
“You know what else I hate?
