Page 56 of Life, Love and the Pursuit of Happiness

“Exactly, but I wouldn’t refer to her that way in her hearing.”

K-4 grinned. “Any progress?”

“Some,” he admitted, and grinned back.

“Hoo-yah!” K-4 proclaimed, then repeated that sentiment after following Merrill to Delilah’s property. They both got out of their vehicles. K-4 glanced around, taking in the twenty-foot Elvis, the Rock Around the Clock diner, the Heartbreak Motel, and said, “Hot damn hoo-yah!” Immediately followed by “The only thing missing is Graceland. Or is that on the horizon?”

“God only knows!”

In Bell Cove, one never knew what would happen next.

In the end, all you’ve got to do is shebang . . .

Delilah was alternately furious and ecstatic.

Furious with her grandmother for just popping in, with no warning.

But ecstatic to finally be united with her daughter.

After making them a breakfast of cinnamon buns and more cinnamon buns, Merrill’s lemon ones, to be precise, just about all she had on hand, Delilah showed them around the diner and motel. Maggie loved everything, never once complaining that she wouldn’t have a room of her own yet, or that there was no television, or how shabby the furnishings were, or what was her mommy doing with a man on the premises? Her only constant refrain was, “I want a dog.”

When Delilah had said “We’ll see” for about the dozenth time, Maggie told her, “Mister Merrill is gonna get me a dog.”

“Did he say that?”

“Not ’zackly. But almost.”

“You’re not supposed to ask people for things, especially people you don’t really know.”

“I didn’t ask him.”

“Really?”

“He likes me.”

“How do you know?”

“Because he winked at me, and he called me Annie McFannie.”

Perfect child logic!

“Sweetheart, our apartment here isn’t big enough for a dog.”

“Maybe we’ll get a mansion.”

“Not gonna happen, cupcake.”

“Does Mister Merrill have a mansion?”

“No, but he has a boat.”

“A big boat?”

“Yes.”

“Yippee! Betcha a dog will fit on a big boat!”

More child logic!