Under Normal Circumstances

Crash Course

As soon as Slivko got up his spot was taken by Peaches. She wiggled her way onto my lap, tucking her head under my chin.

"Aren't you just the sweetest little puppy ever," I chuckled as I smothered her in the affection she was so desperate for.

Her big brown eyes stared at me as she panted happily.

"Well, I guess it's really lucky you like me, considering who you belonged to," I told her as I stroked her long ears. "That's probably a good sign, right?"

She licked my chin in response. I looked up and saw Peter standing there between the living room and kitchen looking at me with a soft expression. I blushed out of embarrassment in case he heard me just now.

"Hey dad, you forgot to turn the propane tank on. I fixed it for you," Slivko said walking up.
Peter just turned and gave his shoulder a solid squeeze before walking out to the back yard. Slivko turned and briefly gave me a confused look. It was soon replaced by a chiding smile aimed at the dog.

"Peaches, I am not ready to share her, do you hear me?" He said, placing his hands on his hips and staring her down.

I smiled and turned even redder, I hid behind one of Peaches ears.

"Hey Slivie, um, are you busy doing something right now?" I asked him shyly.

"No, what do you need?" He asked taking a few long strides across the room and ending up next to me on the couch again.

"I was wondering ... can I see a picture of your mom?" I tried to ask carefully.

"Yeah, of course," he got up and grabbed a frame off the top of the TV set across from the couch.
"This is my parents wedding photo," he said handing it to me.

I nudged Peaches off my lap and she just as happily laid by me on the couch.

It was a picture of the whole wedding party so all the faces were kind of small, but I could still tell that she was really pretty. Matt took after her a lot while Slivie took after his dad heavily.

"Wow, she's so pretty," I commented.

"Yeah," he sighed. "Matt looks a lot like her. The lighter hair and the blue eyes- that's why I didn't tell you about him, I know he's better looking than me."

"Oh my gosh," I stopped him with a mild scoff. "Shut up, you're so handsome."

He chuckled and scratched his brow.

"You know that, right?" I asked, looking at him for an answer.

He shrugged.

"I'll just have to tell you more often," I said, bumping my shoulder into his. "Do you have any more pictures?"

"Yeah, I can get out the photo albums."

I grabbed his arm to stop him as he was getting up and he looked back at me.
"Oh, would your dad be upset if you got them out?" I asked, my brows softly knit in concern.

Slivko smiled.
"No, it's fine. He kept the photos up and her things around because he doesn't want to hide her away and forget about her. Even though seeing it hurts sometimes because it reminds us we miss her, he says it's a privilege to have had her in our lives and we should... honor her I guess, I think that's how he put it."

He finally noticed the tears brimming in my eyes and smiled at me again.
"I'll get the photo albums," he said before kissing my cheek and getting up.

He returned with a stack of albums and a box of tissue, giving me a meaningful but sweet look as he set them all down on the coffee table and sat next to me again.