Chapter Text
Kayla
Ah. What a fine morning this is. Accompanied by Laurine Sanchez, a cup of earl grey, and only the mellow whispers of leaves to occupy one's thoughts. A much needed serenity in Nancy's busy-
"Hey, look what I found!"
Nancy looks up from her issue of 'Rags to Riches' and involuntarily breathes out a loud gasp.
"It's your stash of old paintings! Boy, these really take me back!" Geoffrey chuckles as he laid some paintings out on the coffee table.
Nancy stares at the paintings and sighs. "Me too." She mutters. She couldn't help but feel a pinch of malice towards these mere canvases. She doesn't understand why. It frustrates her to no end.
She unconsciously picks up a rather purple piece. Ah, purple. Her favourite colour. At least back then. Must be a relatively happy piece.
Geoffrey's eyes light up when he sees. "Ooh, look, that's Kayla! I remember now, you painted this after we just got her."
Kayla, her dear Kayla. She recalls the exact instance they clicked, when they'd locked eyes through the small glass window of that paltry dog rescue. Those two big watery abysses never ceased to make her heart melt. She knew at that moment she had to take her home. Even if Geoffrey's just slightly allergic to dog fur.
She would spend hours dressing her up, styling her hair, even just petting her soft, curly fur. She was like the daughter she never had.
Sure, being a college student, Nancy had her busy days. But she would make time for her. She always did.
But she remembers vividly, the leash in her hand slipping loose, Kayla bolting through the road.
Her lovely, golden fur staining a bright red.
Nancy spied another painting at the edge of the table, a greyscale piece splattered across with a dark red.
Of course then the only reason she would get another dog was for her children.
She smiled despite herself.
Fed up with their inane pleas at last, she and Geoffrey took them to a dog shelter on Malcolm's 10th birthday. She relished the way their eyes would brighten, and how their little cheeks would get fuller whenever they were happy.
They chose a darling little puppy. Dasher.
3 years later, he's not much a puppy anymore. He's stronger now. More fierce. And very protective. Nonetheless a charmer.
While she greatly appreciates the German Shepard they have now, Nancy had to admit that she had never felt a stronger bond than she did with the Labradoodle of her youth.
She puts the painting back on the coffee table softly. She picks up her teacup and quietly sips as she watches Geoffery dig through her pile of buried memories.