She Loves Me Not by Wendy Corsi Staub Page A

and the city all day is moving slowly eastward, and may turn to snow before dark.
    Rose intends to change into sweats and warm socks, light a fire, and stay indoors for the rest of the evening. She had planned to brood, as well, but that will be impossible with upbeat Leslie around.
    â€œHi, guys!” Dressed in her skintight black gym clothes beneath a yellow parka, Leslie bounds out of her car as soon as Rose turns off the ignition. “Happy Valentine’s Day. Look what I brought!”
    Yes, look what she brought. Rose doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
    It’s a puppy. A little black puppy with an enormous red bow around his neck.
    Jenna and Leo dash across the snowy yard, squealing with joy.
    Rose follows more slowly, lugging the bag of orange prescription bottles, Jenna’s backpack, the pink construction-paper-covered tissue box filled with her valentines, and a paste-smeared, heart-decorated white paper bag containing Leo’s.
    â€œHey, Ro.” Leslie flashes a broad white grin and twinkly green eyes, looking enough like her brother to create a fresh wave of aching loss in his widow. “The puppy’s for the kids. I’ve got something for you in the car.”
    â€œLeslie—”
    Jenna whirls on her with a pleading expression. “We can keep him, can’t we, Mommy?”
    Too befuddled to think clearly, she doesn’t know what to say.
    â€œSam told me he was planning to get them a puppy that last Christmas, but that you wanted to wait till they were a little older.” Leslie shrugs. “I figured, they’re more than a year older now . . . and I saw this little imp in the window of the pet store at the mall this morning. He was so adorable. It was like he was made for you guys. I would’ve called first to check with you, Rose, but I knew you were at work and I didn’t want to bother you.”
    Of course you didn’t. And a puppy is no bother at all.
    Rose looks from Leslie to Jenna to Leo. Her son is giggling as the squirming puppy licks his face. She sighs. “Okay. We’ll keep him.”
    What else can she do?
    Leave it to Leslie to go and spring a dog on them when it’s all Rose can do to singlehandedly feed and care for two children, not to mention maintain her own health and sanity.
    â€œI’m so glad, Rose.” Leslie looks relieved. “I’ve got to call Peter and tell him he was wrong.”
    â€œWrong about what?” Rose asks.
    â€œWhen I told him about the puppy, he said it was a bad idea. He said you don’t go and buy someone a dog without asking them. But I told him to mind his own business, and that he doesn’t know you well enough to say that.”
    Sometimes Rose wonders if Peter and Leslie even know each other well enough to be planning a future together. They certainly seem like complete opposites. Leslie is a vegan yoga instructor/personal trainer; Peter indulges a fierce nicotine and caffeine addiction. And Rose has never heard the reserved carpenter say more than a few words without being interrupted by bubbly Leslie. But then, he doesn’t seem to mind.
    Besides, just because Rose is the look-before-you-leap type doesn’t mean a whirlwind courtship can’t work for somebody else. Particularly somebody like Leslie, who wears her heart on her sleeve and lives her life guided by instinct alone. She’s clearly head-over-heels for Peter. Rose just hopes he feels the same.
    â€œWell? What are you going to name this little guy?” Leslie is asking the children.
    â€œCupid,” Jenna says promptly.
    â€œNo! Jenna, I want to think of a name!” Leo says.
    Okay, here we go. Puppy fight number one. Rose closes her eyes, exhausted just thinking of what lies ahead.
    Leslie intervenes. “Hey, Leo, just think about it. Cupid is a pretty great name for a Valentine’s puppy.”
    Miraculously, Leo’s ominous pout transforms to a reluctant grin.