“Huh,” he said. “That’s unfortunate, Dash. I’m sorry.”
“Me too. What do you want to happen with this place?”
“It’s yours now. I handed it over to you two,” Carter said.
Good. Finally something was going my way.
“Beau’s unhappy here. I’d like to put it up for sale so he knows how serious I am about winning him back. The money will be split down the middle,” I explained.
“We have time to sort out the specifics, but do what you think’s best. Will my account with the firm go with you? We added that requirement to the contract, correct?” he asked.
“Yes.” More relief assailed me. While our contract did stipulate his account would go with me, actually knowing Carter would stay in my corner made life suddenly more bearable. “Please don’t hesitate to say that you’d like to stay with the firm. I can take it.” Except I lied. I couldn’t take it, not at all.
“No,” Carter said with a small chuckle. “I’ve only signed with your firm for you.”
“Good. I’ll work hard for you. One last thing. I planted some erroneous information on the properties you’ve bid on.Richmond’s responsible for the breech of the data,” I explained. That looked like the only right decision I’d made in a long time.
“We encountered your father at the conference. Linda talked you and Beau up to everyone. She has such a talent at getting under their skin. It was a great moment for us both.” The smallest of smiles curled at the corner of my lips while I tried to visualize my father’s anger at hearing good things about me. I was surprised he hadn’t had a heart attack right on the spot. “I then clutched his shoulder and told him that you were like a son to me.”
All right, that was funny. “How did he respond?”
“Well, the best way to describe the interaction would be to say that he’ll be avoiding me in the future, I’m sure,” Carter said, clearly proud of himself. “A flush crept up his neck. He doesn’t appear to be a healthy guy.”
“Very good. Thank you for sharing. I wish Beau was here. He’d love to hear all the details,” I said. Sadness crashed over me again, back in full force. “Listen, I’m going to go. I’ll keep you updated. If you remember any other details about my father, call me. When I transition your account out of the firm, I’ll make contact.”
“Dash, take care of yourself. You and Beau showed me what love looks like. You’re the reason I have a family today,” Carter said, his tone reassuring.
“Thanks, Carter. I’ll reach out soon.” I disconnected the call to place another to Beau. He still wasn’t answering, but that didn’t seem to matter to me. I had a routine of calling my love every morning and then again in the evening. I texted him throughout the day. Of course, he didn’t respond, but I just couldn’t let it go. Yes, we were different people, we always had been, but that was our strength. Beau just needed to remember.
Beau
The sorrow reflected in all the dogs’ eyes tore me up. If I had my way, I’d take them all out of this no-kill shelter and find new homes for them to live out their days happily. I walked the aisle lined with cages, keeping my focus on a German shepherd mix.
“Here they are,” an attendant said, entering the room a few moments after me. I noticed a top cage behind the door that I’d missed when I’d walked in. Four pint-size puppies were inside.
“What happened to bring them here?” I asked. The best I could tell, they looked very much like purebred shepherds.
“Their mom had to move across country with her owners,” she explained. “They’re new here. Six weeks old and have had their shots.”
I stood in front of the cage, peering inside. Two of the little ones caught my attention. They roughhoused together, jumping and rolling around each other. They were cute. I hadn’t considered adopting two, but they seemed to fit really well together.
“These two,” I said, pointing to the playful duo. “What’s it like to raise two German shepherds?”
“They’re generally intelligent dogs. They’re playful, loyal, and full of energy. With proper training, they can be great companions. I think taking two will help with separation anxiety. The number one downfall of German shepherds is the shedding. It’s a daily battle to keep up with the hair.”
Hmm. Given the smallish townhouse I’d just rented across the street from the ocean, I didn’t imagine it’d be too much trouble to sweep up the hair.
A wave of melancholy rolled over my heart. If Dash were here, he’d have researched all the facts about all dogs, knowing the advantages and disadvantages of each breed. But I needed something to occupy my mind and fill my time. Without giving it much more thought, I pointed again to the two puppies that had caught my attention. “How about those two?”
“They’re cute. Always rambunctious,” she said, not too concerned to open the cage to reach in for their collars, then verified the information on the clipboard in hand. “One’s a male, the other’s a female. They’ve been given the name Dixie and Duke, but you can change them if you want. Of course, you can, they’d be your animals.”
Her questioning gaze lifted to mine.
“Is it a problem to have a boy and a girl?” I asked.
“No, it’s actually better for the family dynamic.”
Okay. My head swiveled back to the pups. I got momentarily lost in the coincidence of all the D names in my life. Suddenly, the one on top, lifted its head and stared at me intently. My heart connected in a big way. The other, the one pinned down, followed the look from its upside down position. The three of us bonded in that moment. So I was doing this, and they’d keep their names.
