“You’re such a cute little thing. I bet Black broke your heart too,” I coo to the little Chihuahua. He seems to instantly understand because he whimpers and pushes his head against my face.

I pet him as I close my eyes. It’s been over 5 hours since I confronted Black, and with each hour that passes, I seem to only hurt more.

There’s a knock on my door and I want to bury my head and ignore it. But it might be Black—I did kind of kidnap his dog.

In my defense, I didn’t mean to. I just wanted out of there and I had the dog and…

I kind of hope it is him. I want to see him; I want him to beg me to forgive him right before I tell him to go to hell. Probably won’t happen, but still…

I open the door and immediately I frown. I can’t see a person just a giant fur covered cat perch like thing. I’ve seen them in a pet store. They’re tall—though this one is even taller than normal—covered in shag carpet, and it has a perch which is meant to contour to a cat’s body and several little tunnel and private dens. It keeps coming at me, so I reach out my hand to grab it before it knocks me over. I take several steps back and that’s when I see the woman from the police station earlier.

Black’s mother.

“Uh…”

“Hi! Sorry for stopping by unannounced. I just gathered up some of Kong’s stuff and wanted to bring them to you.”

“Kong?”

“My grand-pup you’re trying to hold there,” she says. I blink and she reaches over and takes the dog from my hand. To be fair he was hanging on precariously while I tried to hold onto the monstrosity that she shoved at me to get through the door.

“Grand-pup? Listen I didn’t mean to take the dog. You can have him back.”

“Oh no. I can’t.”

“You can’t?” I blink.

“Of course not, Daffodil!”

“Daffodil?”

“I’m trying out flower names for you. I thought Rose first, but honestly that flower is just too serious for you. You’re all over the place, you need a name to reflect that.”

“I’m all over the place?”

“Now don’t get pissy about that. I wasn’t criticizing you. I’m like that too. Personally, I think all good women are. But still, you need a name that reflects that. I like Daffodil, though if I know my boys—and sadly I know them down to the DNA in their bones—most of which—thank God—is mine—anyways, if I know my boys they’ll start calling you Daffy and I’m pretty sure you don’t want that.”

“Um… no… not really.”

“So, I’ll keep trying. Do you have a favorite flower?”

“I… Orchids…” I tell her.

“Ohhh… I like that! They’re complicated and they do best in hot houses, and again no offense honey, but you do take off with a full head of steam,” she laughs.

“I don’t think I understand what’s going on… Ms…”

“You can call me Ida Sue. I’m just here bringing you some of Kong’s things so he will feel more at home.”

“At home? But he’s Black’s dog. He belongs with his wife and kids and—”

“Oh child! That bone-headed son of mine hasn’t explained things to you at all yet, has he?”

“I… Ida Sue, I’m following about zero percent of what you’re saying. To be honest, I’m trying to figure out why you brought the dog’s things here and why the dog has a cat jungle gym….”

“A cat? Well damn. That explains a lot. I was wondering how they expected poor little Kong to climb way up there to get on the perch…” she says, staring at the item in question like she’s just now seeing it for the first time. “Oh well, he likes the little bottom hideaway.

“I’m sure you mean well and things but, I can’t have Black’s dog,” I tell her.

“Why on earth not? I mean, you kind of claimed him and he likes you!”

“I can’t because Black hates me!”

“Oh, honey. He doesn’t.”

“Uh, were you not there today? He does. Besides, I don’t care. I know he’s your son, but he’s a liar and a cheat and poor Petal—”

“Is his sister, Dahlia.”

“I…”

“Too much?”

“I don’t like that name,” I answer, still blinking in shock.

“Poo. I liked it. If Cyan had been a girl, he was so getting that name,” she says with a sigh like I took away her favorite toy. “I guess we’ll just stick with Orchid.”

“Thanks… I think… Did you say that Petal was—”

“Black’s sister,” she says with a nod of the head, putting the dog on the floor. He instantly goes into the small hideaway at the base of the cat thingy. Guess Ida Sue was right about that. But…

“How is she Black’s sister? Dad told me himself that Petal was married to—”

“Sheriff Luka Parrish and she is. That’s my son-in-law—though you should know he prefers to be called Orange Parrish.”

“Orange Parrish?”

“Exactly that.”

“Why on earth does he like to be called Orange?”

“Purple Lucas didn’t have the same ring.”

“I… Ida Sue I’m confused.”

“Honey, Black isn’t the sheriff, he’s just a deputy.”

“Then why did I—”

“Honey I don’t know how you came up with that, but I figure it’s because Black drove you crazy.”

“I—”

“Trust me, I carried Black and his brother in my stomach at the same time, those boys could drive a saint to drink.”

“He’s really not married?” I ask, my heart tripping over in my chest.

“Definitely not.”

“Oh no!” I cry, flopping down on the arm of a chair.

“Now why does that upset you? I got the feeling you were sweet on my boy?”

“I, well, I don’t know him that well, but I was… kind of…”

“Then why are you so upset to find out he’s single?”

“Because I stormed into his office, made a scene and slapped him!”

“Oh…”

“He has to hate me now. I need to find him and apologize.”

“Well, that’s one option…” Ida Sue agrees.

“Option? I don’t think I have an option. I owe Black an apology Ida Sue.”

“That you do, but a little bump in the road is good for my boys. It keeps them on their toes.”

“So you don’t want me to apologize to him?” I ask, not understanding—but I’m starting to think not many people do understand Ida Sue.

“Well, not right away. Besides, my boys can hold grudges when they get a bee up their ass.”

“I think you mean bonnet, Ida Sue.”

“Whatever.”

“So, if I don’t find him and apologize, what do I do?” I ask, completely lost, but figuring she knows her son better than anyone and I’m sick to my stomach thinking of what I’ve done.

“Absolutely nothing,” she says. “Black will make the next move.”

I frown. “How can you be so sure?”

“It’s simple Orchid. You have his dog,” she responds with a wide smile, and I have a very bad feeling about that grin on her face…