Page 39 of Afternoon Delight
Meg
Shelby stayed an extra night in Kelowna. She’d made it there safely on Friday night, but wanted to hang out with her friend until Sunday.
What could I say? She was an adult. I swallowed my disappointment and texted her to let me know when she was on the road again, adding:
Drive safe.
Roddie was up early Sunday morning, planning to play video games online with friends in Toronto.
Mom was having lunch with an old neighbor who happened to be in town.
I should have cleaned the garage, but I only washed my sheets, hid my sex toys since Shelby would be sleeping with me, then ran out to see Georgia.
Her recovery was coming along really well. She’d started physiotherapy, but she was working so hard to get back to full strength, she didn’t have much pep left after her exercises.
“You want me to leave so you can nap?” I asked when she yawned again .
“Do you mind? I still nap a lot, but less resentfully. It’s not the drugs making me sleepy, it’s healing and that’s okay. Oh, hey, take these back to the store before one of Gail’s kids gets into them.”
“Gail doesn’t want any?” I asked, taking the bag of sample toys I’d left a couple of weeks ago.
“She says her husband gives her all she needs.” She shrugged. “I kept the one I opened and put a list in there of the ones I think you should stock. Try some yourself. See what you think.”
“I might.”
“You should.”
“I have,” I confessed.
“Yeah?” That caught her attention. “Like what?”
I told her which toys I’d brought home.
“That’s a good start. See if your daughter wants any of these.” She motioned toward the bag.
“I’ll give Mom first dibs.” I wasn’t being facetious. “She hasn’t let me pay her for the work she’s done. She’s earned a few perks.”
“Sure.” She spoke around another yawn.
“I’ll let you sleep.” I said goodbye and went out to my car. Shelby was probably on the road and getting close to the ferry, but still a few hours away. Mom was out. Roddie was busy.
I looked at the bag of goodies and had a sudden, outrageous idea. I scrolled for Zak’s number and placed the call as I backed out of Gail’s driveway.
“Joe’s Rescue Service.” His voice filled the interior of my vehicle. “What is the nature of your emergency?”
“Treed cougar. This is actually preemptive. I was thinking about getting stuck in the Dogwood. That’s the motel on Seventeen, halfway to Sidney. I have a bag full of toys and a couple of hours to kill if?—”
“I’ll be right there.”
“What about your da?—”
He had already ended the call.