Free DUBIOUS by Tina Brooks McKinney Page B

doing?” I asked.
    “ The dogs use the blankets for their nest. Well, it’s actually called whelping if you want the technical term.”
    “ Oh … So what happens next?” I was impressed with the bare rudiments of it all.
    “ We wait. The dogs tell you when their ready. They get real still and focused. We’re just here to assist the dams should they need us and to cut the cords.”
    “ Cords? What is that?” As soon as the question had left my lips, I felt so stupid.
    “ Umbilical cord. They have them just like humans do.”
    “ Oh.” I was going to have to step up my game if I was going to run this business.
    “ Actually the birthing process is quite interesting. Normally a big bubble appears before the birth, which sometimes bursts. If we’re lucky, the pups come shortly after that,” he spoke with the confidence of an expert. “Sometimes they get stuck or try to come out wrong, that’s when it gets tricky.”
    “ If you think I’m putting my hands in some nasty shit, you’ve got another thing coming.”
    “ That’s why I came ’cause I knew it would gross you out.”
    “ Whatever. How much longer is it going to be?”
    “ That’s up to the dams.”
    “ Did you plan on having two dogs giving birth on the same day?”
    “ Yeah, we wanted them to be close together so we could schedule our time better. With these things, though, you can’t ever tell with any degree of certainty when they will give birth.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 8
     

Felicia
     
    I stretched out on the sofa for what I thought would be a power nap, but it soon turned into blissful slumber. I was awakened by the annoying automated voice of my cell phone:
    “ Pick up the phone. Pick up the damn phone, ” it said.
    I used to like that ring tone but it was getting on my last nerve. Not because I didn’t want to answer, I just didn’t know where the hell it was at first.
    “ Pick up the phone. Pick up the damn phone .”
    “ Hello,” I mumble into the phone, trying to clear the cobwebs from my head.
    “ Hello my ass. Where the fuck are you, heifer?”
    “ Kenya?”
    “ Yeah, and I repeat my question: Where the fuck are you?”
    “ I’m at the kennel. What time is it?” I said, checking my watch: 7:47 am .
    “ It’s time for your ass to be getting your hair done. I know you didn’t make me wake up early to come ova your house to do your hair and you’re motherfucking ass ain’t here. Please tell me I am having a fucking bad dream ’cause I’m about to lose my mind up in here.”
    “ Oh damn! Shit, girl, I’m so sorry.” I sat up. “I came to the kennel last night because two of the dogs were due to have puppies. It wasn’t a plan; Randy met me here. I didn’t realize it would take this long, and I guess I fell asleep. I just didn’t feel comfortable leaving him here alone.”
    “ Well both y’all asses are going to be late for court if you don’t move your ass right now.”
    “ Girl, I had a revelation last night, he doesn’t give a shit about our marriage—this kennel is his passion. If those dogs didn’t deliver last night, he may not even make it to court. I didn’t realize just how hooked he is.”
    “ I bet that fucked with your ego.”
    “ That’s a motherfucking understatement. I was battling with this all last night; and, to be honest, I am shocked that I was able to sleep at all.”
    “ So what do you want to do about your hair because if you don’t need me, I’m taking my tired ass home?”
    “ Girl, he saw my hair and didn’t say a mumbling word, so it makes no sense doing anything to it now. I fell asleep on the couch and now my back is killing me. I’m going to check on the dogs and get dressed for court here. I am not trying to piss off a judge by wearing jeans. Go on home and I’ll holla later.”
    “ You sure?”
    “ Yeah, but thanks, boo.”
    “ Okay, Ms. Thang, I’ll talk to you later. Good luck.”
    “ Kenya, I really appreciate you from the