Hey everybody! I think I've cleared all the writing cobwebs out of my brain, so this one didn't take as long as the first chapter and 3 is half done. I'm so excited! *Except where noted, the players in this story are all in their late-twenties (ish).

Chapter 2

Rick somehow managed to get a very stinky Bubbles back upstairs to Jessie's condo. After depositing Bubbles in the bathtub of Jessie's en- suite, he browsed her extensive collection of hair care products; curious as to whether any of the many different formulations were specific for use in the removal of fecal matter from dog fur. By the second washing, he'd gone through over half a bottle of something called Oribe Signature Shampoo and decided that Bubbles' fur, while soft, smelled like spicy shit. Making his way to the kitchen in search of a household cleanser that wouldn't harm a dog, he hit paydirt in the cabinet under the sink. 'Hey, they used it to clean off ducks in that commercial,' he said to himself, grabbing the bottle of Dawn dishwashing detergent. Once she passed the smell test, he opted to forego blow drying in favor of a rough toweling off; which she loved.

Heading back to the kitchen, he joyously began his coffee brewing ritual. After filling the kettle with filtered water, he set it on the stove to heat. He was in the process of loading beans into the coffee grinder, when he was interrupted by his ringing phone. Grabbing it from where it sat on the counter, he issued a low growl; smiling when he saw the name of the caller.

'Mornin' Herschel. How are you doin' old man?' he asked, glad to hear from his longtime friend. 'Better than you young-uns. I swear, you have one itty, bitty infarction and everyone tries to treat you like you got a foot in the grave.' 'I hear ya,' Rick replied, 'and it wasn't even nuthin' a lil' ol' triple bypass couldn't fix.' Herschel and Rick's father had been best friends and fellow deputies with the King's County Sheriff's Department. After the sudden death of Richard Sr. when Rick was fourteen, Herschel had stepped up, becoming somewhat of a mentor to the boy. He was still in the process of recovering from a massive heart attack the year before.

'Are you still in Atlanta?'

'Yep. I'll be hittin' the road directly, if I could ever get this dang coffee made.'

'Good, then I'm glad I caught ya. Had a surprise visitor last night.'

'Oh, yeah? Who?' Rick wondered.

'Maggie showed up here around ten. Seems her and Gareth had themselves a big 'ol blowout.' Maggie was Herschel's oldest daughter. She and her husband, Gareth had been married for two years and were known to have a difficult relationship.

'She says they're done,' Herschel sighed. 'I don't know... Anywho, she'll be here to look after things while the missus and me head over to that auction, so you can save yourself a trip. I know you probably got a whole lotta studyin' to get to.'

'Now Herschel, you know coming down to the farm on Tuesdays is like taking a much needed vacation day for me. Can't study all the dang time. What'd they fight about this time, anyway?'

'I don't know and I don't wanna know. But I overheard her tellin' Beth something about catching him eatin' something he shouldna.'

'Oh, Lord...'

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Shortly after ending his conversation with Herschel, Rick was about to pour boiling water into the french press when he heard the door to Jessie's condo open. A man in a chauffeur's suit and cap staggered in, struggling under the weight of several matching pieces of Louis Vuitton luggage. Rick's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the sight of a black- clad Jessie following closely behind him. She sashayed in on four inch stilettos, cell phone in hand.

'Yes, Daddy...I know and I'm sorry, but I just couldn't stay there a minute longer. If I had to listen to Aunt Alberta have one more break- down, I swear, I was just gonna lose my mind!...I will, Daddy...love you..kisses.' She finally noticed Rick standing in the kitchen doorway and rushed over to grab him in a choking embrace, 'Oh, Rick! It is sooo good to finally be home! I'm exhausted!' Rick frowned, glancing over at the man in the foyer, who was doing his best to juggle the cumbersome load.

'Ah, Jessie...' he prodded, nodding at the poor fellow. 'Oh, yes! Driver, you can just leave those right there,' she said, waving her hand in a general direction. She then walked to the living room where she collapsed onto the sofa and proceeded to remove her hat and veil. She smoothed a manicured hand over her blonde hair which was styled in a sleek chignon at the base of her neck. Upon checking her makeup in the mirror of a bejeweled compact, she placed the item back in her designer clutch; sinking into the cushion with a sigh.

Rick, after seeing the chauffeur out, grabbed Jessie's many bags and carried them into her bedroom. Entering the living room, he asked, 'How was your trip, Jessie?' taking a seat next to her. 'Did everything go okay?'

'I suppose. Well, the trip to Dallas was lovely and all, but I had such an ordeal coming back.'

'Why? What happened?'

'Well first of all, Uncle Phillip- you remember my granddaddy's brother, which I guess makes him my great- uncle; anyway, he sent his plane to pick me up and it was supposed to fly me back, but they had to go out this week for a business thing. And when I called, his pilot told me the plane was unavailable. So I had to fly commercial.'

'Weren't you scheduled to come back on Friday?' Rick asked.

'Well, yes. But I just had to get out of there,' Jessie whined. Leaning over to remove her shoes, she settled into Rick's side, tucking her feet under her. 'Being there was just too depressing. I really hate being sad.' She wrapped her arms around Rick's middle. 'I thought some champagne would cheer me up, but the annoying flight attendant said they didn't offer it. I wish you could have gone with me. Things always go so much smoother when traveling with a man. And you could have met Daddy.'

'Yeah, uh...how is your father doing?'

'Fine, I guess. He drowned himself in work. Which meant that I had to play the gracious host to all these long lost family members. You would think being the only grandchild would be more fun,' she scowled. 'My nerves are shot.'

Jessie took a deep breath and came to her feet, smoothing out the front of her black sheath dress. 'I am so worn out, I decided I need to go to that Palm Beach Spa Lisa's always talking about before I head back for the reading of the will. I've got time.'

'Lisa? ...Wait- you're leaving again? When?'

'Vanderpump, silly,' she stated, distractedly. 'I'm leaving tonight.' Jessie swung her head around, searching the room. 'Where's my snookums? Bubbles!' she called.

Rick ran his palm down his face, frustrated, 'Jessie, I really need to talk to you.'

'There's my snookums!' she cried, as Bubbles ran in with a treat hanging out of her mouth. Jessie snatched her up in her arms, delivering multiple kisses to the scruffy pooch. 'I won't be gone for long. No more than a week, give or take...'. She continued with the affectionate display until she noticed the object in Bubbles' mouth. 'What do you have, there? Did daddy Rick get you a new toy? Oooh, it smells!' Taking the offensive item from Bubbles, she scowled, 'Rick, what is this?'

'It's a bully stick.'

'A what?'

'Dried bull penis.'

'Excuse me? Uh, no...'. Using two fingers, she gingerly handed it to Rick before heading to her bedroom with Bubbles. ' Do you wanna come with me, snooky- wooky? You wanna take a trip to the spa? Where are your bows?

'I think I'm gonna take a bath. Were you still heading out to Herschel's today?' she called over her shoulder.

'Yeah, it's getting late,' Rick lied, 'I better get going!' Deciding to beat a hasty retreat, he made his way to the front door, glancing back longingly at the abandoned french press.

'Rick, what's all this in the bathtub?'

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Author's Note- Having never used Oribe Signature Shampoo, I cannot testify as to its ability to remove fecal odors. Nevertheless, I am certain that it is a wonderful product with a lovely scent.