Chapter 1 #2
Loud noises approach from the outside. It’s a mixture of male shouts and a dog baying. The door to my studio flies open just as I’m bringing the clippers around the top of Spanky’s hipbone.
A loud Rooo! echoes in the crisp tile room just before a massive, copper-colored dog bounds straight into my workspace.
“Oh!” Haddy cries. “Ladybird, NO!”
Spanky lifts his front legs, ready to jump and play just as Owen’s bloodhound does the same, and the clippers in my hand go flying across the back of my show dog’s rear like a lawn mower.
“Noooo!” I fall back on my butt, as Ladybird bounds over to jump on me.
I’m covered in big, slobbery dog-body. The clippers land with a smack in the back corner of the grooming area, still buzzing.
“Ladybird!” A deep, male voice cuts through the chaos, and two massive male bodies rush into my tiny workspace.
“Gigi!” Maverick is at my side, holding my arm while Owen pulls his oversized hound by the collar off me. “Are you okay?”
Sitting up, I look down at my apron, which now has large, wet patches all over it.
“I’m okay.” I shake my head, holding Mav’s arm as he helps me stand.
Haddy is across the room, collecting the clippers and turning them off. “I don’t think they’re broken,” she says.
My chest is tight, and I’m afraid to look at Spanky. He’s jumping around as much as he can with the short leash holding him in place, and the two dogs rise on their back legs, brushing their noses together with their mouths open in a typical big-dog greeting.
Owen hasn’t been here a week, but our dogs are already inseparable.
“Oh, no…” Haddy’s tone is mournful.
I don’t want to look. I know what I’m going to see.
Forcing a swallow, I quietly ask, “How bad is it?”
My green eyes meet my cousin’s bright blue ones, and as much as I love dogs, as much as they’re all good dogs, her dismay tests my resolve.
Mav is still holding my arm as we step forward to where Haddy is standing with her hands over her mouth.
“You buzzed his butt,” Mav observes drily.
Sure enough, the two pom poms, the hallmark of the continental style, are destroyed. The one I was working on is shaved in half, and the one I had just finished has a very neat, two-inch wide path cut clear through the middle.
“Oh, nooo!” My hands are on my cheeks.
“Get down, Ladybird,” Owen orders. “You know better than to bolt like that. I’m sorry, Gina. I don’t know what got into her.”
He’s standing there, biceps flexing as he pulls his bloodhound away with all his strength. Spanky’s tongue is out, and it looks very much like he’s smiling. He has no idea the damage that’s been done to his award-winning derriere.
“It’s ruined.” The words slip from my lips on a soft wail.
My body is weak, and I see the Best in Show prize slipping away like a sheet of paper out the window, into the air, down the street, and… gone.
Even if his pom poms could grow back in time, it won’t matter if we don’t win this weekend. And if we don’t win the LA regional competition, there’s no way we’re going to Pennsylvania.
“What is it?” Owen frowns, walking over to where the three of us are standing. “Are you hurt?”
Maverick’s arms are crossed, and one of his hands is fisted in front of his mouth. I know my golden-retriever cousin is doing his best not to laugh. If I didn’t care so much, it probably would be funny. Maybe one day it will be. What’s the formula? Tragedy plus time equals comedy?
Haddy’s hand is on my back making slow circles. Her eyes are round and empathetic.
“Oh, shit.” Owen puts a hand on top of his head. “It’s not supposed to look like that, is it.”
It’s not a question, and all I can do is shake my head. “No, it’s not.”
“Is there anything I can do?” At least our handsome new roommate has manners.
“Not unless you can grow dog fur in three days.” My tone is flat, and I’m doing my best not to cry.
“It’s okay, though, right Geeg?” Mav puts a large hand on my shoulder. “There’ll be another dog show in a few months, and Spanky can show ‘em who’s the prissiest poodle in town at that one!”
My head moves in a combination of nods and shakes. Yes, there will be another dog show, but no, it won’t be in time for us to enter the national competition.
That bird has flown… or been shaved?
“I’m sorry, honey.” Haddy’s hand is now on my shoulder, and I’m pretty sure I’m still in shock. “I wish I could do something.”
Mav frowns, still in problem-solving mode. “Can’t you just shave them off? Not every poodle has puff balls on their butts.”
I walk over to unfasten Spanky’s harnass from the leash. His perfectly combed top knot is now sticky and matted with bloodhound drool, and I can tell my good boy is dying to run around in the grass with his new doggie bestie.
Sure enough, the second he’s free, the two of them bolt out the door into our small yard.
“I’ve never been able to train her.” Owen’s tone is all apologies.
I nod. It’s true.
“Bloodhounds are notoriously hard to train,” I say quietly. “They’re guided by their noses.”
Ladybird’s nose brought her straight to her new friend.
“If there’s anything I can do…” he continues.
Shaking my head, I take the clippers from Haddy. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Could you try a different one?” Haddy goes to the poster of grooming styles on my wall. “What about this… Bolero style?”
“It’s supposed to look like he’s wearing pants, and his legs are completely bare.” My head aches, and I’m trying to recalibrate my thoughts. “It’s okay, I’ll see if there’s something else I can do.”
“I hope you won’t hold it against Ladybird. She’s really a good dog.” Owen holds out his hand, and I look up into his pretty blue eyes.
I manage to give him a reluctant smile. “Nobody deserves to be judged by one mistake.”
“I agree.” He returns my smile, and it feels like a sign, not that I believe in things like that.
I stopped believing in signs and fairy tales and Prince Charming rushing in to save the day when seven dates led to one hot night followed by me being dropped like a hot potato.
The best way to protect my heart is to keep it safe in its doggy cage, and that is exactly what I’m going to do.