Chapter 40

“Steve, I’m going to take Lad and Lady for a walk now. I want you gone by the time I get back.”

“But, Dan, I do lo—”

“Save it,” Dan said, holding up a hand. He got to his feet and called Lad and Lady. “We’ll be about a half hour. That should give you enough time.” 9

The day after Dan had kicked Steve out of his house, he de-activated his online profiles. He wasn’t up to going through this again, not after what had happened with Rocky, Damion, and finally Steve.

Dan was reasonably sure he wouldn’t do well with casual sex. Having sex with perfect strangers, pretending for the brief time you were together the physical intimacy meant something more than satisfying sexual needs, would leave him feeling empty. At the same time, he knew he wasn’t wired for being alone. But for just then he didn’t want to think about any of it.

The weekend after his debacle with Steve, Dan was trying to distract himself from the situation he found himself in by catching up on his professional reading. He’d neglected that for the last few weeks. He was immersed in an article about new trends in diagnosing and treating equine protozoal myeloencephalitis when his phone rang.

“Hi, Dan. It’s Christine.”

“Oh…hi, Chrissy,” Dan replied, putting the journal aside. He hoped she hadn’t called to tell him she was ready to have Lady come live with her. Right now Dan needed both his kids with him. Losing Lady would only add to his sense of aloneness.

They made small talk about Christine’s new job and how things were going for Dan at All Creatures for a few minutes when Christine said, “I’ve been thinking about Lady, and I’ve got something to ask you.”

Taking a deep breath and bracing himself, Dan asked, “What is it?”

“Well…” She sounded uncertain, as if she were nervous about asking him. “Well, I was wondering if you’d be okay with keeping Lady…indefinitely.”

Dan didn’t respond immediately. He let the relief wash over him. He wasn’t going to lose one of his babies just when he needed them most, after all.

Christine took his hesitancy for reluctance. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but…well…I might as well tell you, I’ve met someone.”

“Met someone?” Dan murmured.

“Yeah. His name is Ian. He’s a real estate agent. He’s very nice. I think you’d like him.”

“Wow,” was all Dan could say at first. When he found his tongue, he added, “Gee, that’s great.”

“Thanks. I was hoping you’d take it okay.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Dan asked.

“Well, it hasn’t been that long since we…you know.”

Dan wondered why she didn’t seem to be able to say divorce

Christine went on, “I’ve been told it’s hard for someone when their ex is the first to move on,”

Dan laughed sardonically to himself. If he hadn’t blundered his way through his first attempts at finding a partner, he’d be the one worrying about how Chrissy would take it—to say nothing of the fact it would be a gay relationship.

“No, it’s fine—really. I’m happy for you.”

“Dan, you’re the best.”

“How does Lady fit into this?

“Ian’s allergic to dogs but not cats. He has three. And we, Ian and I, talked about it and we decided it would be better if Lady could stay with you and Lad, if it’s okay.”

“Of course it is,” Dan said, joy and confusion mingling. He was happy to be able to stop worrying about Lady’s future, but he was also feeling…he didn’t know what…about Christine having a boyfriend.

“I’m so glad you understand,” Christine was saying. “Lady’s happy there with you, and I know you’re really attached to her.” They talked for a few minutes more before Christine said, “I guess I’ll say so long for now. Please stay in touch.”

“I will, yeah, definitely.”

“I’ll call you with my new address when Ian and I find a place of our own.”

“Uh, okay.”

Dan said goodbye then awkwardly added, “Um—good luck. I hope you’ll be happy. Love you.”

“Thanks, Dan. That’s sweet of you to say. I love you, too.”

After the call, Dan went out on the deck with the dogs. They ran out into the yard while he sat watching them play in the sunshine. Lady was here to stay. He was glad of that. It made him smile. But the news that Christine had moved on was unsettling. He’d been trying to move on and find someone, too. But somehow he hadn’t thought of Chrissy doing that. It made him feel strange. It made their separation seem final and his being alone more acute. Especially since he was at a loss as to how to change that aspect of his life.