Chapter Two
Isla
Cullen takes us across the reception area to the door on the other side that says Staff Only, touches a key card to the pad, and opens it when it buzzes. “Leon will give you your card this morning,” he says. “He’s the head of HR.”
“Okay, thank you.” I hold Max’s hand tightly.
Even though I’m only at the Ark for a few weeks, I’m still nervous at the thought of meeting new people and working in a different clinic.
But I so needed this change, and some time away.
The official tagline of Noah’s Ark is ‘Rescue. Recover. Rehome,’ and that struck a chord within me.
Max and I need more than a little healing, and even though the rehome is temporary, Sunrise Bay and the Ark feel like the perfect place to start.
I glance at Cullen as I pass him into the corridor.
Gruff could be this guy’s middle name. Everything about him is rough and ready, from his untidy, wind-ruffled, short brown hair to his faded T-shirt, scruffy shorts, and scuffed walking boots.
His manner is gruff too, his tone brusque, and I’m surprised he offered to show me around.
I might have misread the way his gaze scanned quickly down me like a laser when he first looked at me, and the electric zap that passed between us when our eyes met. But even if I wasn’t wrong, I’m hardly here for romance.
“So you work here, too?” I ask. “Is it a permanent job?”
“No, I’m leaving soon.” He turns right and starts walking.
“That’s the break room. You can buy sandwiches, pies, cakes, and coffee in there, but you’re welcome to eat a packed lunch too.
There’s also a garden with tables and chairs.
And next door is the creche, which we call the Fox’s Den. ” He continues on.
So… he’s planning to leave soon. I wonder whether he’s told Noah?
“This is the office block,” he says, holding open the door at the end of the corridor. We walk through it, and he lets it close behind us. “This contains the machinery of the Ark.”
“I can’t see any machines.” Max looks puzzled as he glances around at the desks and computers in the large central workroom. More doors on the far side appear to lead to individual offices.
Cullen grins at that—oh, he does smile! His front teeth are straight and white but have a small gap in the middle.
“The sanctuary is a big company that takes a lot of work behind the scenes to keep running. That’s what I mean about the machinery.
We have an IT department, a finances section, and a HR office, as well as general office staff. ”
People are finding their way to their desks, carrying post and coffee cups, stopping to chat to each other as they pass.
Potted plants and flowers in tubs bring color and a pleasant fragrance to the room, and there’s a Christmas tree in the corner, and lots of decorations scattered around.
Everyone seems relaxed and happy. It looks as if it’s going to be a nice place to work, much better than the stressful atmosphere at the clinic in Auckland.
“This way,” Cullen says, walking across the room to a door on the other side. “This is the Forever Home, where I work.”
The door leads into another, smaller office with three desks and a front door leading onto the Quad.
Only one of the desks is occupied, by a Māori woman in her forties.
“This is Kaia,” Cullen says, “she’s the heart and soul of the Forever Home, and we’d all fall apart without her.
Kaia, this is Isla Markham and her son Max.
Isla’s a veterinary nurse, and she’s here for the next few weeks. ”
Kaia smiles. “Oh, welcome!” She gets up to shake my hand, then Max’s. “Is Cullen showing you around?”
“He’s being very generous with his time.”
She winks at Max. “He’s like Ghost—he’s a bit growly, but his bark is worse than his bite.”
“I’m standing right here,” Cullen says indignantly, and Max giggles.
I try not to laugh as Cullen mock-glares at him, then ruffles his hair. “Want to see the dogs who need new homes?” Cullen asks him.
“Oh, yes!”
“Come on then.” Cullen opens the door on the other side of the room, and, with a brief smile at Kaia, I follow them through.
We’re at the end of the buildings now, and the door opens into a small barn. Cages line the four walls, around a third of which are filled with dogs and, at the end, some cats and even a few rabbits.
In the center there’s an open square section with tables and cupboards.
Here, a man is holding a mixed-breed dog on a table, and a woman in a green tunic that bears the Noah’s Ark logo is checking a sore on the dog’s back.
The two of them are leaning close to each other, their heads bent together.
As I watch, she says something to him, and he bumps her shoulder with his, an intimate gesture that makes me smile.
She looks up then and sees us, and her features light with pleasure. “Isla!” She runs up to throw her arms around me, and we exchange a big hug. “You made it!” She laughs and gives me a big squeeze. “I’m so glad.”
“Hey, Beth.” I haven’t seen her in a couple of years, although we’ve kept in touch.
She’s a similar height to me, maybe five foot six or so, and a year younger at twenty-nine.
Her Mum is Pakeha, or white, but her dad’s Māori, and she’s inherited his brown skin and dark hair, along with her Mum’s blue eyes and pretty features, which is a nice combination.
“And Max!” She gives him a quick hug. “You remember me, right?”
He shakes his head, sidling closer to me, a little overwhelmed. She just smiles, though. She knows what we’ve been through, and I’ve told her how Max is struggling.
“And you must be Jude.” I beam at the guy beside her. They’ve been dating for a couple of years, but it’s the first time we’ve met. “She told me you were tall, dark, and handsome, although she didn’t mention the beard,” I tease.
His eyebrows rise. Beth blinks, then laughs. “Oh, no, this is Archer. Jude’s just catching up with the vets. He’s been on night shift.”
“Oh gosh, I’m sorry.” I shake Archer’s hand, embarrassed to have made the slip. I’ve seen one or two photos of Jude on Beth’s Instagram page, but they’ve always been in a group and from a distance. He also has dark hair, so they aren’t that unalike.
“No worries.” Archer smiles, his eyes crinkling at the edges.
“Do you work in the Forever Home too?” I ask.
“No, I’m a psychologist,” he says. “I work for the Sunshine Bay Community Wellbeing Service.”
“The Ark has brought him in as part of the University of Auckland’s School of Psychology to do a research paper,” Beth adds. “On the benefits of using animals in therapy.”
“Oh… how interesting,” I say with enthusiasm. “Animals are so great at helping people to heal, don’t you think?”
“Definitely. And vice versa, by the looks of it.” Beth watches Max pet Ghost, who’s under the table. “He doesn’t normally let anyone near him, especially strangers.”
I smile at them. “Yeah, Max has always had an affinity with dogs, and even the fiercest turn to putty in his hands. They just seem to trust him, I don’t know why.”
“Animals have a sixth sense about the quality of a person’s soul,” Cullen says.
“Damn straight,” Archer adds.
It’s a nice thing to say about my son, and I smile at Cullen. His lips curve up a little, and this time when he meets my eyes, he holds my gaze for a few seconds before he turns to talk to Archer about the dog on the table.
I definitely didn’t imagine that.
I look at Beth. She’s noticed, and her eyes are twinkling. “Getting the official tour from our very own Mr. Gruff, are you?” she asks.
I grin as he throws her a wry look. “Yes, Cullen’s being kind and showing us around.” I look at the cages. “So this is where you hide out mostly?”
Cullen nods. “It’s not all about getting the animals rehomed fast. We like to make sure they’re healthy, and I do a little work with training them so they know some basic commands like sit and stay before they go to their new homes.”
“Don’t they already know how to sit?” Max asks, puzzled.
“The kind of people who mistreat their animals often haven’t bothered to train them,” Cullen says.
“Like this one.” Archer strokes the head of the dog on the table and looks at me. “Is it okay if I tell Max about her?”
I think he means it might be distressing—I can see what condition the dog is in. But I’ve never been shy about exposing Max to the real world. Life isn’t all fluffy bunnies and ice cream. “Of course.”
“Her name’s Cookie,” Archer says to Max. “Do you want to say hello?”
Max nods and goes up to join them.
“She was tied up in a kennel for a few weeks,” Archer says, “that’s why she got this sore. She had a broken back leg, too. But Beth’s already made it much better, see?” He points out the cast.
Beth gestures with her head toward the door, and I walk slowly with her. It leads outside to a yard for the dogs, and we lean on the fence surrounding it. Beyond it, the Pacific glows a bright cerulean, gorgeous in the morning sunshine.
“When did you get here?” she asks.
“Yesterday afternoon. Sorry, I should have called, but we both crashed out early.”
“Oh gosh, that’s all right. It’s a long drive. How’s Max doing?”
“He’s okay. A little clingy. He’s hardly left my side.” I sigh. “He’s not keen on going to the holiday club. I’m a little worried about leaving him there.” I glance through the door at the guys who are still talking to Max. “Cullen said that sometimes kids hang out here during the holidays.”
“Absolutely. Noah’s very good about things like that.”
“It’s just… is that a good idea? I know most people would say kids adapt, and you should encourage them out of their comfort zones.”
Beth blows a raspberry. “I think it’s more important that the kid’s healthy and happy, just the same as dogs. And if he’s happier staying closer to you, I don’t see a problem with that.”