Page 46 of October
“Because I don’t know,” she admitted. “I like to make excuses for things I’m scared of. Look at her. She’s so tiny. She’d need me to keep her alive. How can I make sure to do that?”
“I think you’ll be okay.”
“She’s onyourstomach. She clearly prefers you.”
“I have dog treats in my pockets,” Finley revealed.
“What?”
Molly shifted to look at her, and Finley laughed.
“I’m kidding. Lay back down, or you’ll wake her up, and she’s so cute.”
Molly shifted again and snuggled into Finley’s side.
“How long can we stay here?” she asked.
“For about an hour. I have a dinner reservation at the place down the street. We can walk there, though, so we have time.”
“Are we just going to lie here and let her sleep on you?”
“I think that’s a solid plan,” Finley replied.
???
Wells woke up, did a big stretch for such a tiny dog, and climbed off Finley. Then, she walked away without another glance as if she’d just been using Finley’s stomach for a dog bed and was done with her now. They both chuckled as they watched the puppy go to a water bowl and drink.
“We should get going,” Finley said.
“But she’s… she’s just…”
“I know,” Finley said and sat up, bringing Molly with her and then rubbing Molly’s back over her shirt. “But we have dinner, and you said you couldn’t adopt her.”
“Yeah,” she replied, sounding disappointed even to herself. “And I can’t foster because I would want to keep every animal. I’m a lost cause.”
Finley pulled her against herself again and wrapped her arm around Molly’s shoulders.
“I hardly think you’re a lost cause, but if you seriously want a dog, I don’t think you should let anything get in your way.”
Wells looked at them for a second before turning away, and it felt to Molly as if the puppy, who was only eight weeks old, knew that these humans weren’t staying. They were here to play and hang out, but none of them would be taking her home, and that made Molly sad. She rose and walked over to the woman.
“I don’t know yet, but if I’m interested in adopting, do you have any information I can take with me?”
“Of course. Is there a particular dog you might be interested in? I can write your name down and give you a call if someone else expresses interest or if they’re adopted.”
“Someone else might adopt her?”
“They’re puppies. Much easier than older dogs, fortunately and unfortunately.” The woman shrugged a shoulder.
“That makes me sad,” Molly said.
“Can I get some info, too?” Finley asked. “I don’t know that I want a puppy, though. I might be interested in adopting an older dog.”
Molly looked over at her and asked, “Since when?”
“It’s a recent development. India didn’t want one, and I’d love a dog. Someone to come home to every day that I can loveon and they’ll love on me. Could be fun. I don’t know for sure yet, and I want to be sure before I do anything.”
“What about all those computer parts?”
