appreciate the support, but phone calls aren’t going to help. The show choir will turn in a great performance on Thursday and the problem will be solved.” I hoped.
I tried not to squirm as Millie studied my face for hints of deception. Whatever she saw must have satisfied her because she picked up her cell phone and shoved it into her pocket. “Aldo and I have invited lots of friends to the concert on Thursday. If that school board steps out of line, they won’t know what hit them.”
Yikes. Time to change the subject. “Where is Aldo?”
“He’s playing piano for a charity luncheon at the country club.”
“Why didn’t you go with him?” The ladies who lunch bought makeup by the gross. It wasn’t like my aunt to miss an opportunity to rake in the orders.
Now it was Millie’s turn to look uncomfortable. “I don’t want to give Aldo the wrong idea about our relationship.”
“He’s living in your house.”
“That’s just geography. But I think he’s starting to believe we’re a couple. I can’t imagine what would have given him that idea.”
Holding hands. Making dinner together. Sharing a bed.
“I thought you liked Aldo.” I did. Who wouldn’t like a guy who played Mozart and whipped up a killer manicotti?
Millie blushed. “I do.”
“Then, what’s the problem?” From what I could see, having Aldo around not only made Millie happy, it saved her from buying new pots and pans every month. It was a win-win.
“You wouldn’t understand. Let’s just say that I’m a career woman. Aldo’s a traditional man. We’re both set in our ways and have standards for our lives that aren’t negotiable.”
The fact that Aldo was willing to live in a house inhabited by four lifeless dogs told me Aldo’s standards were totally negotiable. But what did I know.
Before I could say something in Aldo’s defense, Aunt Millie adjusted her glasses and grabbed her purse off the counter. “I have to do a consult before I pick Aldo up from the club. Remember, use that lotion at least once every hour and feed Killer before you go.”
Since nothing was too good for Millie’s baby, Killer’s dog food was made by a personal chef who also happened to be a Mary Kay client. The food was healthy, well-balanced, and smelled like musty fish. I dumped a bunch of it in Killer’s bowl and decided to get a snack of my own before I headed for rehearsal.
I froze as Killer sauntered into the kitchen, nails clicking. His eyes zeroed in on me, and his pompon tail stopped wagging. Then he walked straight to the refrigerator, stopped, and planted his butt on the floor with a short menacing woof.
My stomach growled. I had two choices. Show the dog who was boss or go hungry. I took a step toward the fridge and Killer’s lips curled back into a snarl, making me back up several steps. Killer knew how to be scary. When Millie was around, Killer tolerated me. When she wasn’t, his mission in life was to see me starve.
Well, two could play at that game.
Careful not to turn my back to Killer, I put the dog food bag back in the pantry and walked over to his doggie dish. “Do you want to eat?” I picked up the rhinestone-studded bowl.
Killer growled again, this time giving me a nice view of his professionally whitened teeth. Giving Killer a wide smile, I walked toward the garbage can in the corner of the room and put my foot on the pedal. The lid popped open.
“Do you want your food?” I dangled the bowl of food over the open trash can. Killer got to his feet. A high-pitched whine mixed with the throaty dog growl. “Millie won’t be back for hours. If I don’t eat, you don’t eat.”
Killer took a step forward and whined again. This time without the snarl. His big brown eyes stared at the bowl, and the whine dissolved into a whimper. Slowly he edged toward me, making pathetic doggie sounds. When he was about three feet away, his pompon tail drooped as he lowered himself to the floor. With another pitiful whine, he
I tried not to squirm as Millie studied my face for hints of deception. Whatever she saw must have satisfied her because she picked up her cell phone and shoved it into her pocket. “Aldo and I have invited lots of friends to the concert on Thursday. If that school board steps out of line, they won’t know what hit them.”
Yikes. Time to change the subject. “Where is Aldo?”
“He’s playing piano for a charity luncheon at the country club.”
“Why didn’t you go with him?” The ladies who lunch bought makeup by the gross. It wasn’t like my aunt to miss an opportunity to rake in the orders.
Now it was Millie’s turn to look uncomfortable. “I don’t want to give Aldo the wrong idea about our relationship.”
“He’s living in your house.”
“That’s just geography. But I think he’s starting to believe we’re a couple. I can’t imagine what would have given him that idea.”
Holding hands. Making dinner together. Sharing a bed.
“I thought you liked Aldo.” I did. Who wouldn’t like a guy who played Mozart and whipped up a killer manicotti?
Millie blushed. “I do.”
“Then, what’s the problem?” From what I could see, having Aldo around not only made Millie happy, it saved her from buying new pots and pans every month. It was a win-win.
“You wouldn’t understand. Let’s just say that I’m a career woman. Aldo’s a traditional man. We’re both set in our ways and have standards for our lives that aren’t negotiable.”
The fact that Aldo was willing to live in a house inhabited by four lifeless dogs told me Aldo’s standards were totally negotiable. But what did I know.
Before I could say something in Aldo’s defense, Aunt Millie adjusted her glasses and grabbed her purse off the counter. “I have to do a consult before I pick Aldo up from the club. Remember, use that lotion at least once every hour and feed Killer before you go.”
Since nothing was too good for Millie’s baby, Killer’s dog food was made by a personal chef who also happened to be a Mary Kay client. The food was healthy, well-balanced, and smelled like musty fish. I dumped a bunch of it in Killer’s bowl and decided to get a snack of my own before I headed for rehearsal.
I froze as Killer sauntered into the kitchen, nails clicking. His eyes zeroed in on me, and his pompon tail stopped wagging. Then he walked straight to the refrigerator, stopped, and planted his butt on the floor with a short menacing woof.
My stomach growled. I had two choices. Show the dog who was boss or go hungry. I took a step toward the fridge and Killer’s lips curled back into a snarl, making me back up several steps. Killer knew how to be scary. When Millie was around, Killer tolerated me. When she wasn’t, his mission in life was to see me starve.
Well, two could play at that game.
Careful not to turn my back to Killer, I put the dog food bag back in the pantry and walked over to his doggie dish. “Do you want to eat?” I picked up the rhinestone-studded bowl.
Killer growled again, this time giving me a nice view of his professionally whitened teeth. Giving Killer a wide smile, I walked toward the garbage can in the corner of the room and put my foot on the pedal. The lid popped open.
“Do you want your food?” I dangled the bowl of food over the open trash can. Killer got to his feet. A high-pitched whine mixed with the throaty dog growl. “Millie won’t be back for hours. If I don’t eat, you don’t eat.”
Killer took a step forward and whined again. This time without the snarl. His big brown eyes stared at the bowl, and the whine dissolved into a whimper. Slowly he edged toward me, making pathetic doggie sounds. When he was about three feet away, his pompon tail drooped as he lowered himself to the floor. With another pitiful whine, he
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