I can understand their extra excitement today. It’s their first time seeing the new shelter, “Buddy’s Place.” He's the inspiration for it all, so the name seemed like the only logical choice.
Sterling has had Buddy for a little over a year now and they are both equally in love. They go everywhere together. But I always remind Sterling that we’re supposed to have joint custody. So Buddy stays at my house sometimes too.
Well, it’s not a house, it’s an apartment for now. I needed to get in somewhere quickly when I decided to stay. But it’s close to the park, so Buddy and I spend lots of time down there when I have a day off from school, and Sterling meets us on his lunch break.
Buddy still goes to work with Sterling most days, though, because the pet owners get upset when he’s not around. The animals all seem easier to get to the examination room when Buddy’s there.
Sterling’s new clinic and shelter opened last week. It’s a beautiful space. The warehouse was definitely run down, but it has good bones so most of the renovations were just cosmetic.
The outside now has dark grey siding and the place has all new windows, which makes it feel bright and cheerful. The sidewalk winds up from the parking lot with lots of flowers lining each side.
Peter did all the landscaping at cost, so we really went all out to make it inviting. Sterling knew that blue and purple were my favorite colors, and he had my brother do a blue and purple-based theme.
So the dogs won’t ruin the perfectly manicure lawn, Peter fenced off an area for them to do their business. The sign says “Piddle Paradise.”
There are also magnolia trees, shade plants, and ornamental grasses. But my favorite spot is the small pond filled with koi. It’s clearly the kids’ favorite too because now I can’t get them inside. They’re fascinated.
I finally wrangle them all with the promise of petting dogs and cats.
Strays are already filling the shelter but because the old warehouse has such large rooms that we left intact, they have a lot of space to move around.
We made special signs for each cage with a place to slide in each adoptee’s name. They say, “Hi! I’m Buddy’s friend [Name].” It’s really cute. The outdoor space has ramps and tunnels for them to play in. It all came together amazingly well.
Sterling greets me with a kiss when we get back to the shelter wing which prompts twenty-five “ewws” from my students.
He takes the kids on a tour with Buddy walking right by his side. Sterling makes it educational by talking about how you can best take care of your dogs and cats and help keep the population lower by getting your animals fixed.
I watch the students’ eyes glaze over. Oh well, all you can do is try.
I tell them that if they can stay calm, we’ll let a few dogs at a time into the play area, and they cheer and head out the door. I follow them as Sterling’s volunteers bring along a few dogs.
When I get outside I see Peter, Linda, Mia, and Zoe standing on the outside of the fence.
“Hey, guys! What are you doing here?”
Zoe speaks up first. “Just thought we’d check the place out. It looks amazing!”
“Yes, it really does,” I agree.
We talk a little more before I hear a tinkling. When I turn around, I see Buddy coming in my direction. He’s got a big red bow tied around his neck. A small bell hangs from the bow and swings back and forth.
As he gets closer, I see that it has a small box attached to it. No. No way.
Then Sterling comes out, but he’s not long wearing his vet scrubs anymore. He’s got on a blue dress shirt and dark pants. He’s so unbelievably handsome.
He’s beaming at me, and it’s making me a little nervous. He calls Buddy to his side, then unhooks the box from him.
I look back. Everyone is leaning over the fence to get a closer look, their eyes gleaming in delight. They knew.
Sterling gets down on knee.
“Emma Winifred Rose.”
Okay. We’re going to have to have a talk about using my middle name in public, not my favorite thing. But I’ll give him a pass this time.
He opens the box to reveal a simple but beautiful diamond ring. He knows my taste so well.
“I have waited twenty years for the chance to ask you this, and I can’t wait even one more day. You are the ying to my yang, and I don’t want to do life without you. Will you marry me?”
I pause for a moment because I want to take it all in, what we accomplished together. I am surround by those I love: my friends, my family, my students. But clearly nine-year-olds have a very short attention span because they all start to chant. “Do it! Do it! Do it!”
I look at Sterling. “My students are very persuasive. So, yes, I’ll do it!”
He puts the ring on my finger, then leans in to kiss me, while swinging me around in a circle. When he puts me down, I lean back in for one more kiss, relishing the feeling of his lips on mine, knowing I’ll get to have that feeling forever.
But again, I linger too long and the kids start fake gagging and yelling "gross."
I can’t help but laugh. This is my life now, and I love it.
The End.
