Page 8 of Mommy

We watch Lilo race out of her kennel, Stitch right on her heels and Liam laughs.

“Why am I not surprised they are the first to come out?”

I laugh quietly.

“Because it’s obvious. Next will be Bella. Then Chino and after about half an hour, Walter.” I say thoughtfully. “He’ll walk to that exact spot over there,” I point to a patch of grass that has turned brown over the summer. It’s right next to one of the small trees that was planted a few years ago. “He’ll lay down, and wait for the sunshine.”

Liam takes a sip from his coffee, listening.

“What if it rains?” he asks.

I shrug.

“He’ll still wait, and when the time comes where the sun would normally disappear behind the building he’ll just go back inside and wait for dinner instead.”

One after the other the dogs come out of their kennels. Some of them play and Chino comes over to us to say good morning.

“Hey, big boy.” Liam places his cup on the sill next to him to scratch Chino behind his ears. Looking at me he smiles. “We won’t be keeping this one around long if he keeps being this cute.”

I know it’s true.

Chino is the perfect dog. He likes kids, has no problem with other dogs or even cats. The only thing keeping people from taking him home at the moment is the fact that he can’t be left alone.

We tried leaving him in the staff room alone a few times to see how he’d react, and every time it went terribly. He freaked out, licked the door, scratched the floor like a maniac and cried until we came back inside.

Can’t blame him.

Chino licks Liam’s palms for another minute before he gets bored and leaves to play with Lilo and Bella.

“What do you think? Who’ll get a home first? Chino or Bella?” Liam asks, watching the two play.

I think about it for a moment.

“Bella.” I say. “Shelly won’t risk giving Chino to a family just to have him be returned to us within a week because they underestimated his needs.”

Liam nods.

Shelly isn’t actually our boss. She’s not making final decisions when it comes to adopting—or euthanising. But she is good at making people see they can’t do something like this. She won’t show how adorable Chino is, and ignore his needs just to get him adopted. She’ll make the family that does take him home earn the right to have him. I have no doubt about that.

For Bella, it’ll be easier. She might not be as pretty as Chino is and she’s not as affectionate but she’s loyal and trustworthy and easy. She doesn’t need much—except a home without a cat. Since she came from a family she already knows how to behave in one, and since they surrendered her instead of abandoning her in a parking lot, she isn’t as fearful as Chino is.

After we finish our drinks, me and Liam split up.

While he sorts through the supply closets and makes a list of things we need, I get the puppies and Viv outside. And while I am doing puppy training in the yard, he’ll take Vera, Simon and Brother each for a short walk around the block.

By the time noon rolls in, Shelly arrives at the shelter and soon after, she sends Liam home, thanking him for filling in for her this morning.

“Why don’t you take your break, Sweety? I’ll finish up here. Liam said you hadn’t taken one all day.”

Nodding, I put the mob aside and smile at Shelly.

“I’ll be in Viv’s kennel.” I say over a shoulder, but don’t look back to see her smile and roll her eyes at me.

Chapter six

Derek

I park my motorcycle a few blocks away, and walk the last bit to the shelter.