When Mort arrived at Amy's house she opened the door with a box of tissues in her hand.
This time she was fully clothed, wearing jeans and a plain sweatshirt with her blonde hair tied loosely in a bun.
"Hey, come on in." She stepped aside and let him into the foyer.
"Where's Chico?" He asked as he gave her a loose hug.
"He's still on the couch, I didn't want to move him myself." She replied as they walked into the modern styled house and into the living room.
Mort spotted Chico laying on the couch in a fetal position. His eyes got tears in them as he walked up the couch and placed a hand on Chico's head.
"Oh, Mort, I feel so bad, Chico was such a good little puppy." Amy pouted and sat down on the couch's arm next to the deceased dog.
Mort nodded and looked around some. "Well, the ground outside is still hard since it's winter it's going to be hard burring him."
Amy nodded, "Yeah, I thought about that some, are we going to be able to do it?" She asked sadly.
Mort shrugged. "All we need is a sharp shovel."
Mort and Amy went into the garage and pulled out the proper shovel and headed back into the house. Mort handed Amy the shovel and told her to head outside while he grabbed Chico. Amy agreed and went out into the back yard. When Mort arrived Amy watched him as he carefully laid Chico down into the snow. Mort looked at Amy for a second and took the shovel from her. After he had dug up an appropriately measured grave he carefully laid Chico down into it and began to cover it back up with dirt. Amy sobbed until Mort was done and then he too shed a tear for their lost pal.
"Mort, will you come inside?" Amy asked and placed a hand on his shoulder as she looked down at the grave with a grim look on her face.
Mort looked over at her hesitantly. "Amy... I-"
"No seriously, no bullshit this time." She promised and took hold on his hand lead him into the house.
Mort sat down at the kitchen table and Amy poured him a cup of coffee.
"Do you remember when we first spotted Chico at the pound?" Amy questioned as she sat next to him.
Mort nodded and took a sip of his coffee, she still remember just how he liked it.
"Yeah, I remember."
"Ha, Remember how he was doing circles in his crate when he saw us?" She laughed a bit and smiled down at her cup.
Mort smiled too and nodded again, "Oh yeah, and when we took him home all he did was follow us around, everywhere."
"Do it Mort... do it " She nudged his shoulder.
Mort laughed a bit and refused at first.
"Oh come on, just for Chico's sake, do it." She insisted.
Mort laughed again and followed her request. "Chico, dooonnn't be dissscooouuuraaaaggged! " He hit his vocal cords so that his voice broke up in little jerks.
Amy snorted cutely and smiled. "I love that. "
"I love that, when you snort, do it again " He laughed.
"I can't do it unless you make me laugh hard enough, you know that." She rolled her eyes and took a sip of her coffee.
Mort licked his lips nervously and looked away from her, he was getting too close again, he could feel it.
"So, tell me Mort, what's been new?" Amy asked.
Mort shook his head, "Not much really."
"How is Sarah?" Amy questioned quiet genuinely.
Mort was surprised by how nice she sounded and decided to tell her the news. "She's doing great, we're great. She's pregnant."
Amy swallowed her coffee hard and made an effort to set the cup down gently.
"Mort..."
"What?"
"Be careful... you know what the doctor told you..."
Mort looked at her angered. "Amy, doctors just want money."
Amy shook her head, "Oh Mort, remember what happened with me?"
Mort nodded, "I know Amy, but maybe this is different."
"I hope so, for your sake and hers." She said.
Mort cleared his throat loudly and finished his coffee.
"Writing any new stories?" She asked noticing that he wanted to change the subject.
He didn't like this subject either.
"Yeah, but hey, I should get going." He stood up and carried his coffee cup to the sink.
Amy followed him and walked him to the door.
They stood in front of one another for a moment until they both hugged.
"Listen, Mort, remember what I said about you and Sarah." She warned as she pulled out of their embrace.
Mort nodded and rolled his eyes. "Okay Amy."
"And, hey, thank you for helping me with Chico."
"Anytime." He smiled and headed out the door.
Another day another chapter. He thought.