A Weekend Getaway by Karen Lenfestey

ones to order.”
    “No!”
    Releasing her grip on Emma, Beth picked up the puppy and
handed it to the salesgirl. Emma fell onto her belly, kicking her feet and
pounding her fists. Her cries sounded more like screams. Wails that could
probably be heard out on the sidewalk. Shrieks that embarrassed the hell out of
Beth. She looked around to see how many people were watching—to see how
many would know what a terrible guardian she was. Fortunately, only the
salesgirl and one other family were there. But of course they all stared.
    Beth grabbed Emma’s elbow and tugged. No luck. Beth crouched
down and whispered. “Let’s go home and tell Uncle Drew about the puppy.” Oh,
she was desperate. “Maybe Santa will bring him to you for Christmas.”
    Emma turned up the volume on her protests. “No!”
    Beth grappled for the phone inside her purse. “Here, Emma.
You can take a picture of the puppy with my cellphone. Then Uncle Drew will
understand how cute he is.”
    “Don’t wanna!” Emma could give a hurricane a run for its
money.
    Beth knew her cheeks must be crimson by now. How could a
little kid go on and on for so long? Shouldn’t she run out of breath by now?
Beth had no idea what to do—she wasn’t prepared for this. Wasn’t ready.
She hadn’t had a chance to read all those parenting books and blogs. She hadn’t
had a chance to prepare for motherhood…wait, that wasn’t true. She’d had a
chance sixteen years ago and she’d given it away. Her voice lowered to a
whisper. “Please get up. Please. You’re embarrassing me. I’ll do anything if
you’ll just be quiet.”
    Emma swallowed her tears. “Get me doggie!”
    Beth took a deep breath, frustrated that she’d been
blackmailed by a three-year-old. She stood and walked toward the teenaged
employee. “Do you have anything a little less involved? We can’t get a dog.
We’re in the middle of remodeling a house, our yard isn’t fenced in, and we
both work.”
    The girl nodded her head, her eyes still wide from Emma’s
hysterics. “We have hamsters and gerbils.”
    That was more like it. Something furry in a cage. Something
that wouldn’t chew on her shoes and pee on their floor. “Emma, come here. See
what they have back there.” Beth waved her arms in a giant swoop.
    At first the little girl paused. Then she stood and stomped
toward them. The teenager pulled what looked like a furry mouse out of a cage
and let Emma pet it. Emma shook her head. “I want a dog.” She crossed her arms
and turned away.
    The clerk exchanged an apologetic look with Beth.
    Emma walked up to a plastic container with a labyrinth dug
into sand. Her tiny fingers traced the tunnels. “Cool!”
    Beth stiffened. It was an ant farm.
    Emma stared at the crawling ants the same way she stared at
Dora the Explorer. “Can I have this?”
    “Those are bugs. You can go outside and look in the dirt if
you want to see ants.”
    “Pleeeeease!”
    At least it was lower maintenance than a dog. Beth asked the
clerk about what they ate and was assured they were the “easiest pet ever.” Spotting
the grin on Emma’s face, Beth realized she was holding her breath, dreading
another tantrum. “I guess. As long as you promise not to let them out.” As soon
as she could swipe her Visa, they were out of there—ant farm and sugar
water all in tow.
    Thank God that was over.

 
    CHAPTER
SIX
    The lie had slid far too easily from Beth’s lips. Sarah has the flu, her husband’s out town on
business, and she needs help with the kids. She has four, you know. Don’t wait
for me to eat dinner.
    She hated to lie to Drew, but it was the only way. Taking a
day off of work rubbed her wrong, too. The morals and work ethic she prided
herself upon seemed to be crumbling. Her insides twisted with guilt.
    Even though she wore a navy cardigan and jeans, Sarah
shivered beside her in the church basement. She opened a large cardboard box in
the corner. “Did you have a rough night?”
    Beth randomly