Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Avery
Walking Noel and Gus around the beautiful property that the camp had been built on, Avery barely had to hold on to the leash for Gus.
He did hold on to it because losing one of the dogs would be horrible but Avery didn’t have to worry about Gus.
His buddy was the perfect dog. Noel on the other hand tugged and tried to run off so Avery couldn’t let his mind wander too much.
Avery had decided to take the long way around that would lead in front of the cabins before they returned to the kennel building for the night. He wanted to make sure Gus got plenty of exercise before his dinner. Gus was responding better to their newest guest than anyone had expected.
Clint had informed Avery that Gus had walked right up to Thomas and sat by his side.
For Gus that was almost like declaring his undying love.
Thomas had been told that he would meet with multiple dogs to find the right pick yet everyone knew that Gus was going to be the deciding factor.
Noel stopped to sniff around the luscious grass, halting their movement. Gus sat by Avery’s side as they waited for the other dog.
Avery was about to tug on Noel’s collar when Gus went to attention.
Looking around, Avery tried to spot what had grabbed the shepherd’s attention. “What is it, Gus?”
Gus rose onto all fours and started to lead Avery closer to the cabins.
Noel, always down to follow the other dog, trotted along so Avery decided to see what Gus was curious about.
Normally a walk with the trained canine was quite boring.
Gus would do his business and then walk for as long as Avery wanted.
This was the first time that Gus was deciding their direction.
The front of the cabins came into view and Avery wished they were all full.
It meant more work for him since Avery oversaw getting everything set up for their guests.
He didn’t mind the work. And he wanted all of the dogs to find their forever people.
There just seemed to be such a long process for approval.
Not that Avery understood that part of the company. Not yet anyway.
He’d only met Clint’s brother once. Cody was one of the doctors that worked for the VA, or Veterans Assistance, program that found the applicants that needed a service dog. Sometimes it was just for companionship. Others needed trained dogs like Gus that were certified for certain jobs.
In the three years that Avery had been working there, he’d seen veterans that had needed dogs for so many reasons. And it always made his heart happy when the veteran was finally able to take his canine companion back home.
Spotting someone on the cabin six front porch, Avery paused, stopping both dogs.
Normally he wouldn’t approach one of their guests on his own, but Avery had spoken to Thomas on the phone and Gus’s attention was completely on the figure standing with a blanket wrapped around his head and shoulders on the porch.
Avery wasn’t sure what to do.
Gus pulled on the leash and the decision was made for him. Avery allowed the leash to slip through his fingers and Gus walked straight up to the cabin. Avery watched from the side as Gus climbed the steps with the leash trailing behind him and pressed himself against Thomas’s leg.
Thomas jumped but Avery could hear him laugh, then Thomas was glancing around and spotted Avery.
Avery waved.
Thomas waved back before motioning Avery closer.
Avery was relieved as he would have had to retrieve Gus eventually. Or call Clint.
“Hey,” Avery said quietly as he approached. “I’m Avery.”
Thomas smiled shyly. “Hi. I talked to you on the phone.”
“You did.” Avery bounced a little as he spoke. “I’m glad you made it. If you need anything for the cabin, just give me a call. I can take care of it for you.”
Thomas tucked the part of the blanket covering his head back. “Everything is just as you described. It really helps to know what to expect. Sending the walkthrough video gave me an idea of where everything would be. Thank you.”
Avery bounced some more. He liked how soft and friendly Thomas’s voice was. It had been the same on the phone when they’d been working out the details of Thomas’s stay.
“Would you like to sit?” Thomas asked, motioning toward the chairs on the porch. “I think your canine has decided to hang out with me.”
“He’s not mine,” Avery said quickly. He hoped that Gus would be Thomas’s soon. “I was just walking him.”
‘What about that one?” Thomas asked, pointing at Noel who’d decided that rolling around on his back in the grass was fun.
Avery laughed. “This one is mine, but he’d not trained. Not like Grumpy Gus there. Noel just likes to come to work with me and Clint lets him.”
“He’s adorable.” Thomas laid his palm on the top of Gus’s head. “And I wondered if this was the same dog I met before. I wasn’t sure how many you have here.”
This was a subject that Avery could talk about all day. He moved up the steps to take the invitation to sit with Thomas.
Thomas sat in the chair that allowed him to see most of the yard, so Avery took the one closest to their steps.
“This is Noel.” Avery grabbed his dog’s bottom to scoot him back against Avery’s legs. “He’s super special to me because he was a Christmas present from my Da…partner after I got a position here. Clint helped me train him so he knows basic commands but Noel is…a free spirit.”
Thomas laughed again. “And maybe a little spoiled.”
“Maybe.” Avery shrugged.
“And this guy?” Thomas patted Gus’s back where Gus was sitting beside his chair. “I know he’s super smart and certified. Can you tell me more about him?”
Avery was thrilled by Thomas’s interest in Gus.
“He is the smartest,” Avery gushed. “Originally he was going to be trained for one certification but there is nothing that he can’t do. He’s been trained and waiting for his forever person for four months now.”
“He’s waited that long?” Thomas ran his hand down Gus’s back.
Avery knew how soft Gus’s fur was and how it was soothing to pet him. “He’s picky.”
“Picky?” Thomas asked.
“You’re the first person that he’s shown any interest in besides those of us that work here,” Avery explained. “That is why I gave him the name Grumpy Gus.”
“Oh!” Thomas looked back down as he continued to pet Gus.
Since it looked like Thomas was lost in thought, Avery decided to sit quietly and let Thomas work out his thoughts. That was until he heard his name being called.
Avery lifted a hand and waved at Clint who was jogging over.
“Everything okay?” Clint asked as he stopped in the grass in front of the chairs.
“Good,” Avery said. “Gus spotted Thomas and wanted to stop by and say hi.”
Clint grinned. “Did he? That’s great.”
Avery agreed.
“You have a phone call though,” Clint said. “It’s from another applicant. He had a question about the email you sent.”
“Oh!” Avery started to rise.
With Gus now leaning against Thomas’s legs, he hated to take the dog away.
“I can stay with Gus,” Clint offered.
“Okay.” Avery stood, grabbing Noel’s leash again. “It was nice talking to you Thomas. I hope we can do it again. I’d love to tell you more about our resident grump.”
Thomas chuckled and nodded. “I’d like that. It looks like I’ll be staying for awhile so maybe we can visit again.”
“You can count on it.” Avery tugged Noel down the steps, who had to stop by Clint to get pats before Avery led the way back to the office. He’d had a good feeling about Thomas from the start and seeing Gus with him cemented it.
Avery didn’t know if he and Thomas would be able to become friends in the short amount of time that Thomas would be with him but Avery would like to try. There was something about the young man that just spoke to Avery.
Hurrying to the office, Avery could just hope that everything would work out for Thomas and for Gus.
* * *
Avery
“Avery!”
Avery turned from where he was piling up a mountain of sand when his name was screamed. He waved to Hayley and Caleb before jumping to his feet. The sand had somehow gotten above his feet so when he took a step, Avery ended up faceplanting.
He grunted, causing the binkie to fall out of his mouth.
“Let me help,” Mitch said as he lifted Avery out of the sandbox.
“Tanks,” Avery replied and hugged him. “You almost snuck up on me.”
“I was trying,” Mitch confirmed. “Then Hayley and Caleb arrived and ruined it.”
“Sorry,” Hayley said as he hugged Mitch. “I was just excited.”
Avery hugged Caleb then Hayley. He wished all his friends could be there but he would see them the next night for Avery’s party. It was super hard to get everyone’s scheduled lined up, or so Daddy said, and Avery knew that he should be happy with the friends that could come.
“What are you building?” Caleb asked as he pointed to Avery’s sandbox.
Avery glanced over his shoulder and shrugged. “I’m not sure. I was just waiting on you guys to get here.”
“Oh.” Caleb tugged on the sleeve of his pretty sundress. “Are we late?”
“Not late,” Avery corrected. “I was just missing you guys.”
“We’ve missed you too,” Mitch said as he took Avery’s hand. “We’re very proud of you though.”
“So proud,” Hayley agreed.
“I made you a cake!” Caleb exclaimed.
“You did?” Avery danced. Caleb was the best cook in the entire world. No one cooked better than Caleb.
“No cake until after dinner!” Jace hollered from the back porch.
Avery turned to pout toward his Daddy. “But, Daddy! It’s my cake!”
Jace crossed the yard and booped Avery on the tip of his nose. “And I’m your Daddy who says no cake until after dinner.”
“Okay,” Avery immediately agreed. It was up to Daddy to make the big decisions. Like whether or not they could have cake before dinner. “Are we still making our own pizzas?”
“We are,” Jace said. “You each get to decorate your own pizza with whatever toppings you want.”
“I want pineapple!” Hayley claimed.
“Pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza!” Mac yelled from the porch.
Hayley shook his head. “Poor Daddy doesn’t know how to get pizza.”
Caleb was making a face so Avery thought that Caleb might agree with Mac.
“I guess I could try it,” Avery said.
“You don’t have to,” Jace said.
Avery shrugged. He didn’t want Hayley to feel like no one liked his idea.
“You don’t,” Hayley said. “That just means more for me.”
Avery was kind of relieved. It didn’t sound that yummy. “I like pepperoni.”
“Me too,” Mitch said.
“That’s boring,” Caleb complained.
“Not if we make them into a design,” Mitch argued.
“I can make mine into a dog!” Avery announced.
“I’ll make mine into a shark. They can be friends,” Mitch said.
“I want…I want…” Hayley wiggled.
“You boys don’t have to decide now,” Jace told them. He held out his hand to Avery.
Tightening his fingers, Avery peered up at his Daddy.
“Give it to me, baby boy,” Jace demanded.
Avery shook his head.
“Now,” Jace ordered.
His lips trembled as Avery opened his hand, revealing the binkie that was covered in sand. Jace snatched it from him but before Avery could complain he popped a different binkie into Avery’s mouth.
Avery hummed as he started to suck. That was better. And he wouldn’t be spitting out sand later either.
“Let’s play,” Caleb said, taking Avery’s hand and dragging him back to the sandbox.
“K,” Avery mumbled around his binkie. It was time for some fun!
“Where are your animals?” Mitch asked. “We can build them a ranch.”
“I’ll get them,” Hayley said. “I saw them by the swing set.”
That’s right. Avery had gotten distracted earlier and made Jace push him on the swings before his Daddy said he was tired.
The sun was still shining as in summer it stayed hot until late at night. Which was perfect for pizza night with his best friends.
Even though Caleb was in his pretty dress, he sat in the middle of the sandbox and started making squares so they knew where to build the enclosures. Hayley ran back with the box of outside plastic animals which Mitch began to pass around.
Avery had so many boxes of animals that he had ones that were for the playroom, some for outside, some for the toybox in the living room, and even some that could be in the tub.
Since all animals were his favorite, Avery never got bored with playing with them.
And all of his friends knew just what to do.
Not that Avery minded too much when they did their own thing.
Hayley though could be kind of bossy when they played. It was still fun.
They all got to work on making their own square perfect for the enclosures that they were responsible for.
Just as Avery was getting thirsty, Byron, Mitch’s Daddy, came over to pass out drinks. Avery and Hayley both got sippy cups, Caleb received a sparkling purple bottle with a squeeze top, and Mitch was handed a plastic cup with a long spiral straw.
Four boys that were the best of friends but each of them was different than the other.
Littles, middles, boys, it didn’t matter between friends. They could have a fun evening playing with toys and no one there judged them for what they liked. This was the best type of friend group. This was family. And Avery wouldn’t trade them for anything in the whole entire world.