Chapter 41 Sandra
SANDRA
“You did it. I told you you could do it,” Jerry whispers as he hugs me.
“I did, didn’t I?” The tears won't stop coming.
Then Piston wraps his powerful arms around me from behind, pulling me back against his chest and kissing the top of my head while I cry happy tears. I keep wiping at my eyes, but every time I think I'm over it, the enormity of it washes over me again. “Come on, it’s time for the tour.”
Junkyard presses up against my leg, quiet and supportive, like she understands that I'm a little overwhelmed right now, and need someone to be close to me. Just like Piston. And Beast, and Zero. They'd all be holding me, but it's difficult when it's four of us and a dog.
I'm looking at the Second Chances Animal Shelter, and it's mine.
With some structural fixes, a new coat of paint and a thorough round of making sure not even a hint of plastic explosives was still left, me and my guys, with the huge help of Mila’s men, transformed the old shelter from the sad memory it had become into a fresh new one.
After all it'd been through, there wasn't really much competition for buying the property so I got a good price using part of what was left of my vet school money.
It's been a lot of hours spent scraping, painting, putting down new floors, replacing ducts and water lines and God knows what else. It felt like every time we were close to finishing, something would leak or need checking. I think we're all more than ready to get our days and evenings back.
I take a deep breath and clap my hands. "Okay! Come on everyone, let me give you the tour."
For the grand opening, we've got just about everyone I know in this town. Natalie, of course, who's really starting to show now, and the rest of the Harem Brunch Club, and all their guys, and all their kids. And Spike, who isn’t much younger than me, but I feel like I’ve adopted after he saved my life.
He’s still in physical therapy for his arm, but it should end up if not good as new, at least fully usable.
Then there's Jerry and Darren, of course.
Even Carl, who's vaguely considering working part time for me, but I'm not sure if he's going to dare.
All the crazy stuff that happened hit him pretty hard, and I get it if he doesn't. I'm just glad he came to the grand opening so he can see what it looks like now and maybe get a little closure.
Piston lets me go so I can lead the crowd through the new facilities.
As soon as I'm free, Clark comes running, wanting up.
He's getting so big now that I can only carry him for so long, but as long as Junkyard is nearby, he loves running around with her too.
He went from unsure about dogs to wanting three of his own in about twenty-four hours.
I'm pretty sure I talk everyone to death.
There are limits to how much everyone cares about the quality of the showers, the much improved records software that Rory helped me with, or the improved cage designs, but they humor me.
Everyone oohs and aahs at the artificial pond in the exercise yard though.
Junkyard has already been here enough for us to see that it's a success.
We have some cake, courtesy of Natalie. When the show is over and the goodbyes are said, we're back down to me, the boys, and Natalie and hers.
"Sandra." She pulls me aside, leaving the bikers to chat while they wait for us. Badass sweeps up Clark to ride on his shoulders. Junkyard stays with me, though.
Nat hugs me as hard as she can. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Are you? Really? Even though I didn’t finish school?”
She nods. “Your credits will still be there if you change your mind, but this? This is amazing. You turned something that was nothing but a pipe dream into reality.”
“I think Mom and Dad would be proud of us, don’t you think?” I say softly. “For a long time I never thought I’d be able to say that, but we’ve both done pretty alright, haven’t we?”
“Yeah, we have. I don’t know how Dad would feel about having six son-in-laws, but it’s better than none, right?”
“Six times as good.”