Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
At least I’m not trying to price gouge.
17
AARON
Spotting the dog treats I bought in town yesterday, I grab the bag and head out the door. Mae is behind the front desk, and she’s just the person I’m hoping to see.
“How are you enjoying your stay?” she asks with a twinkle in her eye. “Your second time in Aqua Vista, if I’m not mistaken?”
I nod and shift uncomfortably. “The first was because my car needed work, and now it’s because I needed a little R and R.”
It’s not the whole truth, but she’ll probably hear about our sales offer eventually.
She smiles. “Well, it’s lovely to have you back.”
“Thanks.” I shift the bag to my other hand. “I heard you also run a dog rescue?”
It was Jack who mentioned it, but why bring him into the conversation? It would only prove my return visit was intentional for different reasons.
“Sure do. It’s out back.”
I glance through the window toward the mountains, wondering how she manages it all. “Well, I was at the bakery and decided to get some homemade cookies for them.”
“Aren’t you sweet?” She eyes the bag. “Want to hand them out yourself?”
“Sure!”
She says something to another employee behind the desk, then motions toward the back entrance. “Follow me.”
We head down a walkway toward a fenced-in field, where about a dozen dogs are roaming around, some playing, some sunning, others sleeping. They are a mix of sizes and breeds and seem perfectly content and well cared for. When we arrive at the gate, I notice the structure toward the back that must house them at night, along with two staff members rolling out the hose and large bowls, no doubt to offer them a water break.
“You ready for this? Not afraid of dogs?”
“Nope, I’m good.”
As soon as Mae opens the gate, the dogs’ tails begin wagging excitedly. As they rush toward us, I can only imagine how someone with a fear of dogs would feel as they surround us to bark, nuzzle, and vie for our attention.
It makes me smile as I bend forward to pet a retriever and a border collie. “Wow, this is impressive. Can’t wait to tell my mom about this place.”
Mae scritches the smallest dog under the chin. “Is she a dog lover?”
“Uh-huh. She’s always wanted to work with animals, but that idea fell to the wayside due to medical issues.”
Mae frowns. “Sorry to hear that. That’s how our little Charlie came to need us. His owner had grown too ill to care for him.”
While Mom’s asthma has grown persistently worse, she was never able to get her dog-walking business up and running. She volunteers at an animal rescue sometimes, alongside her job at a nursing home—the latter having taken its toll. I offered her my spare bedroom so she could retire early, but she refused. She may have her struggles, but she likes to be independent and keep busy.
I open my bag and break the treats into enough pieces so each dog can get one, and then we throw the ball with them for a while. I spend way more time there than anticipated because it feels so peaceful. I snap a few photos and a video and fire them off to my mom. She asks me all sorts of questions about them that Mae helps me answer. Maybe she’ll want to come someday for a visit. Not that we don’t have shelters in the city, but out here, it feels different. I can’t put my finger on exactly why.
Maybe because it doesn’t seem so overcrowded and anonymous. Mae knows each and every resident the dogs came from. “See the little black pug? Mr. Blake had to relocate in a hurry for a job, and his new apartment didn’t allow animals.”
“I’m surprised you don’t appeal to the residents of Aqua Vista to take them in.”
“That would not be a good idea. Some don’t do well with animals.”
“True enough. What about the McCoys?” I look away, embarrassed I asked, but I can’t help being curious.
“As far as I remember, they had a family dog who passed before the accident.”
My stomach constricts at the way she says accident reverently, like it needs to be mentioned delicately. I can understand why. No doubt it was a huge blow, not only to the McCoys but to the town.
“Not everyone is able or interested in the work involved in owning an animal.” She points to a dog mucking it up at the water hose. “That golden doodle was a puppy when he came here because a young family with four kids had too much on their plate.”
“It’s lucky they have you and this place.”
She nods. “How about you?”
“We had a cocker spaniel growing up.” I smile at the memory. “My mom now has a Yorkie, Minnie, and she takes her everywhere with her.” She even brings her to the nursing home to cheer up patients. “I’ve always felt I’m gone too many hours to care for an animal.” I hitch a shoulder. “Doesn’t seem fair.”