Page 81 of It Couldn't Be You
I’ve never been a big believer in love at first sight, but the day Gabriel met Jack made me question my stance. As they walked Jack outside of the adoption center and into the play area to meet Gabe, Gabe’s eyes landed on the patchy brown dog. His shoulders dropped, and a calm smile rested on his face. His joy and excitement were not so hesitant anymore.
Jack was indeed a rascal. He was scrappy and energetic. When Gabriel went to play with him during their little introduction, Jack wanted to wrestle and jump pretty much the entire time, but Gabriel wasn’t deterred by it. Gabriel was charmed.
“I would be jumping around too, boy, if I could.” He laughed, rustling his furry head, leaning on his crutch.
Gabriel took him home that day.
On the drive home, I asked Gabe, “So, what are you thinking about his name?” I had a few names in mind, Fitz, Artie, or maybe even Comma.
“Oh, you know.” He glanced to the backseat at Jack, who was intensely chewing on a squeaky toy in his crate. Between squeaks, Gabe said, “I think he’s a Jack. He feels like a Jack to me.”
“I think I can see some Jack energy.” I looked back at him too.
“The world is full of great Jacks. Look at Jack-Jack from Incredibles. Jack who gave his life for Rose.”
“I like how your mind goes straight to fictional Jacks.” I laughed. “I thought you’d immediately jump to your undying love of Jack London.”
“Oh my gosh, you’re so right.” His eyes widened. “How did I not think of that? I was obsessed with Jack London in high school.”
“I remember vividly. You forced a few of those books on me growing up.”
“Honestly, I still feel at home in a Jack London book,” he said wistfully.
“So, our little Jack is in good company.”
“Definitely,” he said thoughtfully. We pulled into my parking lot, and as I unbuckled my seatbelt, I said, even though I was a little unsure if I was choosing the right words, “I hope you know I’m here for you. I know that this ski accident didn’t just mess with your body, but it messed with your whole life. I’m here. I’m a drive away, or a phone call, or a text.”
He gave a sideways grin. “Thanks, Em. I really appreciate that.”
“I’ll see you,” I said to Gabe. “And goodbye to you, too, Jack.” I turned in my seat and looked back at Jack.
He dropped his toy and looked at me, too, lifting his ears in attention.
Twenty-Nine
Katie
Did you know that Gabe brought a hyper, furry little animal into our house??
Katie
I have been informed you helped in this endeavor.
Katie
Jack has already been into my room and stolen one of my shoes. Gabe says this means he likes me like I should take it as a compliment.
After slipping into a pair of baggy sweats, I started leafing through a cookbook to find a soup recipe I wanted to make. I had just put my big blue pot on the stove when my phone started to ring.
I walked over to my phone and saw Gabriel’s face on my screen, trying to FaceTime. I slid open my phone and said, “Hey, Gabe.”
“He’s not just Jack anymore,” he said, forgoing greetings. “He is Jack London. I don’t know why we didn’t think of it when we were talking about it earlier today.”
“Well, I kind of did,” I said. “I mean, I did bring up the reference.”
“Well, to me, he was still just Jack. We were playing outside with Midnight when it donned on me. He’s JackLondon. He’s not just a fellow Jack. He’s hisnamesake.” He said namesake like it was holy.
“What a burden for such a little dog to carry.”
