7. Kara
7
Kara
Saturday
B eads of sweat trickled down Kara’s temples, leaving salty streaks on her flushed cheeks as she finished taking the animals outside at the rescue. A short walk across the lush, dew-kissed lawn brought her to her tiny house.
When Kara opened the door, a soft voice floated from the kitchen. “Morning.”
She hung her bag on a hook by the door and turned to find Charlotte rubbing her eyes. “How are you feeling?”
Charlotte winced as she rolled her shoulders. “Sore. A little groggy. But I think I’ll survive.”
Kara joined her at the table. “Need another aspirin?”
“Yeah, probably,” Charlotte said, rising.
Before Charlotte could get up, Kara was in motion, her maternal instincts carrying her swiftly to the bathroom, where she retrieved the familiar white bottle from behind the mirrored cabinet door.
Charlotte sighed as Kara returned and handed her the bottle. “I could have gotten that, Mom.”
“I know you could have. But you need to rest today. And I’m making your fav.”
“Chocolate chip pancakes!”
Kara grabbed the mixing bowl of pancake batter from the fridge and brought it to the stove. “You know it.”
“You da best.” Charlotte stood and hugged Kara, then inched past and started the coffeemaker. “Want some?”
“Sure.” Kara smiled.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Who’s that?” Charlotte asked.
“Don’t know.” Kara stepped away from the stove and opened the front door.
“Hello, Kara.” Whitaker Walker breezed past her, his salt-and-pepper hair neatly combed. A crisp button-down and freshly ironed slacks peeked out from beneath his starched white coat, while his polished loafers squeaked against the floor.
Kara’s eyebrows shot up. “Dad?” She trailed after him. “I didn’t know you were stopping by.”
Charlotte spun around. “Grandpa!” She set down the two coffee mugs in her hand and wrapped her arms around his tall, lean frame.
“Hello dear. Always wonderful seeing you,” he said.
Kara plastered on a smile. “Staying for breakfast, Dad?”
“Just some coffee. I have to head to the pharmacy soon,” he said, settling into a chair. His eyes lingered on Charlotte. “Your cheek—what happened?”
Charlotte touched the bruise. “It’s nothing really. Just a bump from the car accident last—”
“Accident?” Whitaker shot his daughter the death stare. “Kara, what is she talking about?”
“Nothing to worry about. Charlotte is in one piece, and after we left the hospital—”
Whitaker pushed back his chair abruptly. “The hospital? And you didn’t think to call me?” His voice rose. “Kara, how many times do I have—”
Charlotte stepped between them. “Here, Grandpa, just how you like it.” She pressed the mug into his hands. “I even added the cream.”
“Thank you, dear,” he said, patting Charlotte’s hand. Whitaker’s gaze shifted to Kara. “You shouldn’t have let her drive in the rain at night. You know how dangerous these roads can be.”
Kara’s stomach clenched as the memory of her mother’s accident flashed through her mind—the call, the news, the helplessness. But she quickly refocused.
“Dad, are you sure you don’t want pancakes?” she asked, pushing down the rising lump in her throat.
He shook his head. “I said coffee will do.”
Kara pressed herself against the counter, her posture rigid as Charlotte maneuvered around her—a silent ballet they had mastered over the years.
“Don’t you think this place is too small for two grown women?” Her dad took a slow sip of his coffee. “I still can’t believe you sold the old house. I hope your petting zoo was worth it.”
“Animal rescue, Dad,” Kara said, biting her lip. She turned off the stove, then picked up a plate of chocolate-chip pancakes and carried it to the table. “This house is fine. And Charlotte is off at school most of the time now.”
Charlotte squeezed into a chair. “I like this house.”
“It’s too cramped.” Whitaker shook his head. “No Walker should live like this.”
“Some might call it cozy,” Kara said, forcing a smile as she reached for a towel, pretending to straighten things that didn’t need fixing, anything to stay out of his line of fire. “You should drink up, Dad. I need to head out soon—gotta set up for the adoption event.”
“Me too,” Charlotte said, pouring syrup on her plate.
“No, you’re not.” Kara grabbed a stool and pulled it over to the table. “You’re gonna stay here and rest.”
“Mom ...”
“I’ll have to agree with your mother, Charlotte,” Whitaker said. “You should rest.”
Charlotte straightened and turned to face her mom. “The doctor said I’m good. I’m helping you at the event today. Besides, if I’m there, you’ll be able to keep an eye on me.”
Kara sighed. “Okay. But as soon as you look the least bit tired, I’m sending you home.”
Charlotte took a moment to finish her mouthful, then wiped her lips with a napkin. “Deal.”
Kara’s eyes flitted around the room, focusing on the chipped paint by the window, the stack of mail on the counter—anywhere but her father’s face.
“Well girls, I’m heading off to the family pharmacy—one that, quite frankly, should be yours, Kara. But I suppose it will eventually fall to someone else.” He stood, pushing the chair back under the table. “I’m glad you’re home, Charlotte.” He kissed the top of his granddaughter’s head, then turned to his daughter.
“Kara.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll talk later.”
“Bye Dad.” Kara smiled at him, clenching her teeth. “Have a good day.”
Walking out, his footsteps seemed to echo the distance Kara felt between them, a reminder of the years she had spent feeling overshadowed by his expectations. The old wounds, somehow, felt as raw as ever.
As soon as the door shut, Kara finally sat down, letting out a breath. She cut into her pancakes, eating in hurried bites between quick sips of coffee. “Charlotte, are you sure about coming to the rescue today? It won’t be a big deal if—”
“I’m gonna hop in the shower and get dressed, then I’ll be over.” Charlotte stood, taking her plate to the sink. “Don’t wait on me. I know you’ve got a ton to do this morning.”
Kara swallowed the last bite of pancake, gulped her coffee in one long sip, and pushed back from the table. Her daughter was right—Kara did have a ton to do.
In the short distance from her house to the rescue, Kara’s mind raced with the tasks ahead. As she unlocked the back entrance, a cheerful voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Hey, girl! Brought some drinks.”
Kara turned to see Emma entering the yard, cooler in hand.
“Drinks, huh?” Kara raised an eyebrow with a smirk
Emma grinned. “Just water today. But if you’re looking for a real pick-me-up, I may or may not have some espresso shots stashed away. Anyway, I’m here to help. But first, how are you?”
The smile slid off Kara’s face. “Well, my dad was here this morning. You know how that goes. And Charlotte was in a wreck last night. She’s okay, but wants to help today, so we’ll need to look out for her.”
Emma set the cooler down. “Glad she’s okay. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was late. Didn’t want to be a bother.”
Emma stepped closer and grabbed both of Kara’s shoulders, turning her friend to face her directly. “You’re never a bother, no matter the time. Okay?”
“If you say so.”
“I do say so. Now, did you find any more help for today?”
Kara shook her head. “No, it’s only us and Charlotte. We’ll manage.”
Emma nodded. “Got it. Well, let’s get started.”
Kara nodded, then glanced around. “Oh, what about the volunteer booth? I completely forgot about it with everything going on.”
“Don’t you worry about that. I took care of it, just like I promised. Come on, I’ll show you.”
She led Kara to a corner of the lawn where a tent was already set up. A banner reading Volunteer Information hung across the front, and a table underneath was neatly arranged with clipboards, pens, and colorful flyers.
“Emma, this is amazing,” Kara breathed, taking in the professional setup. “When’d you do all this?”
“I pulled up just as you were heading into your house earlier from the rescue. Figured I’d get this done while you had a breather.”
“You’re a ninja and a lifesaver, truly.”
“That’s what friends are for. Now, let’s get the rest of this place ready for some adoptions.”
“Let’s do it.”
Kara and Emma fell into a rhythm, their movements a blur of efficiency as they transformed the space into an organized adoption venue. Tent poles clattered as they snapped into place, tables scraped across the ground as they were positioned, and the metallic clangs of cages and enclosures filled the air.
Charlotte arrived, greeting Emma with a warm hug. “Hey, Emma!”
“I heard about your wreck. You okay?”
Charlotte smirked. “Oh, you know me. I live on the dangerous side.”
The trio burst into laughter, Kara shaking her head.
With everything in place, they began bringing out the animals. Leashes jingled and paws pattered as dogs were led to their designated spots. One by one, they placed the animals in enclosures or cages, each labeled with a name.
Kara did a final check, ensuring water dishes were full and blankets were comfortable in each cage. As she passed the one with Benny’s name card, she stopped short. It was empty.
“Hey,” she called out. “Has anyone seen Benny?”
Like clockwork, Charlotte strode in with Benny in tow, going at a slightly slower pace than the other dogs.
“There’s my Benny,” Kara said, walking over and bending down to scratch behind his ears. “How are you doing today, buddy?”
Benny’s soft brown eyes darted from person to person, his ears perked forward as he absorbed the flurry of activity around him.
Charlotte joined Kara, crouching beside her. “He’s got beautiful eyes, don’t you think?”
“Mm-hmm,” Kara agreed with a smile, her gaze fixed on Benny. “He’s a handsome boy, and I’m sure someone will see that today. Maybe today’s the day you find your forever home. What do you think, Benny?”
Benny responded with a resounding bark as Charlotte and Kara stood back up.
Kara took a step back, her eyes marveling at the scene before her. The white tents, their fabric slightly muted under the overcast sky, formed a soft contrast against the grayish clouds. Rows of cages, their metal bars cool and reflective in the subdued light, were arranged meticulously along the lawn. Colorful adoption posters fluttered gently in the breeze, adding a touch of brightness to the surroundings. A small smile touched her lips as she thought of the new lives they might change today.
Turning to her friend and daughter, Kara’s expression softened. “Thank you both so much for all your help. Couldn’t have done this without you.”
“We do make a pretty good team,” Emma said, folding her arms.
Charlotte grinned, striking a superhero pose. “Yeah, we’re like the Avengers of animal rescue.”
Kara chuckled. “I always thought we were pretty amazing, but now it’s official.”
Just then, the first rays of sunlight broke through the clouds.
“Look,” Emma said, pointing toward the entrance. “I think we’ve got our first visitors.”