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I climbed into the back of the truck and slid the remaining boxes toward the lowered tailgate. When I’d finished, I hopped off and grabbed one.
Teague lifted his chin as we passed one another.
Teamwork.
He tugged on what was left of my ponytail and grinned like a kid.
I grinned back.
“Isit okay if I leave the truck parked here?” He dropped the last box on the stack of others.
“As long as you’re not blocking the alley it should be fine.”
He clicked the locks and closed the back door.
I stared at the mountain of boxes.
Scratching of paws on the metal door separating the front and back rooms grew more fervent. It opened, but only a fraction because it ran into a wall of boxes.
Miss Adeline poked her head through. “What in the world?”
“I’ve been asking the same thing,” I called.
A dog slipped through the open door and barreled over and around the cardboard. An avalanche of boxes and dogs ensued until the neat rows Teague had stacked were utter chaos.
Ash barked and pounded on her kennel, her patience officially spent. Teague opened the latch and she rocketed between his legs, her whole body wiggling in happiness. He bent to stroke her head and spoke to her in a hushed tone.
With the door now wide open, Miss Adeline stood with her hand on her hip.
Beau was right behind her. “Anybody know where a knife is?”
“Thank goodness that and some scissors are in the desk behind you,” Miss Adeline said. “We’re going to have to cut our way out of this mess.”
“If we break the boxes down, I’ll haul them to the recycling center when we’re finished.”
Teague’s thoughtfulness continually caught me off guard. Maybe I always saw the worst in people. It was what life had thrown at me. But maybe I’d been wrong.
“Thanks.” I opened a drawer in the long set of cabinets that lined one wall. “Need a knife?”
I extended it to him and grabbed a pair of scissors. He took it and waited for me to open the first box.
Miss Adeline beat everyone. She pulled out a giant dog bed almost as big as she was. “Is this one for me?”
“We can have it monogrammed with your name if you want,” Beau said.
Miss Adeline pointed an old, crooked finger at her. “Sassy pants.”
Beau nodded. “I’ve been called worse.”
I surveyed the mess and did a quick calculation. There weren’t just beds for the new dogs but for everyone here.
“You didn’t have to do this,” I whispered, trying with all my might not to cry.
“You said you needed beds.” He studied me, almost as if trying to see if I was pleased.
I looked away or I would cry. Now wasn’t the time. Especially with his sister here. She was so put together, and I was just a mess. And un-showered, gross, but appreciative mess.
“Thank you.” Those were the only words I could get out.
