I look at the squirming balls of fur that are crawling all over Evie. I’ve never seen her look so happy. “Which one do I want, Evie?” I ask her.
She freezes. “You want me to pick?”
I nod. “I want you to help me pick.”
She pets each one, looks into their eyes one by one, and holds them tight. Then she finally hands me one. “This one,” she says. “She has an old soul.” She’s almost completely black aside from a white patch on her chest.
“She has an old soul, huh?” I take the puppy and stare into her face. She yips and bites at my nose, which makes Evie laugh.
“Definitely that one,” she says.
“Good choice. Most of the rest are already sold. Everybody wants these puppies. If we believed breeding was a good idea, we could make a fortune. This was just an accidental litter, though, and we’re having the mama spayed as soon as we can. We don’t plan to do any more breeding, although it has been fun having the little guys around.”
“I can see why.” Evie laughs as a dog chews on her fingers. “They’re so stinking cute!”
Evie rolls around with them on the floor for several minutes, asking questions about the breed which Pete and Molly patiently answer. Yes, they’re very smart, but you have to train them because they’ll walk all over you if you don’t. They’re mischievous. They’re fun. They need exercise. They love to play fetch. They are affectionate but they can be protective. Yes, they make good watchdogs. They don’t shed much, but they need a lot of grooming to keep their fur from matting and because they are prone to getting dirty. Mud holes are their favorite thing.
Molly yawns into her hand and I realize how late it’s getting. I hand her the puppy I want. “This one is mine, I guess. Right, Evie?”
She nods and deflates a little as Pete whistles and the dogs all follow him back down the hallway.
“This was so much fun,” Evie says as she gets up off the floor, dusts herself off, and sits down on the couch. Then finishes her tea and thanks Molly for the hospitality. “Thanks for letting me play with the puppies.”
“You’ll have to come back another time,” Molly suggests, and I can tell it was a sincere invitation and she could use a friend.
&nb
sp; “Just call first, so we’ll be expecting you,” Pete says. “They don’t call this the ‘wish a motherfucker woods’ for nothing.”
I had no idea Pete knew about the nickname. I laugh out loud, and so does Evie. Molly rolls her eyes at Pete. Evie extends her hand to shake with Pete, and she gives Molly an impromptu hug, one that is well received.
We say our goodbyes and get in the Jeep. Evie sighs and flops back against the seat. “That was so much fun.” She looks at me. “Thanks for bringing me.”
“You’re welcome.” I feel like I have a permanent grin etched on my mouth. I couldn’t make it go away if I tried.
“You with a poodle,” she says. “You know you’re going to be ‘the guy with the poodle’ if you try to teach that dog to hunt.”
“So?” I look at her. “My masculinity is not fragile.”
She laughs, tossing her head back as joy escapes her throat. “I love them.” She lifts her hands into a praying position. “Will you let me play with her some time? Please?”
“You can play with her whenever you want, Evie,” I say, meaning it.
“You promise?” She narrows her eyes as she stares at me.
I nod, liking this Evie. I like her a lot. It feels weird and right all at the same time. I drop her off at her grandmother’s house, and I see Ms. Markie walk to the door. Ms. Markie sticks her hand out, and nothing but her hand, and waves at me. That usually means she’s in her housecoat with curlers in her hair, which make sense since tomorrow is Sunday.
Evie leans in the open window of my Jeep, still grinning. “Thanks for the ride home. And for taking me to see the puppies. I had fun.”
Those bees that were in my belly stir up, and then they move south. I look at Evie’s lips, which I probably shouldn’t do, but she’s fucking smiling at me. Evie Allen looks happy to be around me. It’s unsettling in the best possible way.
“I’ll take you to get your truck after church.”
She nods, and taps her hands on the window frame, still smiling as she goes inside the house.
As I pull away, I realize that little bud of hope is still growing, fed by her smiles. And that’s the part that scares the shit out of me. Evie’s smiles are fleeting, at least where I’m concerned.
6