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Page 40.
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Chapter 32.
 Lexa, ignoring her mother's chatter, drove to Jeff Maxxon's house in the suburbs. She felt a strange, heady thrill as she followed Jeff's written directions to the small house on a cozy side street.
How lovely it was, away from the city. Lawns and trees, a peaceful scene. A dog barked as Lexa pulled into the driveway of 56 Golf Court. That would be Checky.
"Your grandfather will disown you," Mother was saying. "Well I don't care. He's no good anyway, never was. Look what he did to your father."
Lexa tuned it all out, as she always did. "There, now, Checky," she said. The dog's barking turned into an anxious welcome at once whining and slavering. Snorting happily, the dog ran back and forth behind the fence. "Easy, girl," Lexa said as she helped her mother remove suitcases from the trunk. "Nice doggie. Nice Checky." The dog's tail thumped against wood, and a wet muzzle snorted between fence slats. "Nice girl."
"Your father was a fine man," Mother was saying. "I just can't understand how he could turn against his only son like that." Lexa carried her suitcase, fumbled with the strange key and lock, and let herself in.
Mother walked cautiously behind her. "Well, it's certainly a place a man would live in."
Lexa sprang to Jeff's defense, ignoring the shirt thrown over the sofa, the beer can on the table, the sticky dinner plate on the sink. "He hasn't had time to live in yet, mother. Be still, will you." She found the spare bedroom, which smelled of dust. "Here's where you'll sleep." Seeing Mother's face, she added: "It's either this or the living room sofa."
"I won't look a gift horse in the mouth," Mother said setting her suitcase down. "I still don't see why your grandfather could not pay for us to stay in a hotel while all this is going on. Look at those drapes."
Lexa found the dry dog food and went into the backyard. A brown comet flew around her, licking her, showing off. "Checky," Lexa said, falling in love. "You silly girl. Here, let me give you some food." Kibbles rattled in the dish. Checky acknowledged by banging her tail against Lexa's leg, then running around her, offering to play. Checky lay on her back, holding her paws up and wagging her tail. "Good girl," Lexa said, thumping the dog's belly.
"Lexa!" Mother called.
Lexa rolled her eyes up. "What?"
"There is a spider in the closet. You'll have to scour the sink. I'm just too worn out right now."
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