One Thing Leads to Another

 "How come I keep falling in love with pit bulls?" Carmen practically moaned at her laptop as she dreamed of adopting a pet. They had a big backyard now, and it was a new year. She and Justin were married now. Deep down, she doubted they ever had kids. However, adopting a dog would be the best option. Still, she knew she was just daydreaming. Justin wanted a white chiwaua. 

They'd had a fuss earlier, which she knew was bad timing to start the new year that way. Justin was so specific. Naturally, the one she found on the adoption page wasn't white enough for him.

"You know, how you are!" She'd snapped then at breakfast. "I would be taking care of it.  I don't want one like that. I want something that isn't a nervous rat. I want a real dog."

"You don't know the first thing about training a dog!" He'd been in a huff ever since he bit his buttered toast angrily.

"But..but they are already house trained. I'll get classes if I need to."

"You already have classes." He reminded her that she needed to complete her nursing program. Of course, there was a snag in her scholarship. Something about the fact that they wouldn't fund her if she were married. Definitely, another dead end she didn't see coming, but she was going to make 2026 her best year yet!

"I want a dog."

She left it at that, and he hadn't said a word to her since. Thankfully, when he walked away, he didn't see her do a karate move where she faked a kick in the butt.

Was this what married life did to you?

Later, she went to Sammy's. Carmen needed a pep talk. Of course, Sammy told her she should just focus on making her marriage a happy place. "Decorate."

"Really?" Carmen winced at that. She mentioned they did need more shelves. "But Justin hates putting shelves together. He doesn't like puzzles either. I don't know what to do with him."

"Is he drinking?"

"I don't think so." Carmen looked at her best friend as if that was way out there.

"OK, sorry I said anything. But he has anxieties, you know."

"Yeah." Carmen shrugged. "Who doesn't?"

"He's depending on you."

"For what?" Carmen didn't get it.

"To be his home. To be his assistant. To be his lover, which comes with a lot of mind-reading." Sammy shrugged.

"Mind reading?" What the hell was she talking about, thought Carmen? "All I want is a dog."

"OK, get a dog. But you'd better take him with you. It's something you have to decide together."

Carmen sighed. Was Sammy for real?