I have totally overstepped my professional duties as an event planner, but after the high of getting such a huge donoryesterday, I called another donor. The owner of Campioni Italian Restaurant wasn’t able to donate money to us when I’d asked, but he did offer a free meal in his party room at his restaurant. He said whenever he had an unbooked day available I could book it and fill it with people for free. I wasn’t sure how that would help with fundraising efforts at the time, but then I figured it out.
“Donor appreciation dinner,” I say. “At Campioni’s on Main Street. We have the entire party room, food is free, and it’s a great way for you all to meet our donors, especially since I’ve secured several companies you haven’t met before. It’s like a meet and greet before the official event. The gala will have a lot more people and you won’t be able to mingle with the donors as much.”
“Nice,” Max says. “That sounds fun. We get to schmooze with rich people.”
“Withcommunity partners,” I say, flashing a smile. “These are local business owners and influential people who support your cause, sight unseen. Imagine what more they’ll do when they come to the gala and see Rex’s transformation and this beautiful facility and realize the amazing work you’re doing here? They’ll tell their friends, too.”
“This is incredible,” Caleb says. “Thank you so much, Charlotte. You’re a lifesaver.”
“It’s all in the job,” I say, flashing my thousand watt customer service smile. In fact, this is not in the job. I am going way above and beyond, but I try not to think about that, and about why I’m doing it at all. “I’m meeting our furniture vendor in a few minutes, so I’ll let you guys get back to work. Enjoy the donuts, gentlemen.”
Two hours later—I can’t believe it took that long—Trent from our furniture rental company is about finished with our pre-event meeting. We walked the entire barn, measuring and planning. He didn’t love the layout I had concocted on my computer, and since he’s technically the expert at setting up his own tables and chairs, I let him take the lead to rearrange it. He noted the event timing and that the sunset would be in everyone’s eyes through the weathered holes in the barn if we faced the stage against the wall I originally envisioned. I’ll give him that one…future sunsets never crossed my mind.
I scribble “check sunset angle” into my planner notes as a future reminder so I can look smart and prepared at my next events.
“This looks like a business,” Trent says, peering into the distance where the grooming building advertises half-off washes for a month if you sign up for a membership. “My paperwork says we’re doing the nonprofit discount?”
“Yes, this gala is for the nonprofit arm of Alden K9,” I say. “It’s a newer venture that gives back to retired working dogs, and actually—” I stop when I see Caleb walking our way, “here’s the founder himself.”
Caleb gives a quick wave and introduces himself to Trent.
“I was just telling Trent about the nonprofit part of Alden K9,” I say.
“Awesome,” he says, perking up the way he always does when his nonprofit is mentioned. “Sometimes a working dog is retired with nowhere to go, or they are deemed too aggressive and get euthanized. Our goal is to bring them here, give them training and rehabilitation until they’re able to be adopted to a greathome, or in a rare case where a dog can’t be adopted, we will let them live out their retirement in a happy, safe environment here on our farm.”
“That’s pretty cool,” Trent says. Any doubt he had about me honestly using their nonprofit discount seems to be quelled as he smiles.
“I was just coming to see you, Charlotte,” Caleb says. My chest flutters a bit when he says my name, which is weird and not at all something I’m used to happening. People say my name all the time. Usually it’s annoying. With Caleb it’s…different. “I’m about to take Rex on a walk. I wanted to warn you.”
“Uh oh,” Trent says. “Is that a scary dog?”
Caleb chuckles. “To some people, maybe. Rex is my case study. I’ve been working with him for three months and he’s come so far from where he started. German Shepherds are pack dogs and they tend to bond to one human for life. They can absolutely bond with another one, though and that’s what I’m hoping to do. He’s worked out so many of his aggression issues, and he’s a really good dog now. I will have him adopted into a loving new home in no time. Do you want to stick around and see him?”
“Hell yeah,” Trent says, adjusting his baseball cap. “I love German Shepherds.”
Caleb turns to me. “Are you good? You can hang out in my office if you want.”
I shake my head, even as the painful memories tingle up my scarred arm. “I’ll be okay.”
His smile feels warmer than usual. “Awesome.”
When he returns a few moments later, he stays a good distance away from Trent and me at the barn. Rex trots happily on a very long leash Caleb holds, his tail wagging and his nose sniffing the air, the grass, and everything in between. With the ball flinger device in his hand, Caleb launches a ball away fromthe barn. Rex takes off after it, clearly enjoying his favorite activity.
Beside me, Trent lets out a low whistle. “What a gorgeous dog.”
Once Rex is good and tired, Caleb clips the leash onto his collar and walks him back, keeping a good three car length distance between him and me. “You want to meet him?” he tells Trent.
Trent, a grown ass man, practically skips over to Rex. “You’re a good boy!” he says in a high-pitched voice. “Want to smell my hand?”
Rex pants hard, his tongue flopping out the side of his mouth after a long fetch session. He doesn’t seem to care that Trent is talking in a baby voice, desperate for his attention. Working dogs probably don’t care much about baby voices.
Caleb shows off his commands, having him sit, lay, stand back up, and heel. The heel command is pretty cool. Rex sticks to Caleb’s side like glue, his golden eyes staring intently up at Caleb’s, waiting for the next instruction.
“When are you taking adoption applications?” Trent asks. “I’m gonna fill one out.”
A tense feeling hits me. Trent is nice and all, but Rex is special. He shouldn’t just go to any random person. Caleb tells him about how they have set up their adoption process, and how it’s still a learning curve since they haven’t done it yet. I don’t even realize I’m slowly walking toward the massive, terrifying dog, until I’m just a few feet away and he stops panting to close his mouth and stretch out toward me. His little black nose twitches as he sniffs deeply in my direction.
Without even thinking, I hold out my hand the way Trent had done a moment ago. Rex leans even harder, sniff, sniffing, tail slightly wagging. I smile.
