Groomed For Love

He doesn’t sound happy to hear from her, and I figure maybe like my own so-called family, not everyone’s life is perfect either.

But it goes deeper and real quick.

“I told you, Ma. I had to come back down to town… the groomer who had Moose left him in charge of…” he lowers his voice so I can’t quite hear, but it doesn’t sound like he’s giving a glowing account of my looking after Moose.

I feel a stab of hurt. Rejection, but tell myself I shouldn’t jump to conclusions.

It’s none of my business…

Within two seconds. My ear’s against the door and I’m wishing I’d kept my pants with me. Reaching for a coverlet from the bed, I huddle closer to the doorway, opening it up a crack to hear better.

“I would have stayed, you know I would have… I can’t have just anyone taking a police dog home, it’s against regulations for starters… Sasha’s a contracted groomer to handle the city’s police dogs.”

Fair point.

“Look! I don’t wanna argue about it, okay? And there’s more to it than that and nothing that concerns… Well, if you must know she accidentally gave her allergic boss almond milk. Her boss ended up in the hospital... She’s just a kid on her first day at work, Ma. Got her own problems outside all of that too… Look, I gotta go…”

Just a kid?

I feel like I’ve been sucker punched. Like the thick Brooklyn accent, I’m suddenly hearing sounds nothing like Parker at all.

Not the Parker I thought I was getting to know anyhow.

I feel sick.

But more than anything, I feel hurt.

He must know I can hear him. Why would he refer to me as just a kid?

After what he just told me.

After what we just shared together?

I hear Parker ending the call, and then greeting Moose in the hallway.

By the time he nudges the door open, I’m making my way to the kitchen to find my pants.

Thinking maybe it’s time I went home after all.

Just a kid… Pfft!

Chapter Twelve

Parker

I figure she’s sleeping when the phone rings, and I bolt to get it before it wakes her, or Moose.

Keeping him asleep as long as I can means more snuggle time for Naomi and me.

Or so I thought.

It’s my mom on the line, chewing me out for leaving without saying a proper goodbye, and then laying the guilts on because she’s waited all day for me to call, which I know I haven’t.

I could stay on the phone for hours trying to talk my mom around, but I know how she gets. It’s best to nip this in the bud, leave it for a few days and then call once she’s calmed down or more likely, forgotten about it all.

Hanging up, I hear Moose coming down the stairs, his tail wagging even though his eyes are still heavy with sleep.

I kneel down and hug him, asking if he needs to go outside for which he eagerly agrees.

I figure I can go back to bed and snuggle with Naomi some more, but it looks like I’ve woken her as well.

She pushes straight past me as I lean in to kiss her. Her eyes won’t meet mine and she feels like ice as she moves past me towards the kitchen.

Okay then…

I follow her down the hall, lingering in the doorway and feeling a familiar tingle as I watch her slipping her panties back on, then her gray sweats from behind.

But when she turns to face me, it’s the look dull in her eyes and not the light of someone who appreciates being spied on while she gets dressed I see.

“Something wrong?” I ask her, really meaning it. Not being able to figure how she could go from glowing from my face between her legs to hating me so quickly.

“Just a kid?” she says accusingly, her hands on her hips. Her brow raised in a question.

Hurt trembles ripple across her lower lip.

Oh. That.

Hearing my own words spoken back to me, I know how it must sound to her, but it’s also hard to explain how my mom operates. How I have to keep things simple when explaining them to her.

Plus, compared to me Naomi is a kid. In my mom’s eyes anyway. She’s half my age for god’s sake.

How can I prepare my old Ma for the day I introduce the future mother of my children as a twenty year old without giving her some forewarning first?

More importantly, right now, how do I explain all that to Naomi, who’s obviously hurt and upset.

Something I’d never do to her intentionally.

I open my mouth to explain, but she’s already eyeing the front door.

“I think it’s best if I just leave,” she says firmly and I raise my hands flat, palms facing her.

“Can we just talk for a minute?” I ask her. “Explain a few things about my mom?” I add, but she only tilts her head as her eyes flash, daring me to try and stop her.