Banana and Geepa’s house for dinner. Banana even bought a special collar for little Bucker, who was coming along nicely in his training. Unlike Boonior, he didn’t care for shoes, but when we arrived, Geepa showed us what that little Bucker had done to their sofa. He’d chewed holes in their cushions. Banana beamed behind Geepa. What was that all about?
I pulled her aside a few minutes later and asked.
“That little Bucker is my ally. I have hated that couch for years, but Geepa hasn’t wanted to buy a new one. Bucker came to my rescue.” She high-fived me and kept grinning.
After inspecting the cushions closer, I said, “Banana, I’d wait to get a new one until he’s done with chewing. He has piranha teeth.”
“He sure does. Check this out.” She walked me over to a bin she kept throws in and every one of them had holes in them.
I choked back a laugh. “Oh, those are really awful.”
“I know. But it’s his fault.” She aimed her thumb at Geepa. “He’s the one who insists he’s the puppy whisperer. I keep telling him to hire someone, but no. And this is what happens. But hey, I’m good with it because now I get to buy new furniture.”
Mom came in with a huge basket full of food, and Dad followed with the same. I felt awful because I’d never thought to ask if I could bring something.
Dad motioned for me to help. I ran over to him and helped unload the baskets.
“Wow! When did you have time for this?” I asked.
Mom chortled. “We didn’t. It’s called a caterer.”
“Oooh. For a minute there I felt guilty for not making anything.”
“No one had time, so I just made a phone call. Much easier.”
I peeked at all the goodies sitting on the counter. “It looks scrumptious.”
“Dad’s opening the champagne and then we can eat.”
Sure enough, Dad called out to everyone and filled the glasses. We toasted to another successful trial outcome. Tristian’s eyes met mine and I knew he was thinking of his own family. What a burden for him knowing his mother had had a hand in his father’s death.
“You okay?” I asked him after the toast was done.
“Yeah. You’re so lucky to have such a perfect family.”
“I don’t know about perfect, but they are wonderful.” I shared with him what Banana had told me about Bucker.
“She’s going to milk that, isn’t she?”
I nodded. “Of course she is, and Geepa won’t be able to say a thing about it.”
“I’ve gotta say, Easton loves the little Bucker. He is cute.”
“Don’t even think it. He’s not coming home until he loses those piranha teeth.”
Tristian pulled me into his arms. “I have ways of persuading you.”
“Ways? What ways?”
“I can’t show you here. My ways are too wicked.” He gave me a half-lidded stare that sent my heart thundering.
“You’re a rat.”
“No, I’m a lover.”
I knew that too well. “And I love that part of you.”
“Is that the only part?”
“Of course not. I love every single bit of you.”
“Daddy, can you play princess with me?” Easton asked.
“Only if I can be the big ogre trying to kidnap you.”
Easton’s eyes brightened, she let out a giggle, then said, “You gotta catch me.” Her little feet thumped as she ran away.
“That’s my cue,” Tristian said as he went off to chase her.
I walked back over to Mom.
“You and Tristian look very happy.”
“We are. The peanut has him wrapped around her pinkie.”
“I can see that, but he adores her.”
“Mom, I am so lucky. I never thought I’d find someone who would love her as much as I do.”
“He’s one of the good ones.”
“Told ya,” Dad said from over my shoulder.
I turned around, saying, “Stop eavesdropping.”
Dad held up his hands. “I wasn’t. You two were talking too loud. But admit it. If it wasn’t for me playing matchmaker, you wouldn’t be this happy.”
I stuck out my tongue and blew him a raspberry.
“You’re a hard-headed woman.”
“You only have yourself to blame. You were the best teacher.” I tickled him in the ribs. He grabbed me and we laughed.
“Do you remember our tickle wars? We’d get your mother involved and we’d be in a big pile on the floor?”
“Those were so much fun! We used to gang up on you and try to get you, but you were too strong for us wimpy women.”
Dad became serious all of a sudden. “English, enjoy every minute you have with Easton. In one blink, she’ll be headed to college and you’ll wonder where the time went.”
I looked