I busied myself with non-existent paperwork and had to admit, a short ten minutes later, the foyer looked about as good as it was getting without a solid vacuuming. The crew disappeared out the front door, slamming it shut and I grit my teeth against the sound instead of yelling because I was a good little host. Tempting to start a list and send repairs off to Olivia, but instead I sighed and looked down at Petunia. Still on her leash and in her harness, she lay at my feet, chin on my toes, looking like a fawn sausage tied up to keep her liquid skin from running off.
I wasn't about to admit I'd forgotten her in my huffiness. Besides, she didn't ever seem to care as long as she was with me. Just made the guilt worse, really, not better.