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"Well, get it out of your head. Apparently, it's not going to remain my name much longer, anyway."
I guide her over to the couch, currently occupied by Sophia.
"Sorry about this, lovely." Marjorie offers her hand for a quick sniff, then pets her. "My, your ears would rival Dumbo's . Aren’t you adorable?"
"This is Sophia," I introduce her to the basset. She hasn't come for a visit since I adopted the girls, or any of the current animals, so introductions are very much in order.
Blanche and Dorothy peek their heads around the corner to check out our visitor and inch closer.
"Can I just say, Brooke, I love that you are letting them roam? No animal deserves to be kept in those tiny cages all the time."
"It only works as long as the animals get along with each other," I explain and run my hands through Dorothy's fur once she’s close enough and recognizes Marjorie isn’t a threat. "Luckily, this entire bunch gets along great."
"Those two Shepherds must be really protective of this little lady."
"They’re all protective of each other. These three were found together with..." I scan the room. "Rose, the mountain of fur over there.” We can only see her butt peek out from behind the counter. “We rescued them from a breeder situation."
"What poor babies."
I swear, Marjorie is a modern-day Snow White. One by one, the animals appear in the reception area, all drawn to her. Even Luna and Bean slowly sneak closer.
"I wanted to check in with you. Oh." Luna jumps into her lap and curls up right there. "I left you in a tough spot, and it's not exactly as if I can resend the donation as long as the divorce is going on, but... I wanted to make sure you will actually be okay."
"I will be all right. The animals will be all right," I assure her with a confident nod. "My ego might take a hit, though." And my credit, which is not a detail I need her to know. Instead, I force my lips into a smile. "But it will survive."
Bean also jumps into her lap, the two of them forming a yin and yang sign on it, only they're both black.
"They love you." I try to divert the topic. "They're not usually this affectionate with strangers."
"Oh, come on, Brooke. You must say that to everyone." Gently, she runs her fingers through Bean's fur, and the black cat leans into the touch.
"Please, Marjorie.” I scoff, amusedly. “We've known each other for a long time now. Would I lie to you?"
"You would tell me a carefully framed truth," she calls me out, and I shoot her a sheepish grin.
"Well, I promise, no selective truth here. Sometimes the animals know who to trust." Instinctively, I glance at Daisy, who is nibbling on some straw in the corner, wholly unimpressed by Marjorie's presence.
"Ah!" Her face lights up. "And who, pray tell, is this little creature obsessed with?"
As if on cue, the subject of Daisy's affection walks through the door with two large bags in his hands.
"Hey Brooke, I brought-” He stops when he sees Marjorie. “Oh..." He remains right there in the doorway, letting cold wind stream in. "Sorry, am I interrupting? I can come back later."
"Oh no, not at all. What are you doing here, Kieran?"
He holds up the two bags. "Date night," he declares as if it's the most normal thing in the world. Dick, weasels inside and immediately makes a beeline for Marjorie as well.
Hah, this will be hilarious. “Marjorie, this is Dick." I point at the golden retriever.
"Really?" She giggles and runs her hand over his head. "A curious name, but he's a handsome boy."
"Just like his dad," Kieran chimes in over his shoulder as he sets the bags on the counter. Then he turns around and immediately scoops up Daisy. "Hello, my little demon slayer. I missed you."
"Demon Slayer?" The corner of Marjorie's mouth twitches.
"Her name is Daisy," I clarify and playfully purse my lips. Immediately, the bunny burrows her face into the crook of Kieran's elbow, and he runs his fingers through her fur with the glee of a James Bond villain.
"I am Kieran. Nice to meet you." He extends his free hand to Marjorie. She shakes it, clearly smitten. I know the feeling.
