“Now, you’re going to want this sink adjusted so she can roll under it. If you’d like, I can come fix that for your Ma tomorrow, say about nine in the morning? I could fix the one under the kitchen sink, too—not that I imagine you all are going to make her do too many dishes now,” he chuckled at his joke, again.
“I think that’s a brilliant idea, thank you for offering to have it done for us so quickly.” Meg started walking Chuck back to the front door. “Thanks again for your excellent work,” she said as she handed him a check for the full amount owed him, plus a generous tip for him and his small crew.
Glancing at her watch, she calculated how much more time before people began arriving. It was getting late and Evan and Creed should be home soon with the modified minivan. Alik had awakened this morning much improved and itching to get out of the house, so he went with Farrow, Danny and Theo to the hospital this afternoon to collect their mom and bring her home.
They should be back in about two hours and Meg wanted everything to be perfect. Maze was happy to be let out of Meg’s room now that the contractors were gone. Meg had learned over the past year it was better not to startle strangers with his wild coyote looks, huge body and huge teeth. His whole presence only made outsiders nervous.
Sloan walked into the living room and plopped on a sofa. “Cole is a pretty demanding patient, but if you ask me, he’s doing much better. I say he gets one more day of coddling, then that boy needs to get up and get his own Cocoa Balls!”
Meg was looking at her to-do list and was happily crossing off several items. Now she smiled up at the slight girl. “I’m very glad you’re here to help him, Sloan. He seems in much better spirits, and I think it has to do with his friendship with you.”
Sloan frowned. “Why on earth would friendship make him feel better? I think it’s just the rest and time to heal that’s been the catalyst behind his improvements.”
“Don’t underestimate the power of positive emotions,” Meg offered carefully, realizing she was talking with a very logic-minded individual—even more so than Evan—and that was saying something.
Sloan dismissed her comment with a shrug and watched Maze stretch and nose around in his basketful of toys for his favorite red squeaky one that had long since lost its ability to squeak.
“You do know your pet isn’t a full-blooded coyote, right?”
“What?” Meg looked up from her to-do list.
“Your pet. He’s a hybrid. Quite a beautiful one, I might add,” she said properly.
“I saw his mother. She was definitely a coyote,” Meg said, shaking her head.
“Okay, so his mother was the coyote. Did you ever see a male around?”
“No, I didn’t. It was just the mother and three pups.”
“Only three pups and no father.” Sloan nodded as though putting the finishing touches on her puzzle.
“What?”
“Well, the average North American coyote mates for life. The fathers stay with the family, hunting for food and bringing it back for the mother to eat. She stays with the pups, nursing them and training them how to hunt for months after they’re born. They also are known to have as many as fifteen pups.”
“So, maybe something happened to the father,” Meg offered.
“Sure, but it definitely was not a coyote father. He looks to have German Shepard in him. It’s why he’s so big. Coyotes don’t usually get so…huge.”
Meg looked at her friend through different eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Pretty sure, yeah,” Sloan offered casually, as if this were no big deal. “He’s what’s called a ‘coydog’. Depending on the hybrid, coydogs often have the piercing eyes of their coyote parent,” Sloan nodded toward Maze’s strikingly handsome yellow eyes. By now, he was watching them, as if he completely knew they were talking about him. He stood upright and held very still watching the girls.
“What are you doing, Maze?” Meg shook her head at her best friend. “You look like you’re posing for us, you silly thing!”
Maze padded to Meg, laid his head in her lap and looked up at her adoringly.
“So you think his daddy was a German Shepard?”
“It looks like it. The combination makes him look a lot more wolf-like in his physique and the way he carries himself. Besides, I know German Shepard’s. After all, I grew up in Germany where they originated.”
“Hmm, so you’re a coydog?” Meg nuzzled her Maze’s neck. He took that as an invitation to climb into her lap.
“Ooph! You’re way too big to sit in my lap, nut ball!” Meg teased pushing him back onto the ground. “Ah well, you’ll always be my wily coyote.” Meg rubbed his ears just the way he liked and smiled at the content squeaks and moans her friend couldn’t help but make at the sheer joy he felt worked his ears just so.
“Sloan, little help!” Cole’s voice echoed down the corridor.
“Did I say tomorrow I stop coddling? I’m thinking now; now’s a good time,” she flopped her hands down on either side of her and yelled: “Whatever it is, you get out of that bed and do it yourself, Cole!”
Meg laughed at the groan she heard in response.
The garage door rumbled to life, and moments later Evan and Creed walked in laughing about something.