All of Leo's belonging fit into two cars and it only took the one trip to remove him from her house and deposit him at Regina's. How the hell did the mess he created every day fit so compactly into two vehicles? Maybe I shouldn't think so much about it, she thought, and just be grateful that he's gone.
Dinner with her sister went exactly as she had planned. She and Regina had plied Ken with several dirty vodka martinis and danced around the subject all night. When they finally sprung it on Ken, they made it seem like he'd already know and had just drunk so much he'd forgotten. We can be such devious bitches sometimes, Georgia thought with a mixture of wry regret and heady glee.
By the time Georgia had returned home from dinner, Leo had returned the puppy and cleaned the house. She hadn't had time to deal with him, so she ignored him for the next three days and had let Regina know to expect him on Saturday.
Now, as she, Ken and Regina were pulling the last of Leo's stuff out of her car, she breathed a sigh of relief. She watched Leo walk around with those two dogs following behind and was glad she could go home and leave him here. It was a shame that Regina had to deal with him now, but she was glad it wasn't her responsibility anymore. She said her goodbyes and headed home.
The house was quiet. Leo and the damn dogs were gone. Allan was gone. She had the weekend off and she wouldn't see Ethan again for three more days. What was she going to do with herself now? She started giggling at that, then tears came to her eyes and she giggled at that too. Maybe Leo's not the only one losing his mind, she thought. Maybe I should go see Michael and work out some of my issues. But no, Ethan would help her work out some issues and now they didn't have to just make love in her office; she could have him here. That was a freeing thought. As exhilarating as the thought was that they might get caught while they were in her office, it was more exciting to think that now she could take her time with him. Mmmmm time. That's just what the doctor ordered. She picked up the phone and dialed his cell.
2"Leo, I don't give a shit what Georgia told you. You're boarding those dogs or you're going to a hotel."
"Aw kid. Don't do that to your old man."
Regina gave him a cold grin, "Old man, it's already done. Oakwood is expecting the dogs by 3:00 today. Either you bring them or I will. And if I do, I might be tempted to take the route that goes directly by the pound."
He gaped at her. "Would you really be that heartless? At least your sister knows how important Kenwood and Coxcomb are to me."
"My sister is spineless. She didn't want those dogs any more than I do, but I'm the only one that will stand up to you. If you leave now, you have enough time to take them to the park for a run and then get them to the kennel."
"I'm going back to your sister's."
"Go ahead, but you'll be wasting your time. She's going to send you right back here. Sorry Leo, but you're stuck here until your condo is finished. Now put those goddamn mutts in the car and get going."
He turned without another word and whistled for the dogs.
Regina went to the kitchen, poured two drinks and walked into the backyard where Ken was relaxing on the patio. "The deed is done." She handed his drink to him.
"He's headed to the kennel?"
"Oh yeah." They clinked their glasses together. She sat and leaned against him. "This is going to be good. We've only got to put up with him for two weeks and then we're done. I'll let him calm down a little before I start working on getting him to reorganize his ownership documents."
"Amen to that." Ken raised his glass and downed the drink. "I love how manipulative you can be."
"How about I do a little manipulation upstairs while the old man is out?"
Ken leaned in to kiss her, "You don't have to ask me twice."
3Georgia hit play on her answering machine and heard, "Georgia? It's Christina. I…uh, I'd really like to talk to you about Leo. I know he's gone to stay with Regina, so I was hoping you'd let me come over so we could talk. Please, please…uh, please call me when you get this message. I'd really like to talk to family. I miss you…okay…uh, bye. Call me." Georgia shook her head and hit the delete button.
4Ethan pulled out of Georgia's driveway and flipped open his cellphone,
"Yeah?"
"Capitalized interest, liquidity ratio, promissory note… How about now?"
"What do you want Ethan?
"Just you, Regina; just you."
"Uh huh. I love your frankness. Now why don't you stop trying to seduce me aurally and tell me why you're calling me."
Ethan chuckled and said, "I love the double entrendre."
Regina was silent. When she didn't respond, he continued, "I've been spending some time with your sister lately. She's got a lot of ideas that I thought you should hear about."
"You've been..." He could hear her breathing loudly. "Thank you Ethan. I'd like to have a conversation with you about that, but not right now. When are you free?"
Hooked! He hesitated just a little, "Tonight?"
"That's not going to work for me. In fact I'm busy every night this week. How about Saturday at 7pm. Meet me at the restaurant?"
Hmm. Saturday. I wonder where her husband will be? "Saturday works for me. I'll see you then," he said.
"Right," she responded and he waited until he heard her slam the phone down before he snapped his cell closed. It was just a matter of time like he thought. And now that time was getting shorter.