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If you take the time to check out the short story below; please take a couple moments to let me know what you think in the description below. It would mean the world to me as the writer.

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Continued from: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/40038945/

***

The sound of light vibrations tickled the wolfox’s ears before the unmistakable sound of light chimes drowned it out. Sly looked over to his desk to see his phone idly showing the screen and hinting at the text he’d just received. He picked up the device and opened the indicated app. It was a text from Pips. “Hey Sly. I know this is random and on short notice, but my mom wants to invite us to join her for lunch at her place in Vashel to you know, catch up. Would you be okay with joining us?” read the message.

“Sure. It’s been a long time since I last saw Mrs. Barkin. Why not?” thought the wolfox to himself as he typed his reply and inquired about the day the lunch was to take place.

***

The doorbell rang out its loud Westminster chime at 1pm that Saturday afternoon. Sly stood at the doorstep. He was slightly nervous. Pips' car was nowhere to be seen. Only his sat in the driveway of the two story house. A buzzing caught his attention as his phone announced a new message. He pulled the device from his pocket and opened the message to read it only to then raise his left eyebrow in utter confusion at what he read. "I'm sorry." were the only two words in the message. It had been sent by Pips.


"What does she mean by that?" he asked to himself aloud before he heard the door unlock in front of him. He turned his attention to the front as the doorway opened and revealed a familiar spotted figure behind it.


"Well now didn't you grow into a right handsome young man?" came the feminine voice of the female figure. The hint of a British accent played across her words as she regarded the wolfox.


"Good afternoon Mrs. Barkin. Thank you. You look just as lovely as I remember you as well." replied Sly politely with a bow of his head.


"And still a charmer too. My daughter spoke of your charms a lot when you were kids." said the older Dalmatian.


"Speaking of Pips is she here? I didn't see her car when I drove up." asked Sly curiously.


Mrs. Barkin let out a small sigh at those words. “I was actually hoping she came with you.” she said with heaviness in her voice that the wolfox could nearly feel. “But you’re here now. Why don’t you come on in? Lunch is almost ready and I’d hate for it to go to waste. Pippy may just be running late.” she said as her demeanor lifted slightly and she gave him a hesitant smile. He nodded his reply before he stepped into the doorway. The mature Dalmatian closed the door behind him and motioned for him to step into the living room of her home.


***


Sly looked around the fairly big house and nearly whistled how impressed he was at the size. The living room alone was very big. “Have a seat at the table luv. I need to check on the food. Be back in a tick.” said Mrs. Barkin as she moved to go into the kitchen.


Sly looked around the living room with interest. Pictures hung from the walls of different Dalmatians. Sly assumed they were other family members, but only recognized Pips, her brother, her mother and her father. Your home is very lovely Mrs. Barkin." he said aloud.


"Why thank you dear. It's a bit big for just little old me now, but I can't bring myself to leave it." called the older female from the kitchen in reply.


Sly looked around a little more before his phone buzzed again. He checked it and sure enough it was another message from Pips. "Are you at my mom’s place?" read the text.


Sly held a concerned look on his face as he thumbed his response. "Yes I am. Where are you? And what did you mean by your last message? Are you okay?" he asked.


He stared at the phone for a moment before the sound of approaching footsteps caught his attention. Mrs. Barkin was entering the room now. "Lunch is ready. It'll be cool enough to plate in a moment." she announced. It was only now that Sly noticed a delicious smell wafting from the kitchen.


"That smells amazing. What is it?" asked the wolfox with interest.


"Shepherd’s pie. I do hope you like it. It's been a little while since I last prepared it." replied the Dalmatian with a bright smile before she turned to go back into the kitchen. "I'll bring it to you. Just let me grab a couple plates and utensils." she continued.


Sly closed his eyes and relished the smell further before his phone buzzed again. "I was going to go. But I just can't. I can't be around her." read the text. Sly raised an eyebrow at the cryptic message. Why would Pips not want to be around her own mother? The clinking of metal brought his attention to the front where Mrs. Barkin had returned with two big plates of food. She placed each on the table with a fork and took her seat in front of him.


"Please dig in. I'm eager to see if I've lost my touch." she said with a wink as she picked up her own fork. Sly obliged and took a bite.


His eyes opened wide at the flavor of the dish.


"Wow..." he said simply as he took another bite. The spices and flavors meshed perfectly. He's had shepherd's pie before, but never like this. "This is really good."


A soft giggle crossed his ears before he looked back up. "Glad to see you're enjoying it luv. Seems I've still got it." Mrs. Barkin said as she cradled her head on her closed left hand. Her eyes were closed, and her smile was gentle.


"Why would you think you'd lost your touch at cooking?" he asked curiously.


"Because I don't have anyone around to taste test anymore." she answered with a soft sigh before she took a bite from her own plate.


"Oh? But what about your husband?" asked Sly confused. He seemed to remember Pips' father being very involved in her life when she was younger.


"I'm a divorcee luv." Mrs. Barkin replied with a coy smile.


"I see. I'm sorry to hear that." said Sly solemnly. He hadn't noticed before, but she wasn't wearing her wedding ring.

"It's okay. These things happen. But as you said before, it's been a while. How are things with you? How's your family?" she asked cheerfully as the pair began to chat.


***


"So Rose did end up opening that flower shop in Japan after all. Good for her. And you said Richard is with her?" asked Mrs. Barkin a short while later. Both of them had finished eating and were simply conversing now.


"Yes. Dad moved with her to Tokyo. They run a joint flower shop and cafe together. It's a combination of both of their dreams." explained Sly.


"That's beautiful. And your sisters are still here I assume?" she continued.


"Yes. Sakura is an established pianist now. She travels all over the world performing. And Pearl is a freelance photographer that works for the magazine that I write for." said Sly next.


"Pawprints was it? I'll have to keep an eye out for it and pick up a copy when I get the chance." replied the older Dalmatian thoughtfully. "Everyone is chasing their dreams it seems. Doing what they were put on this earth to do." she sighed a little wistfully.


"What about you? What do you do?" asked Sly curiously.


"Oh I'm a yoga instructor." replied Mrs. Barkin; her demeanor slightly cheerful at the topic.


"Ah. One of my housemates is really into yoga. Is it something you like to teach?" he asked in return.


"I have a habit of dropping things that don't hold my interest. Yoga is one of the only things that has held it for a long period of time. And it's good for you. Would you like a private lesson?" she asked suddenly.


"A private lesson? I mean I wouldn't want to impose." said Sly in return. He wasn't expecting the sudden offer.


"Nonsense luv. I insist. We can do it here. I have a couple spare rooms since Pippy and Domino moved out. I use one as a yoga studio. It's not the biggest space, but I find it comfy for doing personal and private sessions when I don't have a class to teach." she explained.


"I guess it would be rude of me to turn down your offer then. Sure." replied the wolfox with a smile.


"Lovely. I'll take care of these dishes and we can get started." Mrs. Barkin announced as she stood before Sly put out his hand to stop her from taking his plate.


"No no. I'll take the dishes to the kitchen." he offered.


"You really have grown into a gentleman haven't you? Thank you. I'll grab a couple mats and meet you in the first room down the hall on the right." she replied.


He nodded and took the plates in hand. A moment later he deposited the plates and forks in the sink. He took out his phone and re-read the last message from Pips. "I don't understand. Why wouldn't you be able to be around her? Mrs. Barkin seems very nice. She’s offered to give me a private yoga lesson." read the text he sent. Her reply was quick this time. It was simply a series of three dots; an elipses; a pause. The implication brought a lump to the male's throat. As a writer he knew well that a pause could mean any number of things. Another buzz and a new message appeared.


"She wants something from you. She’ll make it obvious soon enough. Just give her what she wants. We'll talk later." read the cryptic text.


"Don't tell me you actually are washing the dishes." came Mrs. Barkin's voice down the hall. Sly looked up at the voice and then back down at his phone. How was he supposed to respond to that?


"No ma'am. Just rinsing them." he said as he quickly turned on the faucet and let the cold water run over the plates momentarily.


A simple "Kk? I'll talk to you later." was his response. He didn't know what to make of this situation, but at the moment the older Dalmatian was waiting for him.

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If you took the time to check out the short story above; please take a couple moments to let me know what you think in the description below. It would mean the world to me as the writer.

---

Well lunch seems to be going well, but it seems things aren't as easily smoothed over between mother and daughter. Why did Pips decide not to go? Moreso why didn't she tell Sly? More importantly what did she mean by saying that her mother "wants something" from Sly? We'll find out soon.

Continued here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/40111260/

Art by:  shana

Dottie was originally designed by:  petravey and  stinaasaurusrex and adopted by me.
Sly is mine.