Chapter 6 #2
I had every intention of leaving here with a dog, but only if I found what I was looking for.
From the outside, I didn’t think the store would be this spacious.
Slowly, I walked around and passed several different breeds.
I stopped in front of a kennel with an all-white Jack Russell Terrier but decided against it.
Those dogs were known to be hyper as fuck and bark at anything.
Just as I was about to give up, I walked past a large cage with an all-black Great Dane in it.
From the way he stared at me, I knew I had to inquire about him.
It almost felt like he’d been waiting on me.
“Would you like me to let him out?” a voice asked from behind me.
I expected to come face to face with the lady I saw when I arrived, but it was another lady. This one was younger but still held the same genuine smile as the first lady. The name tag she wore said Tia, letting me know she was the owner of the store.
“Please,” I responded.
When the door was opened, the dog walked up to me and familiarized himself with my scent.
“Oh, wow. It’s like he already knows you.”
“I know, it’s crazy.”
“Well, his name is Sparky and he just turned two a couple weeks ago. He’s a little over three feet, but he should be done growing. He’s a hundred and forty pounds and we’ve had him for quite some time now. He was a rescue dog and one of the sweetest boys I’ve ever met,” she explained.
Sparky being a rescue dog gave me some pause, but I felt like he’d be fine.
When I was younger, my mother had gotten a rescue dog and it took a while for him to warm up to all of us when she brought him home.
I wasn’t getting that vibe from Sparky, but I wanted to be certain.
Honestly, I was surprised he’d gone this long without being sold.
I assumed it had a lot to do with his size.
Without wasting any more time, I asked Tia for his price and started the process to take him home.
About two hours later, Sparky was officially mine.
I grabbed a few toys and a bag of his favorite food to hold him over until tomorrow.
There was a Petco in the next city over, but I didn’t feel like making that trip today.
On the car ride home, Sparky sat in the back seat with his head out the window.
He seemed to be enjoying the fresh air and I felt a little more complete now that I had him.
Pausing my music, I hit Saturn’s name and listened as the phone rang.
I’d learned through our conversations that she loved pets.
“Hey, you made it home yet?” I asked Saturn when she answered the phone.
“I did. I just got in like twenty minutes ago. Where are you? It sounds like you’re in the car.”
“I am. Is it okay if I stop by real quick? Just for a few minutes.”
“Yeah. Just let me know when you’re outside.”
“Come open the door. I’m actually pulling up right now,” I admitted.
It’d been over a week since I came over to install Saturn’s cameras.
After I took her out for lunch the following day, it felt like we became stuck at the hip.
I was always calling her to check in and she called me every morning while she got ready for work.
The sound of her voice had become the one thing I had to look forward to.
Before I came to a complete stop, Saturn was already halfway down the stairs with her phone in hand.
I hit the button to unlock the back door when I noticed her sight set on Sparky.
“He’s so cute. When did you get him?” Saturn asked as I got out of the truck.
“Haven’t even had him a full hour yet. We just came from the pet store. His name is Sparky, but I don’t know if I’ll keep calling him that,” I admitted.
“Why not? I think it fits him.”
“I don’t know. It’s cool, just not a name I would’ve come up with.”
“I think we should keep it.”
“We?” I countered, just to fuck with her.
“I mean y?—”
“I’m just playin’, baby. I like that you’re thinking that way.”
When Sparky jumped down from the back seat, he sniffed Saturn and seemed to be taking to her just as well as he did to me.
I walked off and took a seat on the porch when I saw the two of them had forgotten I was here.
Having a dog couldn’t replace human interaction, but maybe now I wouldn’t feel as lonely.
I was at peace, but sometimes too much silence got to me.
Although I didn’t regret moving away from Gwendal, I often questioned if Pleasant Springs was truly where I should be.
When I snapped out of my thoughts, I realized Saturn and Sparky were playing with a green frisbee.
“Where the hell did you get a frisbee from?”
“You didn’t see me walk to the garage? You were looking right at me.”
“My mind was somewhere else because I didn’t see you walk off.”
“Everything okay?” she asked as she approached.
Taking a seat beside me, Saturn rested her head on my shoulder before hugging herself. I wrapped an arm around her and kissed the top of her forehead before answering.
“I’m fine. Just little shit I need to work through. You tired?”
“A little. The shop was crazy today. I really need a few days off, but there’s no way that’ll happen unless I close it while I’m out, and I can’t really afford that.”
“Is the shop in financial trouble?” I quizzed, my consultant skills coming to the forefront.
“Yes and no. Up until a few months ago, business has been slow. Like so slow that I got behind on the rent. Since I know the bank lender personally, she’s been working with me. The shop may look nice, but it needs to be updated. Then inventory is a whole story on its own.”
“I’ll come down to the shop tomorrow and see what we’re working with. I just need you to know I won’t sugarcoat shit. When it comes to business, I don’t hold back on anything,” I informed her.
“Thank you. What time are you coming?”
“Around noon. I have to drive to some town tomorrow for a car part.”
“What’s the name of the city?”
“Loring or something like that,” I recalled.
“Oh, I know where that is. It’s like an hour drive. My dad and grandpa used to go out there all the time to go fishing. It’s like Pleasant Springs 2.0.”
After Saturn gave me a rundown on the fastest route to take, I stood to leave. It was getting late and I wanted to get Sparky home.
“Will you call me when you get home?”
“I’ll call, but I think you’ll be asleep before I start my engine.”
“Call anyway. I’ll hear my phone. I wanna say good night to Sparky and see how he’s adjusting to being in a new environment. Make sure you bring him tomorrow when you come by the shop.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Normally, I’d give Saturn a kiss on the cheek or forehead, but tonight I went in for the kill and placed a kiss on her lips.
Since she kissed me back, I assumed I hadn’t crossed any lines.
I needed Saturn to know I respected her as a woman above anything else.
This time when I pulled out of her driveway, I felt accomplished.