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“What about the dog? He has a veterinary appointment in an hour.”
Viv hadn’t considered Lucky but didn’t see why he couldn’t come too. “He’s invited as well. We’ll take him to the vet first, and then we’ll head to the cabin.”
“Fabulous,” he said without enthusiasm. “How did you sleep?” he asked.
She tried to hide the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. He suggested that they sleep together for safety, which was never going to happen, so she grudgingly accepted the spare room once she had the additional security cameras in place. “Like a baby, but I didn’t wet the bed,” she said before turning her head and looking away quickly. “How about you?”
He shook his head. “Having a puppy is like having a baby I imagine. He whined incessantly all night, and I eventually resorted to turning on the TV to settle him down. Unfortunately, there was noSurvivoron, so he had to settle forAlone, but it had the wilderness and lots of animals and that seemed to do the trick. We didn’t pee the bed either.”
She hadn’t thought about taking the dog outside to go potty or how dangerous that could be for Red. Her brother had told her she wasn’t equipped for a job like this and maybe he was right. That was a big oversight. She’d have to be more diligent in the future if she were to keep Red safe.
Viv and Red finished breakfast, with Viv savoring every bite. After cleaning up, they each got ready, loaded Lucky into Red’s pickup truck, and drove to Main Street.Aspen Cove had an undeniably picturesque charm. Viv admired the quaint storefronts in shades of pink, blue, and yellow that lined either side of the street, and she could see the bustling diner across from them that served up some of the best pancakes known to man.
As Red steered the truck into a parking spot in front of the vet’s office, Viv craned her neck to read the tastefully simple sign. “Veterinary Clinic” was etched in white on a navy-blue background.
“They don’t put much thought into naming things around here,” she said.
Red killed the ignition and smiled at her, his eyes twinkling. “I don’t know. There’s a beauty to its simplicity.” He leapt out of the driver’s seat and moved quickly to open her door. As he gently took the pup in his arms, Viv slid off the seat and onto the pavement.
Red glanced up at the sign again before turning back to her with a smirk. “At least you know what you’re getting.”
They walked into the clinic and were welcomed by a cheery receptionist, who beckoned them to take a seat in the waiting room. Viv couldn’t help but notice how nervous Lucky seemed. He whined and squirmed in Red’s arms, as he yipped and wiggled like he was about to flee. Finally, the door to the exam room opened, and an energetic and effervescent young woman stepped out. “Hello, I’m Charlie,” she said, extending her hand to Red.
Red shook her hand. “I’m Red, and this is Viv. We’re here to get Lucky checked out.”
Charlie nodded and led them into the exam room. She examined Lucky from the tip of his ears to the crooked bend in the end of his tail.
After the exam, Charlie sat down with Red and Viv to go over her findings. “Lucky is in good health,” she said, smiling. “But I did notice that he doesn’t have a microchip. It’s important to get him microchipped, in case he ever gets lost.”
“Is that something that comes with an app? You know, so if he gets out, I can just look it up and figure out where he’s at?”
Charlie laughed. “No, the chip isn’t a GPS system. It’s an identification system that gives Lucky the best chance of being returned to you should he get lost. But you can get a collar that has a place to put an Apple AirTag. That can help you keep track of him.”
“Makes sense.” Red nodded. “Thanks for letting us know. Do you know where the closest shelter is?”
“Shelter? Are you giving him up?”
Red shook his head so hard Viv thought he’d snap his neck. “Oh no, we found him, and we want to make sure nobody’s looking for him.”
Charlie thought for a moment. “I can have my receptionist Eden call the nearest shelters. Give me a few minutes.”
She watched as Red drew Lucky in close to his chest. “Let’s hope you’re not taken.”
“Looks like you’re getting attached to the puppy,” she said.
Red smiled. “Maybe a bit. He’s a good dog. He peed on his pad last night.” Red beamed like a proud father.
Viv couldn’t help but feel envious of Red’s easy affection for the puppy. She had never had a pet, and wondered what it would be like to have something of her own to care for and love unconditionally. She’d been practicing the motto “Self-care is self-love” for a long time; surely, she must be ready to love and care for something or someone else.
Charlie came back into the room a few minutes later. “Eden called the two closest shelters, but they haven’t had any reports of a missing dog matching Lucky’s description. Sadly, people abandon dogs for all kinds of reasons I could never understand. I’m guessing that’s what happened to Lucky. I can chip him and make him yours, but that’s like a marriage. The chip is the license.”
The realization hit Red like a ton of bricks as Viv watched his golden complexion turn ghostly pale. He wasn’t used to thinking about forever. He lived life in fleeting moments of pleasure quickly replaced by the next party or one-night stand. Saying yes to the chip was saying yes to Lucky forever, and forever was a scary word.
“Yeah,” he said, “Let’s do it. Someone tossed this little boy away and I won’t be the next person to let him down.”
Red got online and ordered an AirTag while Lucky got his microchip. After the procedure was done, Red scooped up the puppy and held him close.
“It’s official,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “We belong to each other now.”
