Chapter Nineteen
ELLIE
The sun shone above me and the air had that perfect chill that wasn’t too hot or too cold. It was the perfect fall day, worthy of all the praise New England autumns were known for. It seemed like even the dogs at the shelter were energized and by the crisp, clean air as they frolicked in the grass.
Joy lit me up from the inside out as I fought to catch my breath. The happy yips and barks fueled my enthusiasm, and after setting up the volunteer schedule with Theo, we’d offered to take a few of the dogs to the outside area to let them work off some energy.
When was the last time I’d had so much fun?
When one of the dogs slammed into the back of my knees, followed by another, and then a third—a full-blown furry avalanche, my arms pinwheeled like I was trying out for the world’s worst airplane impression before I toppled into the grass.
As they licked my face and nuzzled my head, I gasped for air, tears streaming down my cheeks from laughing so hard.
“Ellie! Are you okay?” Drew’s voice rang out, half-concerned, half-amused.
I attempted to stand up and tried to answer, but my mouth was full of floppy ears and slobbery tongues. “Ahhh, save yourself!” I cried dramatically, as a Chihuahua gnawed on my shoelace and a terrier planted its butt square on my stomach. “There’s no hope for me. Tell my story—”
“Your story is that you’re terrible at defense,” Drew teased crouching down to sit next to me. A sleek brown dog bounded into his lap. “I’ll take my chances, but if we have to die I’d rather be with you. Besides, they trust me. I’m safe.”
“Safe?” I sputtered. “They’re using me as a human jungle gym!”
He shrugged, far too smug for someone with a puppy chewing on his sleeve. “I’ll put ‘rescued girlfriend from stampede’ on my resume.”
I laughed so hard it hurt. When a mid-sized cocker spaniel with the heft of a bowling ball plopped on my chest, I wheezed. “Domino, buddy—either move or commit to paying my medical bills.”
The dog gave me a look, the evil eye, so similar to my mother’s, which only made me laugh harder. Then he sneezed in my face.
Yuck.
A cackling like she’d never seen anything so hilarious came from a few feet away. “How fortuitous that I arrived during the puppy apocalypse!”
I didn’t even need to turn around. Only one person in Ruby River could project that much drama while jingling like a wind chime.
“Glamma,” Drew groaned, climbing to his feet and brushing grass off his pants.
She closed the distance in a blinding blur of a hot pink tracksuit and bracelets clacking. Her oversized sunglasses, perched on her head, completed her tribute to 80s fashion. The dogs immediately swarmed her, yapping and circling like she was a celebrity on the red carpet.
“My favorite grandson!” she sang.
“You say that to all of us,” Drew shot back.
“Yes, but I mean it most of the time when you’re standing right in front of me.” She patted his cheek, then stage whispered, “Although, your brother Wyatt still sends me flowers for no special occasion. Something to think about.”
Drew grunted. “I have something else to think about. Do we need to have a chat about how you rearranged my guest room?”
I scrambled up from the grass, still covered in dog hair and my dignity in shreds. She turned her twinkling eyes on me, then gasped like she spotted a tabloid scandal. “Did you two manage that … creatively furnished guest room?”
Drew’s ears went pink. “It was fine.”
“Oh, good.” She grinned. “Then I don’t need to tell the girls we need to go back and return the mattress. They were prepared, you know. We’ve got bad backs, but sturdy spirits.”
I coughed to hide my laugh.
“And what was in those boxes anyway?” I asked.
She waved a hand at Drew. “You tell me. What was in those boxes?
Drew raised a light tawny eyebrow. “The ones with my actual stuff or the ones with rocks?”
Glamma laughed. “That sounds ridiculous. Why would you pack rocks? Or perhaps, mason jars full of dirt.”
“Grandmother,” Drew muttered, which only made her grin wider and pull him in for a big hug.
How Glamma sounded so convincing with her blatant lies and subterfuge, I had no idea. Drew hadn’t mentioned he’d checked the boxes and had found the rocks I’d suspected. It was no wonder they were so heavy.
“Hi, Glamma,” I said, giving her a tiny wave.
She let go of Drew and moved closer to me. “How are you, sweetheart? This morning sounded rough.”
My startled eyes flew to Drew, who held out his hands in a ‘it wasn’t me gesture.’
“I have my ways of knowing what happens in my town.” She winked at me, then gave me the biggest, best hug ever. I lingered a little longer than was probably necessary in her arms. It was that good.
Drew reached down and picked up one of the smaller dogs, a Corgi puppy, that had been nipping at his feet. As soon as he did, the stinker flopped against him, rested his head on his arm, and closed his eyes.
“Looks like you have a new friend to bring home.” Glamma smiled.
“I wish, but I’m not home enough.” Drew looked longingly at the sweet pup. “So what brings you here?”
“I’ve decided I’m getting a dog. After hearing your father talk about this place, I called Theo and asked if I could foster.”
Again, number one million and ten, why Drew’s family was so great.
“I love that for you. Maybe if you have a dog, you’ll have less time for mischief,” he responded with a grin.
“Pshaw.” She smacked Drew’s arm. “That’s what you think. Now I’ll just have a new sidekick to help me with my shenanigans.”
Drew shook his head.
“I’m so excited. Theo thinks he’s picked the perfect one for me and if everything goes well, the foster placement can become permanent.”
“Oh, I’d love to see your newest edition.” After spending the afternoon with all of these adorable dogs, it was hard not to want to take at least one home. Maybe I could get my puppy fix with Glamma’s dog while I was here.
“Coco’s a sweet six-year-old girl. But since French bulldogs can be prone to spinal and hip problems, she’s been overlooked.
Since I have the means to care for her and think her smushed little face is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, I think we’ll do well.
I was finishing up the paperwork when Theo said you were outside. ”
Drew gave his grandmother a side hug. “I’m happy we got to see you before we left.”
I glanced at my watch. “Shoot. We need to go soon. I need to change before our appointment.”
Drew nodded, snuggled the Corgi one last time, and put her down. She gave a huff before running off with her friends. Clearly, we were boring since we stopped chasing them or holding them.
“Where are you two headed off to?” Glamma asked.
I scrunched up my nose. “The Sweet Spot for my sister’s cake tasting at five.”
“That sounds yummy and full of drama. Don’t let me keep you.” She gave us the shooing motion.
As we hurried inside, I looked back at Glamma, who was following at a slower pace. She tossed me a sly grin. One that immediately had me wondering what she was up to.
“Do you need any help getting the dogs back inside?” Drew asked Theo once we reached the front desk.
As I leaned against the counter, a large, fluffy feline launched itself in front of me with the drama of a Broadway diva.
“Stormy!” Theo warned. “She’s been pacing in front of the door while you played outside.”
The cat’s gold eyes fixed on me like lasers. She gave a sharp, indignant merp, tail lashing.
“Oh, I see,” I cooed. “You’re mad I didn’t come say hello first.”
Stormy’s whiskers twitched, unimpressed.
“Would a chin scratchy make up for my grievous betrayal?” I offered.
She tilted her head, then head-butted my hand with enough force to push me back. Her motor-like purr blared as she laid spread out on the counter and let me scratch under her chin. When I stopped, she stood and playfully batted at my hand.
“Listen, if you’re a good girl, when I come back I’ll only play with you next time.”
“Looks like you’ve been chosen,” Drew chuckled.
“Tell me about it.” I rubbed Stormy’s chin, and she melted against me, all rumble and warmth. When I stopped, she smacked my hand with a velvet paw.
“I know sweet kitty, but I have to go. I’m sorry.” I looked at Theo who was hovering nearby, eyeing Stormy.
“She only does that with you. Honestly, you could adopt her today, and my blood pressure would thank you.”
The words hit me harder than they should have. I gathered Stormy up, her paws looping over my shoulder, her head burrowing into my neck. She purred like I was the safest place she’d ever found.
My chest tightened. She wasn’t sweet like the puppies, all wagging tails and unconditional joy. No, Stormy was prickly, demanding, and hard to love unless you were patient.
And God, did I get that.
Her constant fear of being left behind was mine too.
“I really wish I could,” I whispered as I rubbed at her furry back.
Theo eyed the two of us. “Let me go get some gloves or a towel. I don’t want her to fight me or have her get hurt when I bring her back.”
Stormy hissed at Theo.
“Stormy, come on. Not today,” Theo pleaded with her to no avail. She just hissed louder.
“I’ll bring her back,” I offered.
Theo placed his hands together, like prayer hands. “Thank you.”
“Want me to meet you outside?” I asked Drew.
“Sure. I’ll pull up out front.” He kissed my forehead before he left, making my heart turn over. I don’t even think he realized he’d done it, which made it even better.
Theo led me to the room where the cats were housed. “If you change your mind, let us know. With her temperament, I’m not sure we’ll find anyone to adopt her.”
He opened her cage, and when I lowered her into it, she let out a yowl so mournful it cut right through me.
Tears pricked my eyes. I closed the door and I stuck my fingers between the bars.
“Be a good girl,” I whispered. “Don’t give up on people yet.
And try to be nice to Theo. He’s just trying to help you. ”
The baleful look Stormy gave me was clearly cat speak for, ‘I’ll do what I want.’
I hated turning away and leaving her there. While the puppies burrowed their way into my heart with their sweet yips and nips, and their cuddles and bumbling around, Stormy held a piece of me in a deeper way.
She yowled as I walked away and a part of me stayed curled up in that cage with her.
I wiped at the tears trailing down my cheeks. I could relate to her—no, I understood her. No one wanted her. No one loved her. They didn’t choose her, and she was the one who kept getting left behind.