20. Doran
DORAN
“Thanks, honey, we both ended up in the shower after that,” she said, just as I brought Sweetie back inside.
She’d refused to come in from the yard this morning until carried in and, once inside, had paced between the front windows and screen door anxiously.
I was pretty certain she’d scented the elusive hop-a-long and was anxiously waiting to see if she could catch a glimpse of him.
I’d finally relented and let her back out, but after another good sniff around the porch, she’d given up at last.
“Probably for the best,” I told Sarah. “I don’t think there was a single part of her that wasn’t covered in butter, syrup, or bits of waffle.”
She laughed, settling Laura down on the floor with some toys. “And then she got it all over me.”
I clucked my tongue at Sweetie. “Come on, you ignored your breakfast, so let’s go eat.”
Sweetie perked up, tail wagging as she followed me into the kitchen.
“Did that silly hop-a-long hide from you again?” I cooed at her.
“Maybe this will cheer you up.” I took the squeeze bottle of joint support gravy for canines and squirted the requisite amount on top of her kibble.
This caused her whole body to vibrate with excitement, and she began quickly devouring her meal.
“She’s getting so spoiled now,” Sarah commented from the doorway, smiling fondly at the dog.
“Fancy supplements, apples and carrots to crunch on, a fancy new bed that Tarek and Darren replicated along with some new toys, and lots and lots of fuss and attention from absolutely everyone who sees her.”
I closed the chiller unit’s door and turned to face her, stopping only to fondle Sweetie’s ears. “She deserves all those things. She’s adorable, even tempered, and generous with her affection and joy.”
Sarah snorted. “Yeah, she is, but you guys are also besotted with her. I can just see those two getting a dog for themselves once they move out.”
I nodded. “I suspect you’re right. Not right away, but shortly after.”
“Or maybe it’ll be a cat,” she mused as we both walked into the dining room and then into the living room, where Laura now sat on a play rug with her toys and a small fence around her to keep her safely contained with enough room to play and explore.
Right now she was happily playing with a large ball that was solid on the bottom while the top held a small scene with a clear dome over the top.
The bell chimed as she made it rock and some of the figures inside bobbed about.
“They are out nearly all day and a cat is better suited to that.”
“Shhh!” Evan said from the sofa. “They’re having a race on the river!”
I glanced at the wall. Their animated show was still playing, and the characters were indeed in small boats. I watched as the scene cut to Snoopy and a small yellow bird of indeterminate type flew onto his head, twittering as small marks appeared in the air by his head.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” I asked, returning my attention to her, lowering my voice as the boys had requested.
“Yeah. Pissed off, but okay”
I nodded. “As am I. But I think you’ll be happy to know that just before you came down, Bob messaged my wrist comm. All five of them are aboard the shuttle and have departed.”
“So my parents are coming.” She sighed. “I’m still not sure how I feel about that now.”
I took a deep breath. “I’ve been meaning to tell you, but my own parents and my sister will not be attending our wedding.”
“What? Why?”
I gestured for her to follow me out onto the porch, where we could talk more freely while still keeping an eye on the kits. Settling in the porch swing with her, I began picking at the fabric of my jeans. “I’m afraid they felt it was not an occasion worth travelling the distance for.”
Kaelor snorted, overhearing me as he stepped out. “Finally told her, eh? He commed them right after you first did yours.”
“The day after,” I corrected.
“And they turned him down flat. Unsurprising, but still hurtful. But that’s our family all over again.”
“But why?”
I explained my parents’ warped sense of family, and my sister’s lack of caring for or about anyone but herself, which Kaelor and I were certain was a direct result of the fawning over her that our parents had always done. When I finished, Sarah had a look of disgust on her face.
“Well, sorry but not sorry. We don’t need negative people here ruining our wedding day. And I’m going to tell my parents the same thing! So they can either be nice or turn around and ride that shuttle all the way back to Earth!”
I stared at her in amazement.
“You’re not upset they won’t come?”
“Oh, hell no! Better they don’t if they can’t treat you and Kaelor right.”
“And on that note, I’m off to work.”
I cocked my head at him. “Bit late going in today,” I observed.
“Yes, well, nothing is expected in until after lunch today.”
I nodded. “Quiet day then.”
“Just the way I like it,” he replied, setting off, doffing a new hat on his head. It was a black Stetson with a silver band, and it looked great with his black and silver uniform.
“He’s looking snatzee,” I said, tilting my head towards him.
“You mean snazzy? Yes, he does. That’s a nice hat, and his uniform is always just so.”
A flare of jealousy swelled at the way she was casting admiring looks towards my brother. Irrational, I knew, but still it was there nonetheless. I grasped her chin and tilted her face up to mine.
“I’ll show you snazzy.” Then I kissed her, and made sure to do so thoroughly.
“You’re such a caveman,” she chuckled as we broke apart.
“Yabba dabba doo,” I replied, remembering the Flintrocks, and she snorted.
“I need to dust. I noticed smoke on the windowsill and bookcase last night.”
I stood up. “I need to clear the ground for the greenhouse. That way I can put the kit up this weekend.”
“We’d best get started then.” She got up, and after one last quick kiss, we parted ways to go do our chores.