126. Yoga Rodeo #2
I pull the door open to find my sister and Looney on my doorstep. Luna and Kyle circle each other and take off, hell-bent for who knows where as I step aside and let Bright in.
“We’re outside. Come on out.”
She follows me, oddly quiet for a woman who’s never at a loss for words. Livy has already let the dogs outside. Luna is in the pool prior to me making it to the back door. Kyle has his front paws on the top step, his back ones on the deck, talking to her as she swims.
“Hope you have a good filter,” Bright comments, shaking her head. “Eau de wet dog… there are worse things, but… Morning, Livy.”
“Morning, Brighton. Would you like some tea?”
“I’m good. Just came to check on this fellow. He seems to be acclimating fine here.”
“He’s a happy dog, but there’s been a lot of changes for him in the last couple of months,” Livy offers. “I’ll be glad when he’s settled.”
“I get it. Within three to four weeks, you’ll notice a change. The multiple homes, multiple new people and dogs, all the new smells and sounds, it’ll be more familiar.” She gives a sharp whistle. “Kyle, come.”
He does and Luna pulls up the rear. I pet the sweet girl who was my protector and nurturer for more than a month at Pop’s and offer ear massages and chin scratches while reminding her what a good girl she is.
Kyle allows my sister to check his nearly-healed incision scar. “How are you feeling, big boy?” she asks as he shows her his belly. She doesn’t rush, waiting for him to relax and show her what she needs to see without coercion. “Everything has healed nicely.” She strokes him and chats with us.
“He’s such a big lapdog,” Brighton eventually says as Kyle squirms to readjust but remains on her legs.
“He’s never understood his size,” Livy replies.
“Pop said he caught him eating off the counters.”
Livy covers her mouth and drops her eyes. “He never said a word to me about that. Not that I’m surprised at all that Kyle would or did do that, but I’d expect your dad to say something to me… And to Kyle for that matter.”
“You’re kidding, right?” my sister says before looking at me before abruptly stopping whatever her train of thought had been.
“Go on,” I say, still rubbing Luna who twitches in her sleep.
Bright shakes her head, and Livy’s eyes bounce between the two of us. “What am I missing?”
“Nothing,” Bright says, facing Kyle.
“Try again,” Livy says, a little firmer this time.
Brighton’s head snaps up and locks eyes with the woman in front of me. “You brought Layton back to us. Kyle could’ve brought lice into the house, and Pop would’ve fed him filet and given him his own room.”
“Layton did that himself,” Livy puts in quietly.
I say nothing. Neither does my sister. If I had to guess, I’d say neither of us knows whether Livy’s statement is the truth.
“Let’s just say Pop gives you a lot of credit. You could ask for his prize mare right now, and he’d probably hand her over.”
“I wouldn’t know what to do with a mare. And that’s sweet of him, but he’s wrong.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Why what?”
“Why is he wrong?”
“Because you’d have found a way back to yourself. You have the grit of someone who will always fight. I didn’t inspire you. I simply reminded you of who you are.”
I don’t know the truth in that statement either. And not because Livy is lying or is being deceptive. But because I’m well aware of how dark my shit got, and she isn’t.
Bright makes another snip before scratching around Kyle’s ear.
“The ones that don’t slip out easily, we’ll add some ointment to.
They should work their way out or you can play with them over the next day or so.
Cover the wound again tonight before bed, just to dissuade him from giving them any help.
Pool time isn’t a problem. It’s probably a help. Does he swim?”
“We didn’t have a pool, so I don’t know. He loved romping in the waves, but up to his knees, so I don’t know his floating skills.”
“Want to see?”
Livy bites her bottom lip and looks back to the pool. “It would be smart.”
Bright jumps up, shucks her shirt and shorts and leaves her flops where they are. She dives headfirst into the deep end, Luna rounds the stairs and sails in behind her, and Kyle jumps right behind the blond mutt. Kyle sails farther than we expected and goes under like a rock.
Livy screams, but I put a hand out to her. “Wait for it.”
He bobs up with Brighton under his rib cage, chatting to him in a higher-pitched voice than I’m used to hearing. He paddles a bit and sits on the step. Livy’s exhale is heavy and hard.
“Lay, there’s a tube of tennis balls in my Jeep. Are you willing to grab those?”
I get up and do as she asks, returning to the deck and popping the can open with that satisfied whooshing sound. Luna bounds out of the water, shaking and sending water flying and sits at my feet awaiting a toss.
“Here?” Bright lifts a hand and waves.
I toss the ball, and Luna runs to the side, leaps in, and swims for it. Bright pitches it back and after another two times, I pull out a second ball, and Kyle sits right alongside Luna.
“What are you doing?” Livy’s voice is etched with panic.
I pitch one and then another, Kyle jumping in again, but swimming this time.
“Teaching him how to swim. He has to be able to get to the stairs if he falls in.”
She puts both hands over her nose and mouth and peers around her fingers. “I didn’t think of that.”
“You didn’t have to, Pix. I did.”
I walk over and kiss her lips. It’s brief and chaste. “Want to come in?”
“Give me a few,” she replies. “I’m enjoying the show.”
“Do you mind if I steal him?” Bright asks Livy after lunch.
“Not at all. I’ve got some calls to make, and I need to get a load of laundry or two done. Want me to keep the dogs?”
“Normally, I’d say yes, but since Luna doesn’t know this house all that well, let’s see what she does when I go to leave.”
“Works for me.” Turning to me, she asks, “Need anything while you’re gone? Grocery delivery? Anything?”
“Nah. Besides, we’re going for a drive, not a cross-country road trip. I’ll be back before you know I’m gone.”
The smile that crawls across her face promises she’ll think of me while I’m away.
“Enjoy your time.” Livy drops a kiss to my lips where I sit and heads back toward the master suite.
“Ready?” Bright asks.
“As I’ll ever be.” I stand, and we make our way to the door. Luna follows as Kyle peels back toward Livy.
That answers the dog question.
Bright dumps her bag on the floorboard and opens the back door for her pup. The front doors are off, and the top has been removed on her Jeep.