Chapter 42
Mike stepped off the elevator with Buddy in perfect heel position and headed down the hallway toward the glass doors with MM Architecture emblazoned in bold black letters. “You handled that elevator like a pro,” Mike said, glancing down at his dog. “Have you worked in an office before?”
Buddy flicked his eyes up at him as if to say, Of course I have.
Mike stopped a few feet from the door to his firm.
Buddy immediately sat and looked up at him.
“Just to review,” Mike said. “Here’s what’s going to happen today. I’ve got a meeting with clients in thirty minutes. It shouldn’t last more than an hour. After that, you have an appointment with the vet.”
Buddy tilted his head.
“It’s nothing to be scared about,” Mike continued. “I want you checked out by the vet who’ll be taking care of you long-term. First visits should be good experiences.”
Buddy’s tail thumped once against the carpet.
“And afterward,” Mike added, “we’ll stop by The Friendly Bean for an early dinner, including a pupcake for you.”
Buddy’s tail thumped again, harder this time.
Mike reached for the door handle. “We came half an hour early to give everyone time to meet you,” he said. “After that, you’ll need to take a nap in my office while I’m with clients. I put a dog bed behind my desk, so you’ll be comfortable when we work here.”
Buddy blinked solemnly.
“But that’ll only happen if you’re a good boy today,” Mike added. “I can’t have you running around disrupting everyone. My staff are busy, and their full-time job isn’t petting my dog.”
Buddy’s eyebrows lifted innocently.
The office-Buddy love fest began the moment Mike opened the door. “You brought Buddy!” the receptionist cried. She hurried around from behind her desk and knelt to greet him. “I’ve heard so much about you,” she crooned, scratching under his chin. “And I’ve seen you in the background on Zoom.”
Buddy wagged enthusiastically and leaned into the attention.
“My goodness,” she said. “You’re even more handsome in person.”
Mike’s partner halted abruptly as she walked through the reception area.
“Buddy!” Cheryl called, hurrying toward him.
She stroked his back while Buddy shifted his attention from the receptionist to his new admirer.
“I’ve been telling this one,” she said, gesturing toward Mike, “that he needs to bring you to the office. My Billy comes with me every day.”
She smiled at Buddy. “He’s a very friendly miniature schnauzer. I think the two of you are going to be great friends.” She straightened and glanced at Mike. “Buddy and Billy. It sounds like the perfect pair.”
“Where is Billy, by the way?” Mike asked.
A muffled woof echoed from the corridor leading off the reception area.
“I think he’s on his way to meet his new coworker.”
Mike chuckled. “I like that.”
Billy burst into the reception area and bounded toward Buddy. The two dogs sniffed politely for approximately two seconds before collapsing onto the carpet and launching into a full wrestling match.
Cheryl smiled. “I hope Buddy becomes a fixture around here. He’s a big, goofy, friendly boy. The staff is going to love him.”
“You’re sure it’s not unprofessional to allow dogs in the office?” Mike asked.
“To the contrary,” Cheryl said. “I’ve noticed the staff seek out Billy whenever they’re frustrated or stuck on a project. Spending a few minutes with all those positive canine pheromones relieves stress and helps them think more clearly.”
Mike laughed. “So, Buddy and Billy will be our staff therapists.”
“Exactly.”
Mike checked his watch. “My clients should be here any minute. I don’t want them to think they’ve walked into a doggy daycare instead of an architecture firm. Let’s get these guys back where they belong.”
“Sure,” Cheryl said. “When you’re done introducing Buddy to everyone, bring him to my office. Billy and I will keep an eye on him while you’re in your meeting.”
“Thank you, Cheryl,” Mike said, “but I’ve outfitted my office with a dog bed so he can stay there whenever I’m here. I’d like him to get used to it.” Mike tapped his thigh, and Buddy fell into step beside him. Cheryl and Billy followed.
As expected, Buddy received a warm welcome from every employee they passed. When Mike reached his office, Cheryl lingered in the doorway while Buddy and Billy conducted a thorough perimeter search like detectives examining a crime scene. “These two are inseparable already, I’m afraid,” Cheryl said.
Buddy discovered his memory-foam bed and flopped onto it with satisfaction. Billy curled up beside him.
“I guess you’re right,” Mike said. “I have a feeling I’ll be working from the office more often now because Buddy wants to be with Billy.” He glanced at Cheryl. “Do you mind if Billy stays here while I’m in my meeting?”
“That’s fine.” She looked from the doggy friends to Mike. “It looks like this guy has brought you a lot of happiness.”
“He has,” Mike replied. “But I was happy before, you know.”
She nodded. “I know. But there’s a lightness to you I haven’t seen since before your divorce.” Cheryl chuckled. “It seems like you finally got the family you wanted.”
Mike acknowledged the remark with a half-smile. It was true. Buddy felt like family. But Mike also wanted more.
His meeting concluded in under an hour. Mike woke Buddy, who acted as if he were being separated from a long-lost brother when Cheryl finally coaxed Billy back to her office.
The visit to the vet was quick and uneventful.
Mike and Buddy entered The Friendly Bean for an early dinner.
The café wasn’t yet crowded with dinner patrons, and they quickly found a table.
Buddy polished off his pupcake and stretched out under the table while Mike worked his way through a Reuben sandwich and a pile of fries.
Across the room, staff members cleared away several tables and assembled a long, narrow platform. Someone set up a microphone and placed a tall stool behind the mic. A monitor was positioned slightly to the right in front of the mic.
“What’s going on?” Mike asked when his server brought the check.
“It’s karaoke night,” the server said. “Every Thursday.” She gestured toward the small stage. “It’ll start in about an hour, and this place will be packed by then. You’ve got a prime seat. If you have time, you might want to stay.”
Mike pulled out his credit card and handed it to her. “Maybe another time,” he said, thinking of the mountain of work he’d brought home from the office.
The server processed the charge on her handheld card reader. “Try to make it on Valentine’s Day. We always have karaoke, no matter what day of the week it falls on. It’s our busiest night of the year. We’ll start an hour early.”
“Good to know,” he replied, replacing the card in his wallet. “I’ll think about it.”