Chapter 29 #2
The music begins, and the color commentator opens by thanking everyone for attending the first Pucks and Pups charity dog show. I walk down the lineup giving the guys and the dogs one final inspection before I’ll sneak out and sit in the stands to watch.
“Are you going to stay with me?” Maddie looks up at me when I reach her.
“Yeah, MG,” Mav teases. “You can’t leave us hanging back here.”
“I can’t?” I pretend to argue, and Maddie’s brown eyes widen. “I’m teasing. Of course, I’ll stay if you want me to.”
Her little body visibly relaxes, and I put my hand on her back, rubbing it in a circle. She puts her arm around my waist, resting her head on my hip, and we step forward as each pair exits through the curtain to do their promenade.
Out in the arena, we hear the crowds cheering and blowing air horns.
“Sounds like they’re having a good time,” Owen says, leaning closer to me. “I hadn’t considered the possibility of falling and showing everyone my underwear before now.”
A laugh snorts through my nose, and I rest my head against his broad chest. “That would be some trick.”
We take another step, and it’s his turn to go. Our eyes meet, and he takes a deep breath, eyes wide.
“Just pretend you’re on razor thin ice skates facing off against a six-foot-four, three-hundred-pound enforcer,” I tease.
“Now that I can do.” He does a finger gun at me, and I shake my head.
The announcer calls his name, and they step through the curtain. Maddie and I hold hands as we peek out to see her dad jogging Ladybird around the rink.
Fans are on their feet, screaming and clapping as they pass, and all the other teammates are in their places, smiling and holding their show poses.
Lisa stands in the center with two other judges I know from the circuit. They’re making notes and leaning in to speak in each other’s ears.
“He did great,” I say, looking down at Maddie.
Just then, a loud AHH! yells from behind us. We jump, turning around to see Mav on his butt on the turf holding his leg and rocking back and forth.
“Maverick!” We run over to where he’s groaning. “What happened? Are you okay?”
“I was playing with Spanky, and my foot got caught in a fold in the carpet. I think I broke my ankle.”
“What!” My eyes widen. “No! You can’t… not during hockey season!”
“I don’t know…” He looks down, still grimacing. “It might not be broken, but I definitely can’t walk on it. You’ll have to show Spanky.”
“Me?” I straighten, looking from him to my dog, standing and waiting. “I’m not a hockey player. The crowd is waiting to see you! You’re the star!”
“We don’t have a choice, Gigi. You have to do it.”
“We’ll just tell them you’re injured. Spanky doesn’t have to be in the show.”
“Yes, he does,” Mav argues. “Just look at his face. He’s so eager.”
“He always looks like that,” I argue. “He probably spotted somebody wearing a towel.”
“No, no! You have to walk him, Mama G,” Maddie holds my arm in both her hands, shaking it. “Spanky wants to walk like Ladybird did. They’re besties.”
“And you gave him his special trim just for the occasion.” Mav meets my eyes, pleading. “Don’t let our boy down.”
“Good grief, Maverick,” I grumble, but he’s already up, standing on one foot and pinning his number on my sleeve. “I haven’t practiced.”
“You’ve walked in a bazillion dog shows. Just get out there and give ‘em the ole razzle dazzle.”
“I’m not a stripper,” I mutter, shaking my head. “Come on, Spanks, let’s do this.”
Smoothing my hands down my skirt, I move my hair behind my shoulders. It’s true, Spanky’s continental pom poms have grown out beautifully, and I spent last night giving him the perfect trim. Thankfully Ladybird didn’t “help” this time.
He’s flawless as the announcer reads the unexpected change in the lineup, and we start to walk. I brace for the disappointment in the crowd, but instead, I’m happily surprised by all the cheers and air horns.
The noise is a little overwhelming because of the size of the crowd, but my heart rises, and I can’t help a smile surrounded by so much support as we walk the perimeter.
Spanky is undeterred by the noise. He does his very best gait, and we pass the judging table, garnering a few nods, then take our place beside Owen and Ladybird at the end of the row.
The crowd dies down, and the judges confer in the center of the space.
“Good work,” Owen stage-whispers. “You didn’t fall and show your underwear.”
“I’m not wearing any,” I whisper back, and he freezes.
A naughty grin spreads across his lips. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
I shake my head. “It wasn’t for that. I didn’t want VPL.” His nose wrinkles, and I translate. “Visible panty line.”
The announcer calls Maddie’s name as the very special finale, and the crowd is on their feet cheering, whistling, clapping, and making all the noise as Maddie walks out with Peepee.
They’re absolutely adorable. Maddie holds her head high, and Princess Petunia does the same as they walk all around the stadium. If she’s still nervous, I can’t tell at all.
My cheeks hurt from smiling, and my eyes mist with unshed tears. “I’m so proud of her.”
Owen reaches over to cover my hand with his, giving it a squeeze. “Thank you for including her in this.”
“Of course!” I blink up at him. “I could never leave her out.”
She finishes her walk, coming to stand on the other side of me, and the little dog assumes her perfect stack, looking up at the stands like she’s so proud as well.
The judges make their way down the line, observing and occasionally stepping forward to check a dog’s muzzle or feel its shoulders.
Haddy and I decided to award five prizes, first and second place pedigreed, first and second place non-pedigreed, and Best in Show. I’m already doing the math in my head, picking out who should win the awards. Spanky is a shoo-in to win something, even if he is my dog.
I’m just not sure how much sentiment will play into their decisions for the foster dogs, and I don’t know what they might base their decision on when it comes to the show dogs. All of them are first place winners, with Spanky being the only one who’s never had a Best in Show.
The announcer comes on the mic to let us know it’s time for the awards.
“We have a surprise for all you dog lovers out there,” he says. “Since this event is being overseen and certified by American Kennel Club judges, the results will go on the record as official wins for these special dogs.”
My eyebrows rise, and I look up at Owen. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“I think it’s nice.” He shrugs, but something about the way he says it, the look in his eyes makes me suspicious.
“What do you know?” I ask, looking around until I spot Haddy standing with the judges, making a note in the official book.
“It looks like they’re ready to call it,” he dodges, putting his arm around me, and pulling me close to his side.
I frown, looking from him to them and back. “We really should be standing with our dogs.”
“Our dogs are standing with each other.” He nods at the two of them standing side by side.
Maddie walks over to my other side and puts her arm around my waist, resting her head against my side like she’s started doing more and more frequently.
I like it a lot, and I put my arm around her, holding her close as well.
The male judge I’ve only worked with a few times walks down the line, motioning to the foster dogs. “I’d like to see the Chiweenie and the Shihtzuranian, please.”
Hancock and Akers step out with their dogs, and a ripple of laughter rolls across the crowd at the sight of the two big guys walking tiny pooches. I confess, that was my goal.
The female judge walks over to our side, slowly making her way down the row. “I’d like to see the toy poodle, the borzoi, and the standard poodle.
I squeeze Maddie’s hand as we take our dogs forward. I’m pretty sure I know how this is going to go when the judge gives us the motion to gait. We all circle the center table, and they call it.
“That’s the order: first, second, Best in Show!”
The entire arena is on their feet, cheering and blowing airhorns, and for a moment, I’m confused.
“What just happened?” I stop, looking all around as Heather, Haddy, Owen, and Maverick all come running into the center of the ring to surround me.
“You won Best in Show!” Haddy puts her hands on my shoulders, looking me straight in the eyes. “You did it!”
“I don’t understand…” I also don’t understand why my eyes are filling with tears.
“Spanky’s Best in Show!” Mav scoops me around the waist, lifting me off my feet and doing a little spin. “You won!”
“I thought you broke your ankle?” I frown, pushing out of his arms. “You faked it… That’s why you made me stay backstage!”
“You’re supposed to scream with joy,” he replies. “I know you know how the movie ends.”
“You won, Mama G!” Small arms go around my waist, giving me a squeeze.
It makes me laugh. “Were you in on this, too? Were you even nervous?”
“Congrats, babe.” Owen puts his arms around me, leaning down to kiss my temple. “I’m sorry LB screwed it up for you last time, but I’m glad we were able to make it right.”
My forehead wrinkles, and I swallow hard as tears leak out of my eyes. “You all planned this for me?”
“I made a few calls.” Haddy shrugs like it’s all so obvious. “I asked how we could get Spanky a Best in Show honor for real. He might be a rascal, but he deserves it. And so do you.”
“Y’all!” My nose is hot, and I can’t stop the tears filling my eyes. “What am I going to do with all of you?”
“Oh, you know,” Mav pokes my side. “Just keep being awesome and supplying us with pets.”
The group closes around us, and I can’t remember when I’ve been happier, more at home, and so surrounded by family. I guess it was the last time I was in Newhope, at Cooters & Shooters, watching my sweet cousin marry the man of her dreams.
Looking up at Owen, I smile so big. His face breaks with a smile, and he leans down to kiss me. I guess we’re next.