CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Left alone with the dog, Hazel placed Dottie on the grass and watched as she playfully ran around sniffing the ground. She called the Center and told them she’d be late coming in. Before she could call Mike, he called her.
“Did you get the delivery?” Mike asked.
“Oh, yes! Thank you! She’s the best gift ever. I’ll send you some pictures of her. Right now, she’s sniffing the grass on the front lawn. I’m about to take her out back to the fenced-in area. She’s tiny and very smart.”
“Are you keeping the name Dottie?” Mike asked.
“It’s perfect with her coat of fur. And that face … so cute! I will take her to the pet store with me, and then she can sleep in my office. Gage said she needs training. So, I’ll get some puppy pads for emergencies.”
“It sounds like you have things under control. Dottie will love being at my house with a big yard to play in.”
“I’m warning you that she’s going to be a very spoiled puppy. Right now, she is staring at me and …”
“Woof!”
“… barking at me to do something. I’m not sure what, but I’ll figure it out. Thank you so-o-o much. I can’t think of a more meaningful gift. The timing is perfect, and I love the idea of adopting a pet.”
“I know you pretty well and thought this might help you get past the disappointment of not fostering Jed,” said Mike, his voice tender.
“Thanks again. Oops! I’d better go. Dottie is running toward the road.” Hazel ended the call and sprinted after the dog. Dottie might have short legs, but she could move fast.
###
Later, loading up her car with store items, it felt like Christmas for a certain pup.
She’d bought everything Gage suggested on the list. She hooked up the dog’s car seat and strapped Dottie in it so she could see out the window.
The back was loaded with not one but two beds, bowls, toys, a harness and a leash, a small crate, and a teddy bear that had a mechanical heartbeat for nighttime comfort.
Hazel got behind the driver’s wheel and turned to Dottie. “Here we go! We’re off to the first of many adventures.”
The dog wagged her tail and barked as if to say okay.
Hazel drove home, dropped off most of the things she’d bought, and then took Dottie and one of her new comfy beds to the office. At six months of age, she was still a baby and would, Hazel hoped, curl up in her bed and go to sleep while she worked.
At the Center, everyone wanted to hold the dog or pet her until Hazel quietly put Dottie in her bed under her desk. The puppy, who was active earlier, slept soundly while Hazel caught up with her work.
The minute Dottie woke up, Hazel hurried her outside. And as the pamphlet suggested, Hazel clapped and fussed over her when Dottie performed.
Prancing with self-adoration, Dottie trotted inside and waited while Hazel got ready to go home. On the way out of the building, Hazel checked with Mallory to make sure the tennis camp was coming to a close for this session and that the new session would start on time.
Seeing Dottie, Mallory got down on her knees to pet her.
Dottie loved the attention, but when Hazel turned to leave, Dottie quickly followed.
###
At home, Hazel organized everything for the dog, placing a water bowl next to the crate and putting toys and the teddy bear in the crate. Dinner was one of three meals the pup would have, each one a healthy serving of food chosen by Gage.
The one note of warning Gage had given Hazel was to resist letting Dottie out of the crate at night, as she needed to be trained to sleep there. Later, when she was older, they could choose whether to let her in bed, but for now, it was an important part of training.
Hazel read this and looked down at the dog wagging her tail and looking up at her with a doggie grin. Could she do what Dr. Martens asked?
When Mike called to see how she was doing, he asked Hazel, “Are you following Gage’s instructions? He reminded me how important it was for Dottie to sleep in the crate at night. I know what a softie you are, but don’t give in. Okay?”
“Okay,” said Hazel. “She sure is cute. How is your work going there?”
“Fine,” said Mike. “I’m packing up my things here, checking on my remaining schedule here in Florida, have some other business to attend to, and will be home in three days.”
“We’ll both be waiting for you. Me and our baby.”
“What?” said Mike, sounding alarmed. “Baby?”
“Our fur baby,” Hazel said, chuckling.
They ended the call laughing together.
Hazel sat for a moment, thinking about babies, and turned to the dog. “C’mon, Dottie. We’ve got to go on an errand.”
###
Back at her house, Hazel sat in her bathroom and stared in dismay at the two lines of the test.
She tried another one.
Two lines appeared again. No doubt about it, she was pregnant.
She knew she couldn’t call her mother, and she didn’t want any of her friends to know before telling Mike. So, sitting on the floor of the bathroom, Hazel told Dottie all about how she wasn’t ready for such news, that it might ruin everything.
Sensing her unhappiness, Dottie climbed into Hazel’s lap and licked a tear from her cheek.
Hazel rubbed Dottie’s back, recalling the night it might have happened.
Mike was usually careful about protection, and she was usually alert about confirming it.
But one time, after having too much wine, they must have forgotten.
Their lovemaking was that fantastic, Hazel thought, wanting to cry again.
###
That night, Hazel went to bed alone. Dottie was in her crate in a corner of the room so she could at least see Hazel. Not that it helped to keep the dog from crying.
At the sound, Hazel stiffened and placed a pillow over her head, trying to block out the noise.
Finally, Hazel put in earbuds to listen to some music. Gage had warned her that dachshunds were very stubborn and for her to just tough it out this first night.
The puppy’s crying went on and on, rising and ebbing in heartbreaking wails.
Just as Hazel was ready to give up, the room went quiet.
Hazel rose on her elbows to take a look. All she saw was a bundle of the puppy blankets she’d bought lying in the middle of the crate.
Carefully, trying not to make any noise, she climbed out of bed and tiptoed over to the crate. A Dachshund's head lay still inside a twisted bunch of blankets. Eyes closed, Dottie slept.
Sighing with relief, Hazel made her way back to her empty bed. Too tired to stay awake, she turned to her side and clung to Mike’s pillow, wishing he was there.
###
It was early when Dottie stirred and began to cry.
Hazel went to the crate, opened it, and lifted Dottie’s warm body into her arms.
“Time for you to go outside, sweetie,” crooned Hazel, laughing when Dottie kissed her on the cheek.
Hazel carried the dog to the outside deck and down to the grass.
Dottie did her duty and then sniffed around the fenced yard.
Hazel ran inside to get a robe and slippers and then sat on the deck watching the dog and listening to the songs of birds starting their day.
She still couldn’t believe the results of the pregnancy tests. She felt well, though her breasts were a bit tender.
Her cell phone rang. Mike.
“Hi,” she said, eager to keep talking about anything but the news of a baby. “Dottie and I had a good night after she cried for almost two hours before falling asleep. This morning, she’s having fun in the backyard before we have to get ready to go to work.”
“That sounds very promising. The photos of her were spectacular. She sure is cute.”
“As Gage said, Dottie wants to please. Maybe training might not be as difficult as I first thought. She knows her name and will come when she’s called. But I can see it’s going to take work to get her into our routine.”
“I thought summer was a wise time to get a dog, so she can play outside,” said Mike. “And I knew you’d love having her.”
“I really do. She’s such a sweet gift. It’ll be easier when you’re at home to help take care of her. And perhaps you can teach her some tricks,” said Hazel, keeping the focus on the dog.
“What are you up to today?” asked Mike.
“One session of tennis camp is ending, and another is beginning. So, I’ll be meeting with staff and trying to come up with any new or better ideas about running this next session.”
“Hard to believe the summer will soon be coming to an end. Aren’t you glad you don’t have to prepare to return to school?”
“Yes, I’m very excited about it. Teaching at that school wasn’t a good fit for me.
Not like the Sports Center,” said Hazel.
She was now grateful that Principal Nolan Deere had gone psycho on her, nitpicking everything she did, making her want to leave her position at school. It had opened up her life in many ways.
“I’ve got a few more things to take care of,” said Mike. “I’ll get them done as quickly as possible and then come home.”
“I miss you so much,” Hazel said.
“Yeah, I miss you, too,” said Mike.
They ended the call.
Hazel sat in the kitchen staring at the wall. Somehow, she had to get through the day while hiding her secret.