Hounded to Death by Laurien Berenson Read Free Book Online Page A

lay down gratefully.
    I imagined Davey running to pick up the phone, Sam pausing in what he was doing to hear who was calling. All the little routines of home, going on in my absence. The Poodles would follow Davey out to the kitchen; several would bark to add to the excitement.
    I could have called Sam’s cell phone, but that would have spoiled Davey’s fun. When you’re nine, things like picking up the phone are still exciting.
    I felt a swift stab of homesickness as I heard a click and Davey yelled, “Hey!”
    â€œHey yourself, it’s Mom.”
    I could hear the Poodles in the background and I quickly picked out Faith’s distinctive voice. She was the first dog I’d ever owned and she’d become my canine soul mate. Since Faith can pretty much read my mind, I assumed she knew it was me on the phone.
    â€œI figured it was you,” Davey said, sounding very pleased with himself. “How are the Poconos? Are they big? Do they have snow on them?”
    Told that I’d be spending the week in the mountains, my son had pictured me scaling the Alps or living at a Mount Everest base camp. Unfortunately my real life wasn’t that exciting.
    â€œThey’re medium-sized and I haven’t seen any snow yet. Actually the weather here is pretty much like it is at home.”
    â€œOh. No skiing?”
    â€œNot this week. And probably not at all for me until after the baby is born.”
    â€œThe baby needs a name,” said Davey.
    This was a familiar complaint. Davey is very organized and he likes the world around him to be the same.
    â€œSam-Dad and I are working on it,” he said.
    â€œGood. What have you come up with?”
    â€œWe’re thinking maybe Rufus.”
    I swallowed a laugh. “Really.”
    â€œYou know, in honor of Sam’s Scottish heritage.”
    â€œSam doesn’t have a Scottish heritage.”
    â€œThat’s not what he told me.” This time it was Davey who let a giggle escape.
    â€œOkay,” I said. “Rufus sounds good. What if it’s a girl?”
    â€œIt won’t be.”
    â€œIt might be.”
    â€œIt won’t.”
    The utter confidence of youth. While I loved the idea of a baby daughter myself, I was really hoping he wouldn’t be disappointed.
    â€œHow’s everything going at home?” I asked.
    â€œMom, you’ve only been gone a day. Not even.”
    â€œYes, but I know you guys. And things can go wrong in less time than that.”
    â€œNo problems here,” said Davey. “Everything’s cool. Wait! Here’s Sam.”
    â€œHi, Mel.” Sam’s voice replaced my son’s on the line. “How’s everything going?”
    â€œGreat. If you don’t count the fact that Aunt Peg came to this symposium to rendezvous with her new forty-nine-year-old boyfriend whom she met over the Internet, that some sort of judging scandal is brewing, and that the organizer of the event is afraid the keynote speaker is up to something nefarious.”
    â€œIn other words, business as usual,” said Sam.
    â€œPretty much.”
    â€œHow are you feeling?”
    â€œGood.” I leaned back on the pillows and closed my eyes. “Tired.”
    â€œDon’t do too much. You’re there to enjoy yourself, take in a few lectures, learn a little something, have a week off. A low-stress vacation.”
    â€œThere is such a thing?”
    â€œDamn straight. You’re on it. Let me talk to Bertie. I want to find out if she’s keeping an eye on you.”
    â€œNot here,” I said with a yawn. “She’s out partying the night away with her new friend, Alana.”
    â€œNot Alana Bennett?”
    â€œThe very same.”
    Like Aunt Peg, Sam had been involved in the dog show world for eons. Her knowledge and connections were legendary, but his were pretty impressive too.
    â€œTell Bertie to keep her hand on her wallet and her back to the