The Lodge at Whispering Pines

by Melissa R. L. Simonin

  Miles gave me an apologetic look as he interrupted.

  “And guys, hate to leave you on this exciting note, but Elizabeth is back. We’ll catch up with you later.”

  Miles grabbed me by the hand, and we took off. We, however, opened the door first. That dog!

  “Why didn’t she tell us before!” I exclaimed, as we hurried after the now semi-transparent Trixie on our way through the crowded dining room to the elevator.

  “Really honey, you have to ask? When has she ever told us anything she didn’t think we absolutely had to know?”

  “No kidding!” I said.

  We skidded into the elevator with a wave at Monica, the girl manning the check-in counter, and the doors slid closed behind us.

  “So, Trixie,” I said, giving her a look as she took solid form again. “Anything else you haven’t told us?”

  Miles looked at her and laughed.

  “What?” I wanted to know. Trixie was laughing too. “What did she say?”

  “She said yes,” Miles said. “And that’s all she said.”

  Then I couldn’t help it. I laughed too. Did I really expect her to say anything else?

  I got the laughter out of my system and looked up at Miles, only to realize he wasn’t laughing anymore. The expression on his face… I felt the color drain from mine. I grabbed his arm.

  “Miles, what’s wrong? What did she tell you!” I demanded to know. Dozens, hundreds, thousands of possibilities—

  He looked at me in disbelief.

  I started to cry.

  “Miles, please! Say it! Whatever it is, just tell me!”

  I was frantic. What horrible thing did he just learn?

  Miles snapped out of it and put his arms around me.

  “Honey, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you! It’s okay, we’re okay. It’s nothing to do with us.”

  He did, however, glare at Trixie.

  “What is it, then?” I asked, still shaking as I wiped away tears, and my racing heart began to slow.

  He gave Trixie a grim look.

  “Trix and I will be having a very serious talk later!” he said, sounding as upset as he looked. “There isn’t time now, but—what do you mean, what is there to talk about?!”

  He looked at her like she was crazy, and she looked at him like she was ready to—I don’t know what, but she looked mad!

  “Of all the irresponsible—Yes, that’s what I’m upset about! I can’t believe you, sneaking out of the house—Oh good grief, are you serious? It is not hypocritical! What’s hypocritical is having a fit—yes, you do!—every time I so much as kiss my wife, and then you go and—Well I guess now you know choices have consequences!” Miles took several deep breaths and ran his hands through his hair, then he spoke in a slightly calmer voice. “Look, Trix, we cannot have this conversation right now. We’ll talk later.”

  The elevator doors slid open, and Trixie rolled her eyes and turned away.

  Have I ever been more confused? I’d have to give that some serious thought.

  “Can you at least tell me what’s going on?” I asked as we reached our door.

  “Yeah,” Miles said, glancing at me as he reached in his pocket for the key to our room. “Trix is pregnant.”

  Chapter 9

  “He had nothing to do with this!” I said defensively, seeing the glance Miles gave Chip as we entered our suite.

  “How can you be so sure?” Miles wanted to know.

  “Because it’s impossible! When I found him several years ago and took him in for his vaccinations, I had him neutered at the same time!” I said indignantly.

  And boy, was I glad I did.

  “Oh,” Miles said, then leaned down to pet Chip. “Sorry, buddy.”

  Chip smiled and looked unconcerned.

  “I assumed that she—why didn’t you—” I nodded toward Trixie, who lay on the floor with her back to us. I don’t know if I was being shunned, but Miles was.

  “That wasn’t an option back then!” Miles exclaimed. He turned away, and ran his fingers through his hair.

  I suddenly remembered why we came up here in the first place, instead of going to the office to meet the painters who would be here any second now. I groaned silently and ran my fingers through my own hair, then glanced in our bedroom. No Elizabeth. I glanced in every room. No transparent girl with luminous blue eyes in any of them. I hated to ask, but…

  “Trixie, where’s Elizabeth?”

  She glanced at me appraisingly. I felt that I was being weighed in the balance. I guess I passed her scrutiny, because she shrugged.

  “Is… she gone?” I asked.

  She glanced at me again, and nodded.

  I looked at Miles. He stood looking out one of the sitting room windows. He looked stressed.

  “Elizabeth’s gone,” I said, taking his hand.

  “That’s probably just as well,” he said quietly, rubbing his forehead. “I don’t think I could focus on anything else right now, anyway.”

  I’d never seen him like this. He’s ordinarily so calm and steady, regardless of the circumstance. He was always calming me down about something, not the other way around. But it was time to return the favor.

  “Come on,” I said, putting my arm around him. I pulled to get him moving, without much success. “Cooperate! You’re too heavy for me to drag.”

  “Where are you trying to drag me?” he couldn’t help but smile a little at my futile efforts.

  “Family room,” I said, breathing hard from the exertion of pulling on him. He was like trying to move a tree.

  “And why do you want me in the family room?” he asked, the stress momentarily replaced by curiosity.

  “More walking, less talking,” I said, and with a sigh and a glance in Trixie’s direction, and another brush of his hands through his hair, he allowed me to lead him there.

  Once inside the room, I shut the door, then turned around and put my hands on his shoulders.

  “Miles… please listen to me.”

  He looked back at me, his eyes serious, and waited for me to continue.

  “You two have been through so much together. I think you’ve lost sight of the fact that she’s a dog. She’s crazy-smart and knows more than we do, but dear… she’s a dog, and she has a different set of rules.”

  Miles groaned and ran his fingers through his hair again, then hugged me.

  “She’s lucky I have you. Very lucky,” is all he said.

  “Yeah. I know,” I replied. “You all are.”

  “That’s the truth,” he said, and sighed. I hugged him until he began to feel less tense, then we sat on the comfortable couch.

  “So,” I finally said, holding his hands. “What are you thinking?”

  “You can probably guess,” he sighed.

  “What is it that upsets you the most?” I wanted to know.

  He shook his head slowly, trying to decide.

  “I don’t know,” he said. “Now please, tell me you got some truth out of that, and you can enlighten me.”

  I pretended to listen for a minute.

  “You’re a complicated man, Miles Bannerman,” I said, which made him smile. “So here’s the truth. Go congratulate Trixie, and then start puppy-proofing.”

  “That doesn’t sound like the truth, that sounds like an order!” Miles laughed.

  “Look into puppy classes, too. I hear the waiting lists for the most prestigious schools are crazy-long, you want to get some spots reserved right away.”

  “Okay, dear,” said Miles, as he pulled me close. “Anything else?”

  “No, just… get ready for an overload of adorable fluffy cuteness.”

  “They will be cute, won’t they. I wonder how many she’ll have.”

  “I wonder if they’ll have her abilities,” I said.

  “Forget ordinary puppy-proofing, if they do!”

  “Very true!” I said. “Look at it this way, though. If they do… you can practice corralling them, so you’re ready for our k
ids. Because if Trixie’s puppies have abilities, then chances are… our babies will too.”

  “For some reason, that chilling thought feels more real than it did before,” said Miles. “Instead of dwelling on that, I’ll go talk to Trix.”

  “Please, Miles,” I said, holding onto his arms so he couldn’t let me go and stand up. “Let me talk to her first. I don’t know if you saw the looks she was giving you, but… she was deeply offended that you were ready to brand her with a scarlet letter, instead of congratulate her.”

  “I was not! But… you’re right. I was upset, and I reacted… and that’s how it felt to her.”

  “I’ll tell her you’re sorry,” I said, then kissed him. “Because I know you are.”

  I left Miles in the family room, and returned to the sitting room.

  Trixie was still lying on the floor, although she’d turned so her back faced the family room now. I sat down beside her, and slowly began to pet her. She didn’t seem upset with me, that was good.

  “Congratulations,” I said softly. Trixie looked up at me. “You must be so excited! I’m really happy for you.”

  Trixie’s eyes looked a little sad.

  “Miles was just really surprised, and he’s sorry for overreacting.”

  Trixie turned away.

  “He’d like a chance to apologize.”

  She tilted one ear toward me.

  “He’s happy about the puppies, now that he’s used to the idea. It’s a really big change, and… he just needed a little time to process the news.”

  Trixie looked up at me.

  “Would you like me to go get him, so you can talk?”

  Trixie considered that briefly, then shook her head. My heart sank a little, but then she stood and walked toward the family room. Then she turned, and walked back to me. She sat and put a paw on one of my shoulders and rested her chin on the other, and I hugged her back.

  “I love you too, Trixie,” I said, and ruffled her fur.

  She smiled, then walked briskly to the family room. A few seconds later, I heard Miles talking softly. It sounded like they were doing okay. I breathed a sigh of relief, and fell backwards onto the carpet. Night came over and sniffed my hair suspiciously.

  “No I’m not dead, you silly animal,” I said, and grabbed at his hind leg as he trotted off. That made him hurry, and I laughed to myself.

  Miles and Trixie were still talking, and I heard him laugh softly. That made me glad.

  I got up and went to the kitchen for a bottle of water. I looked in the refrigerator for the first time since we arrived, and was pleased to see it was adequately stocked with foods to snack on, in addition to the water. It was not adequately stocked for cooking any meals, but I didn’t plan on doing that anyway! Morgan and Sarah eat practically every meal in the restaurant at their Inn, and that’s what we would do here at our Lodge.

  I walked back through the sitting room and looked through the doorway into the family room. Miles was still sitting on the couch, and Trixie was sitting on the floor in front of him. They communicated as only they can, as he pet her.

  I walked in quietly and sat down beside Miles.

  “Think a month is enough time to get the pups on that prestigious waiting list?” Miles asked, and I laughed.

  “So is that how much time you have to puppy-proof?”

  Miles looked at Trixie again.

  “She said they don’t get into trouble right away. So we have a little more time than that.”

  “Has she ever had puppies before?”

  “No,” said Miles. “And after all this time… I was not expecting this.”

  “Yeah. I could tell!” I laughed, and Trixie looked like she was laughing, too. “You were as overwrought as you were when you thought I’d been shot.”

  “I was not,” said Miles softly, his gorgeous hazel eyes making me lose my train of thought for a second.

  “You’re right, that isn’t the truth,” I said. “You’ve never been as overwrought as you were then.”

  “No, I haven’t,” said Miles. He leaned over and kissed me.

  Trixie didn’t snort in displeasure this time, which was smart. She was hardly one to complain! She did leave, though.

  “Thank you for mediating,” Miles said, kissing me again.

  “You’re welcome,” I said. I began to melt, and forgot everything else.

  My phone vibrated. I pulled it out of my pocket and stuffed it under the couch cushion.

  Miles’ phone vibrated, and he did the same thing.

  The phone in the suite rang.

  “You know with your abilities, you could do the same thing with that phone. You wouldn’t even have to get up,” I said, which made him laugh.

  “Clearly someone needs us though,” he pointed out. Then he suddenly looked concerned. “What if it’s your Mom?”

  “Oh my goodness!” I dug under the cushions for my phone, and Miles dug for his. We each found one, then swapped.

  “It’s the front desk, it must be Annette,” Miles said, relieved.

  “Same here,” I said, holding up my phone.

  “I’ll call,” he offered. I nodded, my heart beginning to slow.

  Petting a cat, so I’ve heard, lowers blood pressure. Where was my cat when I needed him!

  “The painters are here, and the carpet guy. He needs to measure the stairs, and has carpet samples for you to look at.”

  “Guess we better go then,” I said, as Miles stood and pulled me up with him.

  “We don’t want to leave people with the impression we don’t value their time,” agreed Miles.

  We said a quick goodbye to Chip and Trixie, then took the elevator downstairs. We would have told Night and Pandora we were leaving too, but… we would have gotten a “you’re telling me this… why?” look from them, so we didn’t bother.

  The next hour was a flurry of activity. We showed the painters and carpet man the spaces we wanted to address, and I looked at paint and carpet samples. I made my choices, and the painters got to work. The carpet man would be back when they were finished, and the paint dry.

  I looked around the tower as Miles replaced the burned out light bulb.

  “Why do you suppose the previous owner had this space closed to the general public? Did he not want to clean it out?”

  “Maybe he was afraid of dolls,” said Miles.

  “Maybe so,” I said, opening the drawer of a small chest of drawers and looking through the contents briefly.

  “It may have been more work than he wanted to invest in a space that wouldn’t bring a return,” Miles said, as he tested the light. Now it worked.

  “Well… I’m glad you’re not of the same opinion he was,” I said, holding up a book of wallpaper samples and envisioning what the space would look like if it were papered in one of several that I liked. “Would it be worth it, do you think, to have a tea room here?”

  “I don’t know,” Miles thought. “Give me some details.”

  “Oh, I don’t know… the space isn’t huge, so it wouldn’t hold a lot of tables. But I was thinking maybe a small dessert and tea counter. Dishes could be taken downstairs to the kitchen, for washing. We might have a small sink put in, though. Any employee working the counter would need to wash their hands, after all, and wipe down tables.”

  “I think aside from putting in the sink, it wouldn’t take much to give it a try,” said Miles. “How about this, though. Put the dessert counter and a few tables one floor down, in the square room that surrounds the landing. It’ll be easier to run the plumbing on that floor. It’ll also leave this entire space free for tables. Guests can choose whether they want to sit up here in the tower room, or downstairs.”

  “I love that,” I said. “The tower room will be quieter, with the dessert and tea counter one floor down. We should offer coffee too, of course.”

  “Of course,” smiled Miles. “We need to get the tower cleared out if you’re going to implement your plan. I wonder if there’s a storage room of some k
ind here at the Lodge where we can have all of this moved.”

  “We can look, or ask Troy, if we don’t have time to search for a storage room that may not even be here after all.”

  I moved to stand beside Miles, and looked at his watch.

  “Do we need to go?” he asked, also looking at his watch.

  “I guess we better. I don’t want to be late,” I replied. Miles took my hand and we walked down the stairs together. The door closed and locked behind us.

  We nodded to the painters who were hard at work prepping the walls, then walked down the hall to the elevator.

  Miles looked at his watch again.

  “If you hurry, there’s time,” I said.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You can check on Trixie if you hurry,” I said. Then added, “Grampa.”

  Miles laughed.

  “Don’t let her hear you say that, she might not appreciate it! Remember how well she took it when you referred to me as her dad.”

  “How could I forget!” I laughed.

  We rode the elevator up instead of down, and Miles did check on her. For someone who was so horrified at the news to begin with, he was certainly solicitous now. She seemed very pleased with the attention he gave her.

  “We need to find a good vet here in town,” said Miles, once we were back on the elevator and headed to the ground floor. “Either that, or convince Dr. Newman to drive up and make a house call.”

  “We can always schedule an appointment for Trixie to see Dr. Newman the next time we’re in Cedar Oaks,” I said.

  “Are you kidding? I’m not sure she should be traveling in her condition,” Miles said. He looked so concerned.

  “Okay,” I said. I wasn’t going to minimize his concerns. What did I know? Maybe he was right. “To be on the safe side, we’ll get online later and educate ourselves. This is no big deal to Trixie, dogs have been having puppies for… a lot of years, I don’t have any idea how many. But we haven’t, so we’ll arm ourselves with knowledge and rest easier for it.”

  I wouldn’t say that to just anyone. A lot of people would get on the internet to research anything medical, and end up stressing out themselves and everyone around them. Miles wouldn’t though.

  “Good idea, honey. I feel better already,” he smiled.