I Love You to Pieces

by Lori Flynn

  “Do they have names yet?”

  “Buckley, that’s the yellow Lab, had a tag embedded in his neck on a rusty wire. The staff named the Sheltie Webster when he ate the better part of a dictionary before they could yank it out of his mouth. He answers to it now.”

  Olivia swallowed hard. Dr. Hunter’s words burned like fire in her gut. Just thinking of the abuse they may have suffered filled her eyes with tears. So much so, they nearly kept her from noticing Lily stretching to the end of her tether, sniffing Buckley and Webster, seeming to form her own opinion.

  The group in attendance offered a collective sigh as Buckley made room for Lily to climb aboard. She did so without hesitation.

  Olivia wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand and nodded to Dr. Hunter. She was fully aware that her decisions of late had been questionable. But she had to act, to fix it.

  “It’s imperative that they’re adopted together, and I can’t release them for at least another week,” Dr. Hunter said, his arms folded before him.

  “You know where to find me.” Giving a forced smile and a tense nod of consent, Olivia fought the urge to panic. What did I just agree to? But as she kept an eye on Lily bonding with her new brothers, the picture cleared. She’d bring them home, end their abuse, and protect them. She didn’t see it as a choice.

  *

  Olivia peered over the rim of her mug as she gauged Christian and Maria’s reaction to her news. They’d settled around the kitchen table, while close-by Lily devoured the hamburger cupcake made to celebrate the removal of her cast.

  “You said there are two of them?” Maria asked, returning the coffee pot to the table.

  “Yes, two, Buckley and Webster, and according to Dr. Hunter, they’re both housebroken. That’s the good news. We’ll find out the rest together.”

  “It’s all good, Olivia,” Christian said with confidence. “We have plenty of work to do before they get here.”

  They spent the week in preparation. Christian and Maria readied the house, relocating fragile heirlooms and collectibles to higher ground out of reach of wagging tails and curious mouths. Olivia shopped for feeding bowls, beds large enough to accommodate Buckley and Webster, and gates—taller, stronger gates. She added tug-toys and balls, enough to make them feel welcome and included some for Lily.

  On homecoming day, Olivia followed Dr. Hunter’s advice and trusted Lily with the responsibility of giving her new siblings the tour. She trailed the threesome as they sniffed their way through the house, making sure not to interfere with their exploration. When they traveled through the kitchen and then out onto the beach, Buckley took over the lead. Where Lily and Webster seemed content to stay back and lick the wet sand from their paws, Buckley reveled in the cool water, ducking under the waves again and again.

  As the sun slipped below the horizon, Olivia realized she had just exhausted her final maneuver in getting her largest canine out of the water. Her attempts left her wet and covered in sand like Buckley and no closer to a solution. She squinted and rubbed the saltwater and grit from her eyes. I’m ready to call the Coast Guard! It was then she noticed Ben enjoying the show from the veranda.

  “How long have you been here?”

  “Long enough to get some great pictures; this is priceless.”

  “Are you just going to stand there and watch, or can you help a girl out?” Olivia called, wrestling with the big yellow dog.

  “It depends on if you’ll permit me to sell these to a tabloid. Where is all your help tonight?” He strolled forward and extended a hand.

  “I wanted to prove I could handle these guys myself, so I gave them the night off. I didn’t know I’d be dealing with Michael Phelps over here. Not one of my better ideas.”

  Together, they coaxed the dogs from the beach and back inside the house. Although Olivia had supplied them each with a bed, they fell asleep huddled together on the large dog bed that occupied the corner of her room. The contented pulsing heap of wet fur and sand swelled her heart and filled her eyes with tears. She pictured herself with Jill and Melody, damaged souls, and for the briefest of moments considered crawling in beside them.

  She found Ben with his head tipped back, resting on the softened leather living room sofa. “Thank you for coming to my rescue out there. I had visions of being stuck on the beach all night trying to coax Buckley out of the water. How did you know I needed your services, Counselor?”

  Ben gathered Olivia’s narrow body in his arms. With a lazy smile, he pushed back her windblown hair, scattered haphazardly around her head and face.

  “I’m here for several reasons, most importantly, of course, to rescue you.” He brushed the sand from her clothes as he spoke. “I wanted to meet Lily’s new brothers after hearing so much about them. Buckley is a gorgeous animal. I do think you’re right. Webster has bear cub in him somewhere. They both seem to love Lily though, and that’s all that matters. I’m sure the rest of their lives will be happier than the first part.”

  Taken aback, Olivia answered softly, “Thank you. That’s the plan.”

  “There’s something else I wanted to talk to you about. I crossed paths with an old buddy of mine from law school today. There was a time when we were inseparable, but for some reason, we lost touch after we graduated. This guy was always such a player. Now, he’s married with a baby on the way and works for a firm in Miami Beach. We arranged to meet for dinner on Saturday night. I was hoping you’d join me.”

  Ben played with her hair and pleaded with his eyes, leaving Olivia defenseless to refuse him. “This is a mighty big step for us. I haven’t met any of your friends yet. What happens if he doesn’t like me?”

  “You’re concerned that a friend of mine could be worse than those two bodyguards of yours? I wore garlic around my neck for a month just in case they came back.”

  “Your friends cross-examine people for a living, Ben. And for future reference, garlic is used to ward off vampires, not women,” Olivia said, feigning annoyance. “I’d be happy to have dinner with you and your friend on Saturday night. You’re welcome to take the Ferrari.”

  “Thank you; I’ll look forward to it. One more question before I let you get some sleep. You look a little worn out,” Ben smiled when she nodded in agreement. “Do you have any idea how much sand you have in your hair?” he asked, rubbing her head to the sweet sound of her laugh. He headed home for a shower, a cold one, leaving her with her new family.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Olivia

  Olivia’s stomach fluttered like a hummingbird as she prepared for her date with Ben. She was meeting his ‘old buddy’ from law school, a man Ben described as a player, whose wife had a baby on the way. Christian volunteered to help by corralling the dogs on the beach, saving her champagne-shaded Ralph Lauren dress from sand and slobber. She checked and rechecked her make-up and touched up her lipstick just as Maria announced Ben’s arrival.

  “If I’m reading your face correctly, you approve of my dress.”

  “You look stunning,” Ben said, watching as she descended the staircase. “We should stay here, so I don’t have to share you.”

  “You should’ve thought of that before I spent two hours getting ready.”

  Ben drove the Ferrari like he was qualifying for pole position in the Indy 500. He held her close as they entered the restaurant and pointed out the couple they were meeting, occupying a corner table in the bar.

  The two men joined in a fast embrace.

  “This beautiful lady is Olivia Harding,” Ben said. “Olivia, this is my old buddy from law school, Jason McKay.”

  “Nice meeting you, Olivia. This is my wife, Katie,” Jason said with hesitation, his eyes riveted on Olivia’s face. “Have we met before? Something about you is very familiar.”

  She smiled and shook her head. “Glad to meet you both, and sorry, neither of you look familiar. Maybe I have one of those faces you think you see everywhere.”

  “No, that’s not it,” Jason said, rubbing the back of hi
s neck. “Trust me, there’s no forgetting your face. It may take some time, but it’ll come to me.”

  His words struck Olivia as more of a threat than a statement. But it was his eyes that had dropped from her face to her shoulders, to her breasts, which made her uneasy. “Well, don’t hurt yourself,” she said and turned toward Ben who looked ready to intervene on her behalf.

  “She plans fundraisers for orphaned and abused animals. You’ve probably seen her TV spots or billboards where she tries to convince wealthy people like yourself to donate.” Ben’s voice held a cool authority. “Our table’s ready, folks, let’s go.” Lacing his fingers through Olivia’s, he pulled her close.

  Olivia whispered, “I’m not featured in those ads, but I appreciate the help.”

  Ben and Jason continued their reunion, reacquainting over drinks and appetizers, while Olivia chatted with Katie. She was a soft-spoken girl who’d attended college in Mississippi before relocating to Miami, where she met Jason. Olivia felt the joy that bubbled throughout Katie when she spoke of her impending motherhood.

  The reminiscing continued with Jason cleverly embellishing each of Ben’s stories as his sense of humor and timing made them laugh. All the while, his steady gaze bore into Olivia, raking boldly over, keeping her on edge.

  Olivia held tight to her fork, her hand clammy. The fire pit blazing in her stomach made it difficult to swallow. She felt like cheering the appearance of dessert menus, a light at the end of this long uncomfortable tunnel.

  Ben maintained a protective death grip over her hand and while she was grateful for the support, she could no longer feel her fingers. She worried he could snap at any moment. For Olivia, for everyone but Jason, the evening couldn’t end soon enough.

  “I think I’ve got it!” Jason said emphatically, turning the heads of other patrons from surrounding tables. “I met you at that awards dinner some months back, in Miami. You looked different though. Did you change your hair? Come on, you remember. You were with some guy from another firm. That was you, wasn’t it?”

  “No, you’re wrong. It wasn’t me.” Olivia raised her eyes to find him watching her.

  “Was I with you at that dinner?” Katie intervened. “You’re making everyone uncomfortable, Jason. I don’t remember meeting Olivia before.”

  “No, Katie, my firm decided not to bring wives that night,” Jason’s sharp tone filtered through a clenched jaw. “I just remembered something else. You were drinking this cocktail I’d never heard of. What was it? It sounded like a dance—cha-cha, no Two-step. That’s it! Everyone had to taste it.”

  All eyes were on her. A shrill ringing filled Olivia’s ears. Her cheeks burned. She wanted to run and hide, get out from under his stare. What the hell? He mentioned the same drink Jill told me about. What does it mean? Her anguish almost overcame her control.

  “You obviously have me confused with someone else, Jason,” she said with a close-lipped smile.

  “Your dress is lovely, Olivia,” Katie said, smiling sweetly, soon after Ben scraped his chair back, excusing himself to the restroom.

  “Thank you. I found this small boutique that carries most designers, even some locals.” Olivia’s heartbeat quickened when Jason leaned over near her ear.

  “It’s a hell of a lot different than the one you wore in Miami. That dress showed your tits and half your ass.”

  Olivia’s hand flew to her mouth, suppressing a gasp at his words and his smug smirk.

  “Jason, what did you say to her?” Katie asked.

  “What?” he said and rolled his eyes. “I just complimented her dress, same as you.”

  Olivia pushed her dessert around the plate, feigning a smile as the others made small talk. For the rest of the evening, there were two constants: Jason’s accusing stare and Ben’s vice-like grip on her hand.

  “I’ll get the car,” Ben said when they exited the restaurant.

  Olivia wished Katie luck with the remainder of her pregnancy. With a tug on her elbow, Jason drew her roughly to his side, tightening his grip while speaking into her hair.

  “I don’t know what you’re trying to pull on Ben, but he’s a smart guy, and he’ll figure it out. You didn’t fool me for a minute. Give me a call when you’re looking for a real man.”

  “Let her go, Jason,” Katie gasped. “What the hell’s wrong with you?”

  Olivia twisted free and dropped his card that he’d pressed into her hand. Her lips and chin trembled as her heart raced. Ben returned and wrapped her in his arms, having her force a curved, stiff smile. As much as she believed Jason’s character as lacking, Olivia cringed at the thought of physical violence. One misplayed word from her, and Ben would defend her honor.

  He’d barely screeched the car from the curb before asking. “What happened with Jason while I was gone? Tell me all of it.”

  “He apologized, or made a lame attempt,” she lied, focusing her gaze on the windshield. “I guess what makes a lawyer successful doesn’t always translate well into social settings. Present company excluded, of course. He was like a dog with the wrong bone.”

  “That’s kind of you. Jason acted like a jackass. I held your hand all night to stop myself from decking him. I knew he could be a narcissist but not so much of a jerk. Maybe that’s why we lost touch over the years. I’m sorry to have put you through that. Look at you; you’re shaking.”

  “I’ll be fine, Ben.” Olivia smiled at Ben’s heartfelt reaction, reaching over to run her fingers through his hair. “Something is bothering me, though. Were you only holding my hand all night so that you wouldn’t pummel Jason?”

  His eyes left the road and raked boldly over her. “Absolutely not; that dress got my attention before we left your house.”

  “I’m burning this dress. I’ll never be able to wear it again without thinking of Jason’s leering eyes.”

  At Casa Nonna, they moved through the softly-lit house to the kitchen, careful not to wake the light sleepers who were, with an ounce of luck, out for the night in their bed upstairs. Lured by the roar of waves punishing the shore, Olivia drifted to the French doors leading out to the veranda. As she strained to find the dark outline where the horizon met the water, Ben’s hand locked against her spine, speeding the dizzying current racing inside her.

  “Maria left a note for you on the counter. There’s a list attached. Should I read it to you?” Ben whispered his breath hot against her ear.

  She settled back into his embrace, trembling with the heady sensation of his lips against her neck rendering her almost powerless. “Another list, how long have we been gone? Read it; I’m ready.”

  His voice held low and smooth. The news of the latest items ingested by the Sheltie mix, Webster, both amused and horrified her. His victims included a gardening glove, Maria’s pot holder, and the first three chapters of Pride and Prejudice. Her sweet dog was capable of consuming whatever he considered a food source. He did so at such a rapid speed that he was difficult to catch.

  “Is it possible he’s also part goat?” Ben asked, tracing her jawline with his mouth. “The book wasn’t the first edition, was it?”

  “No, it’s a gift from Nanny. I’m hoping this problem ends when Webster figures out that he’ll eat real food every day. It only makes me love him more.”

  Ben’s hands slipped up her arms, bringing her closer. “He’s lucky to have you. They all are.”

  She circled in his arms. “Thank you. I meant to ask you. I’m having a small family party to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. I’d love you to come.”

  “Mexico’s Independence Day? I know you’re not Mexican, so is it some family tradition?”

  “Yes. Years ago, when I was in elementary school, Nanny helped me with a report that I was assigned. To make it more realistic, she planned a whole party around it. We invited staff members, and we all had such fun, we continued doing it every year. I believe it was Nanny’s way of getting me to concentrate on the fifth of May rather than the second Sunday in May.”

  “Mother
’s Day,” Ben said with understanding.

  “I knew you were gifted. It’s also Buckley and Webster’s introduction to the family. And with an ounce of luck, Webster won’t try eating any of them. So, will you join us?”

  “I’ll have to check my schedule.”

  “Well, don’t take too long. If you’re busy, I can always call my other hot boyfriend in Miami.” She meant it as a joke. It fell short and rattled them both.

  “Don’t tease me, Olivia,” Ben caught her arm and drew her back. “It’s taken me this long to forget all the crap Jason said.” He cupped her face and kissed her. “And he never said the guy was hot.”

  She didn’t stop him when he turned to go.

  *

  The next morning, Olivia lingered with a third cup of coffee and watched as the sun rose over the ocean. She hadn’t intended to bring her new family along to work. But when Dr. Hunter suggested Webster have a series of intestinal X-rays to ensure he hadn’t consumed something potentially fatal, her efforts to separate him from Buckley proved futile, and Lily’s wounded howl couldn’t be denied. She had no other choice but to herd the threesome into the car.

  After receiving the good news that Webster had once again escaped permanent damage, she escorted the crew to her office where they huddled together for their morning nap. During the quiet time, she dove into the seemingly endless paperwork. Stretching for a file, a small envelope perched on the edge of her desk from a private delivery service caught her eye. She was surprised to see her name and address handwritten on the front.

  The words, FROM THE DESK OF KATIE MCKAY, centered along the top of the lacey stationery, made her stomach ache and her mouth go dry. Raking her hand through her hair, she exhaled and read: