Chapter 1, part 4

Emil’s house is a surprise.  Of course, the only celebridog house I’d visited was Lucy the Pug and Michalene O’Flynn’s pre-civil war farmhouse.  Emil lives in a sleek and modern loft.  It’s cavernous with an open floor plan and ridiculously high ceilings.  Four sleeping areas (two for humans) are enclosed by eight foot walls and artfully placed screens.  The whole place is full of modern leather furniture with clean lines.  The living room and bar areas are accented with beautiful shaker pieces and lovely plush carpets.  Lucy obviously knows the place well and quickly lays claim to a beautifully upholstered low couch.

 “Livertini me!”  Lucy the Pug yells out after belly flopping on the inky black leather couch.  “I’m trying to not think about my boyfriend being put to sleep so I could use a ‘tini!”

 I step behind the bar, make three Livertini’s (Lucy’s a double) and toss a bag of Liver Snacks on a central coffee table for some post club snacking.  A quick rummage through Emil’s surprisingly well stocked kitchen yields an enormous variety of sausages and the makings for a grilled cheese. 

 The dogs decide to split a family size Stouffers Mac and Cheese, going for comfort food over protein.  I pop it into the microwave and grill up my cheesy masterpiece.  Twelve minutes later, we are all very, very happy.

 “Nice place, Emil.”  I help myself to scotch and soda, one of those lovely leather couches and a fuzzy throw blanket.

 “Yeah, it’s my families.  I suggest some backyard time, a quick bath for Michalene and then back here for a Parson rescue planning session.”  Emil looks wide awake.  I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus.

 “It’s one in the morning!” I whine.  I am already horizontal with no overwhelming desire to make myself upright again.  “How about planning Parson’s rescue in the morning?”

 “Don’t be a big baby.  It won’t take long.  Anyway, who do you think is gonna scrub down Michalene?”