Begin Again

2.

"Woof, woof."

The sound of the dog barking startled Peta from her current state. After setting Lottie up, She had gotten into unpacking mode and had been able to empty about 10 boxes. Their living room was starting to look less like a warehouse and more like a home.

"Momma! See puppy!" Lottie said as she abandoned her cartoon and ran to the door.

"Baby, we can't go see the puppy." Peta said as she looked down at herself and realized just how gross she was. And on top of that she wasn't sure she could spend time with Maks without that feeling coming back again.

"Momma! Yessssss!" She said as her lip started to tremble immediately. Peta groaned and looked at the window. Not that she gave into Charlotte all the time however in the span of the past 3 months, she had lost her father, her grandparents went away, and now they moved away from everything that was familiar to her. Peta was trying to compensate in some areas especially while they both adjusted to the move. She had additionally played quite well all afternoon while Peta emptied box after box of their lives.

"Baby, can't we go see the puppy another day? We'll get pizza and you and momma can have a cuddle night?"

"No, puppy, woof." She said pouting as she leaned against the screen door not even looking back at Peta.

"What if we just go say hi?" Peta attempted to compromise even though she knew this was going to be pointless. Charlotte was smart but she was still just two. She couldn't expect her to grasp the "just say hi" thing.

"Walk, puppy, ducks." Lottie said with her hands on her hips. Peta groaned internally. She knew that stance, it was her own stance. It was her don't push me on this stance.

"Come on." Peta said scooping her up. She partially prayed that Maks and Louis were already past where they could go with them however she could still hear Louis so she knew that wasn't going to be the case.

"Hi you two." Maks said as soon as they came out of the house.

"Aks! Ewis!" Lottie clapped in excitement. Her mood immediately changing. She squirmed to get out of Peta's arms. She put her down since Maks was at the end of the front yard. She instinctively knew that he wouldn't let her go any further. Not that Lottie would go further since her end game was right there.

"Hi Miss Charlotte." Maks said bending down to greet her. Louis helped as well by greeting Lottie with kisses and puppy licks.

"Ewwwww!" She shrieked in giggles as she scurried back to Peta. "Save me momma!"

"I gotcha sweetheart. I'll save you." Peta scooped her up and held her close as Lottie giggled and buried into her mother's neck peeking out at Maks in the meantime. After a few moments she squirmed to be back down on the ground which Peta granted.

"No licks." Charlotte said holding her hand out to Louis, who immediately tried to lick her. She huffed and pulled her hand back.

"He just thinks you taste good." Maks teased.

"Feed ducks?" Lottie asked immediately changing the subject.

"Are you and momma coming on our walk?" Maks asked looking at Peta.

"Well, I'm pretty sure I'm going to have a temper tantrum on my hands if I tell her no." Peta said softly not completely looking at Maks.

"You may need shoes first...." Maks teased trying to settle her some. He could tell she wasn't too keen on the walk idea. Peta looked at him perplexed but then realized that neither of them were wearing shoes. She groaned for what felt like the 100th time in the past five minutes.