Waiting outside with Rob, Julian was antsy and had to read the emails he was going over several times. Rob wasn't much better. At one point he huffed and said, "With this and the animal shelter, I feel like I'm going to have to keep my fingers crossed all day today."
"So I need to reassure you?" Julian asked with a grin.
Rob mumbled something in reply, and Julian could swear he said something about holding his hand. No. He must have misheard.
Once the session was over and Danny ran out, Rob seemed as relieved as Julian.
"Are we gonna go see the doggies?" Danny asked.
"Yes, we are," Julian told him, while he watched for any signs that he was upset. He seemed fine, just obsessed with the doggies.
When Julian had a few words with Dr. Vallarta, she told him, "It's remarkable that he has already made some friends."
"So he told you. I think we lucked into meeting some nice people," Julian told her.
Since it was only his first session, Dr. Vallarta seemed cautiously optimistic and told Julian to take things slowly. New they were free to go and Danny couldn't wait to get to the animal shelter.
Located on a little traveled street, Ashbury Animal Shelter was tucked away behind a carpet store and an insurance office. The place was pretty small. Julian wasn't sure they could find the right dog for Danny there.
As they went in, the woman sitting at the only desk was on the phone and looking at a computer monitor at the same time. While they waited and looked around, Danny was nervous and Julian was too. Rob pointed out the corkboard on one wall, which featured photos of pets and people as well as thank you letters and postcards. The proof of happy adoptions raised Julian's hopes a little.
Danny peered all around. "Where are the doggies?" They could hear them barking, though it didn't sound like there were a lot of them.
"I think they're in the back," Julian told him.
The woman on the phone, whose nameplate read Devina and nothing more, covered the mouthpiece and asked them, "You here to meet some little friends?"
"We are," Julian told her.
"I'll be right with you." Soon she was off the phone and showing them into an area in the back. "Meet the kids," she said and waved the three of them toward the pens and cages in there.
Only a few animals were in the cages. Most were in the pens and getting along OK. With Julian holding his hand, Danny peered at the cats then the dogs then settled himself in front of one cage and wouldn't budge.
Signs warned them that there was no petting allowed, not to reach inside the pens or cages, and not too feed the animals. Rob told Danny about the rules but he didn't need the warnings. He didn't try to do any of those things. He just stared at the Yorkie in the cage in front of him while the little dog barked at him and pawed at the cage door. As the dog tried to push its nose through the gaps in the cage, Devina came over and crossed her arms as she eyed Danny.
"Has that little guy made his choice already?" she said in wonder.
"I guess so. Can you tell me about that dog?" Julian asked as he went over to stand with her a little away from Danny, Rob and the little dog. He was worried there might be some problem and he didn't want Danny to overhear.
"His name is Lenny, and he's a sweetheart. We just got him. His mommy passed recently. She was old and frail. He misses her, but he is very friendly," Devina said.
"Why is he in the cage?" Julian wondered.
"Just 'cause he's new. We want to make sure the newbies can get along. You think you might want him?" she asked.
"I think so. Is there a procedure with approval and a home visit?" Julian asked.
"We don't have the people for that. You want him, you get to take him home," she said. "There is a fee, you understand. It helps to keep this place running."
That seemed too easy. "That's no problem, but we can take him home today? Really?"
"We don't get that many people coming in here. We will need some references though," she said, so there was an obstacle.
"Do they need to be local references?" Julian wondered.
"That's what we like," Devina told him.
"We only just moved here," Julian said. Mrs. York, the orchard attendant, could be a reference, but she worked for him and he hated to bother her while she was out of town. Other than her, Julian had kept in contact with the sheriff and a few other people but not in person.
