She stared beseechingly at Brad. “Please don’t let Ford know. I’m not allowed pets and he’s my landlord. This is just temporary until I find Oscar’s owner.” Brad worked alongside Ford, though they were usually on opposite shifts. Still, she couldn’t be too careful.
“Well, if it comes down to a dog freezing outside, or keeping a small secret from a coworker, the pup will win every time. I won’t lie, but I won’t offer up any information either.”
Sage and Drinda smiled at him. “This is why I love you,” Sage offered and sat down beside him. They held hands and stared besottedly at each other. Drinda let out an envious sigh. That’s what she wanted.
It was Drinda’s first time at the vet’s office. Bright windows displayed the parking lot. The celery green walls were covered in posters about pet care, and with pictures or adorable animal meme posters. There was an alcove of pet supplies that resembled a pet store. Lemony air freshener kept the scent of animals at bay.
“You should come for dinner,” Sage said as Drinda sat down. “We’ve moved into a new place. We decided to save money before the wedding. We’re sending out invites soon.”
“Dinner invites or wedding invites?” Drinda laughed.
“Both. But dinner is just you, so you can bring Oscar if you want. And” she paused almost like she was nervous. “I was going to ask … will you be my bridesmaid?”
“What?” It took a minute to process the request. Drinda leaped up and dashed across the small waiting room. “Yes. Yes. Yes. I’d be honored.” They hugged and danced giddily about, while Brad rolled his eyes.
“Women,” he muttered.
“Oh, you hush,” Sage warned. “You love us, and you know it.” She jabbed a finger at him. He grabbed it and kissed the tip.
“Who else have you asked?” Drinda wondered aloud.
“Annabelle will be my maid of honor. It’s just you two.” Her smile was enormous, and her brown eyes sparkled. “He,” she jabbed her finger at Brad, “hasn’t chosen his groomsmen yet.”
“I will. There’s no rush. The weddingisn’t until July.”
“Men!” Sage and Drinda exclaimed together just as the aide called Sage to the back. Brad picked up their pet carrier and followed her to the back of the clinic.
Oscar had no microchip and no tattoo. But he did get a clean bill of health. Drinda had his vaccinations done and took some pamphlets on raising a puppy. Dr. Walsh warned her that he was likely going to be very large.
“He’s only about two-months-old. Barely old enough to be away from his mother,” the vet said. “I’m guessing he’s part husky, a bit of lab, and probably some Great Dane. He’ll be enormous.”
“Oh my.” Her worry passed in a second. “He’s just too adorable to resist. I guess if I can’t find an owner, I better find a new home. One that allows pets and has a big yard. What should I feed him?”
After a long lesson on the care and feeding of her new friend, they headed home to scour online used marketplaces for a kennel that would fit Oscar when he grew up. It didn’t make sense to get one that would fit now, but not later. The cost of having a pet, even a temporary one, would dig deeply into her meagersavings. But Oscar was worth it. For now, she’d sneak him into the house inside a sturdy cardboard box.
“Sh. Don’t make a sound,” she whispered to the cardboard box as she carried it to her back door. “If Ford hears you, I’m sunk. Got it?”
She slipped inside, grateful that all Ford’s lights were off. Either he wasn’t at home, or he was already in bed. She couldn’t leave Oscar outside all night, nor did she dare leave him in the shop without a proper kennel to contain him. She had fed and watered Oscar and let him do his business outside before bringing him home for the night.
She was a fool. She was risking literally everything for a shaggy, adorable puppy. Tonight, she’d keep him warm and quiet and come up with a plan.
She rushed around double checking that all her curtains were shut before unfolding the box flaps. Oscar hopped out with an excited bark.
“Sh,” she chided. “Or we’ll end up homeless.” He raced around her main floor sniffing everything. His nails scrambled on the tile floors,and he padded soundlessly over the tan living room carpet. He hopped up on her couch and turned circles.
“Get down. No dogs on the furniture.” She scooped him off and set him on the floor. He scampered behind her to the linen closet. After digging through the piles, she found a worn towel and set it on the floor. “Here, boy.” She patted the towel.
He grabbed the towel in his teeth and shook it with a growl. She laughed at his playful game. Crazy dog. She gave him a bowl of water and started searching for supplies.
An hour later she showed him his new house. She had dumped out her biggest bin of Christmas decorations. After cutting a hole for the door, she glued a fleece blanket to the interior and hung a thick chunk of denim as a flap over the door opening. She secured it in place with a couple of washers and bolts she’d found at the bottom of her toolbox. She threw in another fuzzy blanket and a couple of toys she’d bought on her way home.
Oscar scurried in and lay down to gnaw on the chew stick she’d thrown in. He seemed quite content. Her heart fluttered with love for the silly puppy.
She couldn’t have Oscar in the shop, but she could keep him warm out back. Thinking ahead, she had food, more toys, a collar, leash, and tether delivered after Ford left the shop. Pawsitively Perfect was the best pet shop ever.
She’d tie Oscar out back where she could keep tabs on him. It wasn’t ideal, but it was a good place to start. If it got frigid, she’d bring him inside and lock him in her tiny office. Again, not ideal, but with the new house, it was a workable option. At least as long as Ford didn’t show up.
A skitter of unease slid down her spine. Lying went against everything she believed. But lying to the man she was falling for was … unthinkable. Yet she was going to do exactly that to protect this innocent pup.
