Chapter 29
Hank
As Dogtober Days neared, BowWow got incredibly busy. Sammi had created the festival partly to market the business, but neither of us could anticipate the grooming demand that would hit thanks to Lula Miller and her poodle, Skittles.
Lula brought her poodle to us along with a TikTok video of a dog sporting a pink fro, a teal ball on the end of her tail, and all the colors of the rainbow in between.
“I want this! Her name is Skittles, so it’s perfect!”
We’d had to order in some safe dying supplies, and I’d had to watch a few YouTube tutorials. But I agreed to dye Skittles like every flavor of the rainbow, and Lula was delighted.
So delighted she shared photos all over the Granville gossip page on Facebook.
Soon, we were flooded with appointments. And the dye jobs just got weirder and weirder. I dyed a boxer to look like a leopard, then a Chow to look like a lion, and then a happy little terrier to look like a miniature elephant, with his tail representing the trunk.
Friday, I dragged myself away from a warm bed and an amorous Jamie to rush home and change for work. I threw together a sack lunch, showered, and packed up Bruno in record time.
It was only when I got to work I realized I forgot my lunch on the kitchen counter.
“Ricky is ready for his spa day!” Iola said when she brought him in. “He’s quite put out that he’s had to wait so long.”
“Well, his dye will be even brighter than all those other dogs,” Sammi said. “Right, Ricky? You’ll outshine them all!”
Iola perked up. “I do like the sound of that. Ricky is made for the spotlight.”
The hyper little terror was made for time-out, but I decided to keep that thought to myself. “So, what are we doing today? I could see Ricky as a little Tigger. He bounces all over.”
Iola laughed, delighted. “That does sound adorable, but no, all these animal depictions are just plain weird. I don’t want to make my Ricky look like another animal.
What if he gets a complex? He’s perfect as a dog.
” She looked down and crooned at him. “Aren’t you, Ricky?
You’re a good boy. The perfect boy. Yes, you are! ”
I was surprised Iola had such a grounded attitude. This dye-the-dog trend was a little over the top, but I’d learned in my time here that the older ladies in Granville typically lived by that motto.
“You don’t want Ricky to have a dye job then?” I asked. “I can groom him, no problem. He won’t need much, but we can clean him up.”
“No, no, honey, I do,” she said. “I want him dyed. I just don’t want him to look like another animal.”
“Ah, okay. What are you thinking? Something colorful and fun like Lula’s Skittles?”
Iola snorted. “That woman and her ridiculous dog! I can’t go anywhere without hearing about precious Skittles. I’ve had to start avoiding the dog park.”
My lips twitched. It was true that Lula and Skittles had attained a bit of local celebrity, being trend-setters and all. Iola was clearly burning up with jealousy.
“Okay, tell me what you have in mind.”
“I don’t want Ricky to be a frivolous set of colors, or another animal. He’ll be an important mascot to my cause.”
She filled me in on the details, and I exchanged a look with Sammi. Poor Ricky. Well, they did say the customer was always right.
“Okay, Iola, I’ll get started. He’ll be ready in two hours, or you can pick him up at the end of the day. Is it all right if we post pics to our Facebook page? It could be good exposure for—”
“No, I want his reveal to be a surprise at the festival! These other dogs will be old news, but my Ricky will be a fresh new work of art.”
I chuckled. “Okay, you got it.”
Iola left, and I moved a quivering Ricky to the washbasin. He was small enough I could plop him inside. I hooked him up to a safety harness and reached for the sprayer.
“Can you believe her?” Sammi said with a head shake. “These old ladies are wild.”
“Yep. Well, she goes all in. Maybe you should bring in your babies and follow her example.”
Sammi laughed. “Are you going to do that to Bruno?”
“Ah, no. I’m tired of the paying jobs. No way I’m gonna do it for free.”
“Too bad,” she said, eyes sparkling. “You could dye I heart Jamie on his side.”
“Funny,” I said dryly. “I’m not that sappy.”
My phone rang just then, and I grabbed it up. “It’s Jamie.”
She laughed. “Sure, you’re not that sappy. Okay, lover boy.”
I ignored her and connected the call, hitting the Speaker button so I could attend to a wiggly Ricky.
“Hey, babe, I can’t talk long. I’ve got a hyper terrier on my hands.”
“Oh, sorry! I just wanted to let you know I’d be working through dinner tonight.”
“If you bring in Lady and Tramp, I’ll take them to my place after work.”
“I didn’t schedule it. Do you guys have room for them?”
I glanced at Sammi. She nodded, mouthing, get more biscuits.
I rolled my eyes. “Do you have any dog biscuits lying around?”
Jamie laughed. “Uh, yeah, I’ve got an assortment of extras that didn’t go into my last order. Sammi wants more?”
“I do!” Sammi sung out.
“Okay, no problem,” Jamie said. “I’ve started making a little extra every time I do an order so I can keep you supplied.”
She chuckled. “I knew you were a keeper, Jamie!”
“So, bring the dogs in,” I said. “I’ll take care of them for you.”
“You’re the best.” He paused. “I’ll be there soon. I might swing by Glazed Holes. Do you want something?”
I thought of my forgotten lunch. Tempting. Very tempting. But I was trying to maintain healthier eating habits than that.
“Actually, would you mind running by my place? Corey is out with Rachel, and I packed a lunch and forgot it in the kitchen.”
“Oh, sure.”
“If it’s not too much trouble, that is. I could eat doughnuts, but I’d rather have my sandwich.”
“Of course it’s not too much trouble,” Jamie said warmly. “I’m happy to help you out. I feel like you do all the favors in this relationship.”
“Well, that’s not true. As I recall, you did me a very nice favor last night.”
“Last night? But all we did was—” He stopped abruptly. “Oh, you’re bad!”
Sammi cackled in the background. Whoops. Forgot she was listening. Jamie had given me a long, luxurious blow job in the shower last night, edging me until I wanted to scream in frustration and then making me come so hard I nearly passed out.
“That doesn’t count,” he said now.
“I’m kidding. You bring me treats from work, you reassure me about my brother, and you listen to me complain about my boss—”
“Hey!” Sammi protested as I laughed.
“You’re a great boyfriend, and I really appreciate you grabbing my lunch for me.”
“Okay, well, it doesn’t really compare to changing my tire and dog-sitting Lady and Tramp every other day, but if you’re happy, I’m happy.”
“I’m very happy,” I said. “You’ve got no idea.”
Ricky yipped as if in agreement. Jamie laughed and said goodbye.
The water had warmed while I talked to Jamie, so I sprayed down Ricky and soaped him up. He resembled a little drowned rat, even tinier with all his hair saturated.
“I’m sorry for what I’m about to do to you,” I told him as I turned off the water and pulled out the dyes I would need to use. “But hey, I bet your mommy loves it.”
He barked sharply.
“Yes, my sentiments exactly.” I opened the pink. “Okay, here we go…”