Cheyenne skidded back into the kitchen. “Hey, I thought we were in a hurry.”
Reluctantly, I let go of Brooklyn. “Going now.”
“Can we take Eb? You said he used to wander round the shelter with you. I bet he misses it.”
I’d noticed that as much as Cheyenne adored Sadie, she liked to keep Ebony close to her. Even though he was a marshmallow, there was no doubt some comfort in having ninety pounds of dog at her side. “I suppose so. If you’ll watch him while I’m busy.”
“Yay!” She ran to get his headcollar and leash. “Come on Eb! An adventure.”
Before we hit the road, Brooklyn pulled the SUV into Roger’s driveway and jogged up to his door. The man answered, and seeing his alert air and broad-shouldered stability was reassuring. As Brooklyn spoke, Roger turned toward the house and nodded.
“He’ll keep an eye out,” Brooklyn reported as he swung back into his seat. “Okay, shelter.”
I had Brooklyn park along the side and coded us in at the employee door. Cheyenne bounced on the balls of her feet, Eb’s leash wrapped around her hand. “This is so cool. How many pets are in here?”
“We have fourteen dogs and nineteen cats right now,” I told her. “And two rabbits.”
“Rabbits? Like, for pets?”
“Yep.”
“Can I see them?”
“Just keep Eb at a distance. He wants to slobber on them, and it makes them nervous.” I saw Neil approaching down the hallway and gestured. “Brooklyn, you know where everything is. You can show her the evening-walks routine. Yasmin and Mario should be back there. If she wants to meet any dogs, or give them a quick playtime outside, only let her near the ones with the green stickers, and put Eb in a kennel first.”
“Got it.” Brooklyn touched my shoulder. “Go deal with your plumbing.”
I liked the sparkle in his eye and the way he looked less worried here. Neil was waiting, but I paused to watch the rear view of Brooklyn walking away. Someday, we’d both be healthy and unworried and I could properly savor the little zing that looking at Brooklyn always gave me.
Neil cleared his throat, and I turned to him. “Right. Lead on.”
The water damage, caused by an in-wall leak from a section of pipe that should’ve been replaced, was worse than I expected. The plumber put his finger right through a decent-looking bit of drywall with an apologetic glance, showing where it was waterlogged on the inside. The insurance guy, of course, wanted it patched, not replaced. Discussion ensued.
Forty minutes later, we had the estimate hashed out. Naturally, not signed off on. The adjuster would take it back to the office to run some numbers. But I had a hope we could get started on fixing things.
Activity in the shelter had died down while we were working. We’d closed to the public a while ago and, looking at the time, I knew the last feedings and walks should be almost finished. Somewhere outside, someone called a goodbye and a car started. I showed the adjuster and plumber out the front, and relocked the door.
Neil came into the lobby, slipping on his jacket. “All done?”
“Yeah. I think we’re fully covered, but it’s always a fight. Excuse me, a discussion.”
He snorted. “Better you than me. I’m heading out unless you need me. Sawyer has plans for us.” He grinned.
“Go get your man.” I waved. “Just lock up. I’ll set the alarm when we leave.”
When he was gone, shutting off the front lights on his way out, I looked around. In the mellow evening light slanting in the big windows, the front of my shelter sparkled, marble tiles gleaming, little flecks of gold reflecting off the chandeliers. The luxury fittings were ridiculous, but I’d come to love every inch of them. The unique feel, the high open ceiling and polished charm, all said that the fur-babies who called this place home mattered. That they were gifts to win, not strays begging for scraps. Illusion, since we were perennially short of funds, but a state of mind I encouraged.
I heard Brooklyn’s voice somewhere in back, and Cheyenne’s laugh, and warmth filled me. This was the life I’d always wanted. Back when I was the shy, quiet kid, trying to be so good that someone would notice and value me, this was what I’d have dreamed of, if I’d had the imagination. A place like this to bring help to so many innocent pets. A man who took care of me and let me take care of him. A family who needed me, even in the form of a borrowed little sister and a furry pack.
I have it all now. And I needed Brooklyn to know it. I vowed to court him, to show him how much he meant to me. This difficult time would pass, and then I could date the man I’d somehow been gifted by the universe. Take him out to eat, give him little gifts, share my favorite movies, take him to my bed and make him feel like the king of the world. I’d be willing to get shot all over again, if it brought Brooklyn to me.
My cane slipped on the marble as I headed to the back, and I made a mental note that we needed to reapply the non-slip coating. Dog claws were hard on surfaces. I found Cheyenne in the kitchen putting bowls in the dishwasher while Brooklyn checked off names on the exercise list.
“I didn’t mean to put you two to work.”
“It was fun,” Cheyenne chirped.
“Mario had a date, so we told him we’d do the last couple of runs for him.” Brooklyn hung the clipboard on the wall. “How’s the plumbing?”
