Free The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson Page B

Christmas!” Of course, with the tone of her voice and the way she said this, she could’ve been using foul language and the meaning would not have been much different. And before Betty could respond, she heard the dull buzz of the dial tone in her ear.
    “Let me guess,” Avery said as she appeared in the hallway with a dish towel hanging limply in her hand. “My mom?”
    Betty just nodded as she replaced the phone.
    “Now she’s mad at you too?”
    “I’m afraid so.”
    Avery grinned. “Well, join the club, Grandma.”
    “Apparently my dues are all paid up in full.”
    “My mother would’ve made a good dictator.”
    Betty stifled a smile.
    “She wants to rule the world, you know.”
    “I just hope you’re sure you’re making the right decision to stay here for the holidays.”
    Avery frowned. “You don’t want me?”
    Betty hesitated. Of course she wanted her. But was she wrong to keep Avery from returning home? Was she an enabler—the bad kind?
    “I’ll leave if you want me to,” Avery said quietly.
    “No, of course I don’t want you to leave.” Betty put a hand on her shoulder. “I only want what’s best for you, dear.”
    Avery nodded, but there was a flicker of hurt in her eyes. Betty wondered if she should say more to reassure her granddaughter. But what could she say? It was true that Betty only wanted what was best for Avery. The problem was that Betty didn’t have a clue as to what that was. Should Avery stay here and risk angering her mother? Or go home and face whatever it was she needed to face? Really, what was best? And it seemed unlikely that an old woman like herself—living on a very frugal budget and on the verge of selling her home and fleeing from a questionable neighborhood—was truly the best resource for someone like Avery.

8
    Then next morning, Betty got up at her usual time, just a bit past seven. But when she went to the laundry room to check on the dog, she was surprised to discover that he was not there. The door was firmly shut, just like it had been last night, and his bed and food dishes were still there, but the dog was missing. Betty checked around the house and even looked out into the backyard, but the mutt was nowhere to be seen.
    Finally, worried that Jack had sneaked over and broken into her house in the middle of the night, she decided to check on the welfare of her granddaughter. And there, in the guest bed, were both Avery and the dog. The dog looked up from where he was comfortably curled up against Avery’s back, but Avery continued to snooze. Betty just shook her head and quietly closed the door. She hoped the dog didn’t have fleas.
    Thanks to the dog’s need to go outside, Avery got up before eight. Betty sipped her coffee, watching as Avery waited by the sliding door for the dog to finish up his business. To Betty’s relief he had found another part of the yard—not the dogwood tree—to relieve himself this time.
    “It’s freezing out there,” Avery said as she let the dog back inside. “Do you think it’ll snow?”
    “I’m sure it’s a possibility.” Betty set her coffee mug down.
    “I’ve always wanted to see a white Christmas,” she said dreamily. “Maybe this will be the year.”
    “Maybe.” Betty smiled at Avery. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to hear more about what you got for the Deerwoods’ anniversary party.”
    Avery’s mouth twisted to one side. “But I wanted to surprise you, Grandma.”
    “Surprise me?”
    “Yes. I have to work on everything. But I don’t want you to see it until I’m done.”
    “That’s very sweet of you, dear. But I’d really like to have some sort of an idea of what you’re—”
    “I used your list,” Avery said. “And I can guarantee you that I got enough plates and cups and things for a hundred people. And I’ve got what I need for decorations too. So can’t you just let me work on it and surprise you? I promise you it’ll be awesome. You won’t be