“Surprised is all. You’ve been ignoring that dog like he was a new piece of furniture. ’Course, you’ve only seen him for a second or two here and there.”
“I can tell the difference between a dog and a dining-room table.”
She sounded grudging, she knew, but she had to say something. She hadn’t drilled gratitude into her kids just to ignore good manners now. “I appreciate the help, Kenny. And the extra sleep.”
“Had breakfast yet?”
“A couple swallows of coffee.”
“Dog and I are starving. What do you feed him?”
She told him where the food was, and how much the vet had recommended. “His name’s Chase. Chase the Suspect, if you want the whole truth.”
Ken grinned. Her heart felt as if it were tying itself into a double knot. She hadn’t seen him smile like that for what seemed like years. She was instantly wary.
“You picked this dog ’cause you’re married to a cop?” he asked.
“I used to watch him run whenever I got the chance. Made a little money on him, too, from time to time.”
“Not half as much as you’ve spent on him now, I bet. Chase and me, we’ll put something together for breakfast. Go ahead and take a shower.”
“You got some reason to be so nice to me this morning? Last time I looked, this was just a regular day in June. Months after the birthday you probably don’t even remember you forgot.”
Ken reached down and scratched Chase, who had gone to stand beside him. “I’m just hungry for pancakes.”
She didn’t know what was up. She was half-convinced Ken was trying to butter her up along with the pancakes, so he could admit to something once she was in a better mood. Like the fact he’d hired a divorce lawyer, or the name of a woman he was having an affair with, or how he’d lost their life savings in a series of all-night poker games because he had been so depressed.
“I bought real maple syrup last week,” she said, turning back to the dresser. “Have at it. I’ll get there eventually.”
“As dogs go, this one’s not too bad.”
She heard them leave, the man and the dog. Together.
She stared at the neat pile of clothes a little longer. What exactly did a woman wear when she had no idea where her life was going?
Janya was so proud that she had easily passed all the necessary tests to receive her learner’s restricted license, but now she was facing her first real lesson. Rishi had taken the bus to his office this morning and left the keys on the table for her. Just looking at them made her stomach churn.
He had offered to take her for her first drive, but she’d told him that she’d promised Wanda that privilege. It wasn’t really a deception. Wanda had offered, and Janya had accepted. Of course, the real truth was that having Rishi beside her would be distracting. He would instruct with the same enthusiasm he used when he showed her anything new. He would not understand that she was anxious. He would be so certain she was going to do well that he would chatter about things that didn’t matter.
Wanda would chatter, too, but as she did, she would point out the things Janya needed to know. Despite the unpleasantness that had passed between them, Janya thought she could trust Wanda in this. In the matter of teaching someone to drive, strong opinions were not a bad thing.
She was preparing for the lesson when Wanda knocked, then opened the door and stuck her head inside. “I can come back in fifteen minutes if you’re not ready now.”
Janya was tying her first shoe. “No, please come in. This will give me less time to worry.”
“About what? You’ve been riding in cars all your life….” She frowned. “Or maybe not.”
“The last time I rode an elephant into the jungle, I decided I did not like being so high.”
Wanda got the joke and smiled. “Well, I can’t help that I’ve never been to India, Janya. We’re not all born in interesting places.”
“We do have elephants, and camels. Also trains, buses, cars, rickshaws, tuk tuks and feet.”
“Tuk tuks?”
“A motorized cart. Three wheels. Very unsafe.”
“Do you miss all that?”
Just weeks ago the question might have brought tears to Janya’s eyes. Now she wondered. The country and its people, yes. The customs, culture, sights and smells. Yes. Her parents? That was a different question entirely. These were the people who had chosen not to defend and