Hunter's Moon

Unexpected Guest

When the day was over, my mom's tiny Honda was waiting in line with the other one hundred parents picking up their kids. She didn't even ask me how my day was when I got in the car. I would have been hurt, but her behavior was the norm when it came to being split from Dad.

I attempted to make conversation but she just gave uncommitted nods and mmms. When we got to the new house, she didn't even bother holding the door open for me. I caught it just before it swung into my face.

Before I could step inside, a deep voice asked, "Excuse me, but have you seen my dog? She's a chocolate lab with blue eyes."

I turned around to tell the stranger that I had just gotten home so I hadn't seen his dog when I was suddenly looking into a pair of brown eyes accented by dark brows. "Uh... You have a dog?" Smooth. Real smooth. I wanted to facepalm myself.

He smirked and swatted at his hair before it fell in front of his face. "Yes. I have a dog. You new here?"

I stepped outside to let the door close and crossed my arms. "What gave me away?"

He shrugged. A piece of his hair fell in front of his eye as he studied me, keeping his smirk. "I don't know. Most people just know I have a dog. Her name's Lisha, by the way. In case you see her."

"What's your name?" I blurted, just to hear him say it.

A side of his mouth curved up and he raised his chin, flipping the hair out of his eyes. "Lincoln. Like Abe Lincoln, but I'm not honest." He grinned to reveal perfect teeth with larger-than-average canines. "How about you?"

It took me a moment to slow my heart rate. "Elizabeth."

"Liza. That's a good name." He took a step back, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

I glared. "Elizabeth."

"Whatever," he waved it off. "Anyway, if you see my dog, will you tell me? I live two houses down, in the brown one." He took another step back and turned.

"Wait!" Why had I said that? I seriously didn't want him sticking around, did I?

He stopped and looked at me over his shoulder, his eyebrow raised.

I took a step closer. "Uh, maybe I could help you look for her?"

"Why?"

I shrugged and walked up to him. "I don't know. It's not like I have anything better to do. And I love animals, dogs in particular."

Lincoln just stared at me. After a moment, he grunted and took off, leaving me jogging to catch up. He asked a couple more people before he stopped going to their doors. We walked in silence for a while, looking for his dog.

I couldn't take it anymore. "Here, Lisha, Lisha, Lisha," I sang. "Come here, puppy! Come back to...Lincoln." I had almost said Come back to Daddy before I had thought about it. No way was he going to like me calling him "Daddy."

Lincoln started laughing uncontrollably, bending over and placing his palms on his knees. I stared at him like he had gone crazy. When he noticed, he abruptly stopped to glare at me. "Lisha doesn't come by...by cootie calls."

"Cootie calls?"

He gestured to me with his finger. "Yeah, that weird thing you were just doing. She isn't a puppy and she knows it, so she refuses to respond the way a puppy would."

I put my hand on my hips. "Okay then, Mr. My Dog's Not A Puppy, how does she come back to you?"

"Like this." Sticking his thumb and pointer finger in his mouth, he let off a long, ear-splitting whistle loud enough for the entire neighborhood to hear.