Casting About by Terri Dulong Page A

didn’t hear.
    After thanking her, with promises that we’d let her know how the puppy was doing, we headed back to Cedar Key.
    Clarissa sat in the backseat, cooing and speaking softly to her new friend—while I pondered things I had no understanding of.

13
    â€œS he named it what? ” my mother said on the phone the next morning. Despite her being across the ocean in Paris, I knew it wasn’t a bad phone line that caused her question.
    â€œYou heard me correctly—Billie,” I told her as I watched Clarissa through the kitchen window romping with the puppy in the backyard.
    â€œInteresting,” was my mother’s reply.
    â€œI’d say it’s a bit more than interesting.” When there was silence, I said, “I just don’t understand it. There’s no way she could have known that’s what I called Sybile. Do you think it’s just a coincidence?”
    â€œGosh, I don’t know. I suppose it could be, but it does seem like an odd choice of name for a puppy.”
    â€œNow I’m wondering what Dora and Saren will think of the name.”
    â€œI’m not sure about them, but I do have to say, I think Sybile would’ve had a good chuckle. She loved it when you came up with that name for her.”
    I smiled. She was right. Sybile had made it clear I wasn’t to call her Grandma .
    â€œSo how’d the puppy settle in last night?”
    â€œActually, she did quite well. I thought I heard her whimpering once, so I got up to check and I could hear Clarissa in her room talking softly to her.”
    I’d also noticed that for the past few weeks I no longer heard Clarissa crying during the night.
    â€œWell, I’m glad you got her, Monica. I still miss Lilly so much. It’ll be nice to have a dog in the family again.”
    â€œYeah, Saren’s all excited too. Since Precious died, I know he’s missed not having a dog. He’s coming over later this morning to meet…Billie.”
    After catching up on other news, I hung up the phone and stood staring out the window. Clarissa had put on the pink harness and attached the pink leash to the puppy and was having a ball running back and forth with her. I smiled. Maybe things were going to work out after all. True, I still hadn’t developed any maternal love for Clarissa Jo—but at least we seemed to be tolerating each other.
    Â 
    Within a month, Billie had settled in fairly well. Oh, there was still the occasional piddle on the floor, but for the most part Clarissa had done well getting the puppy on a schedule. We’d been advised to crate-train Billie, and at least I didn’t have to worry about the pup tearing the house apart when we were out.
    I was finishing up some accounting when Dora walked into the yarn shop.
    â€œGosh, is it two already?” I asked, glancing at my watch.
    â€œJust about,” she said, placing her handbag in the desk drawer. “Are you picking up Clarissa at the Arts Center?”
    â€œYeah, she really seems to enjoy the classes. Her sketchbook is filling up.”
    â€œThat’s good. Has she made any friends yet?”
    I shook my head. “No, I’m afraid not. She’s been spending more and more time with Miss Tilly. She takes Billie over there and I hear them laughing.”
    â€œWell, you know, that’s sure good for Tilly. She showed up at the Garden Club meeting last week. Nobody could believe it. She hasn’t ventured out in ages. I think Clarissa is good for her.”
    Hmm, I wasn’t aware of this.
    â€œOnce Tilly stopped teaching, it was like all the years since she lost Carl and Carl Junior caught up with her. She’s been in a terrible depression. Everybody’s been worried about her and we’ve tried everything to get her out. She told us that she’s going to rejoin the Women’s Club too. It’s amazing.”
    It certainly was. You mean to tell me that one little girl