Page 90 of Forbidden Kisses
Grace glanced up at the clock. Five minutes until closing. She printed out the scholarship applications she’d found for the university as well. She’d fill these out right after she did the other thing she’d decided she was going to do for herself. Her mom had challenged her to just one thing, but Grace had decided why stop there?
She grabbed her paperwork and closed up the office, then hopped down the steps. The animal shelter didn’t close until six. She had time to go look around. She’d never had a pet before. For one, pets were expensive. Also, Grace was always too busy taking care of her mother’s needs to worry about those of a pet. A pet didn’t just take, though. A pet offered comfort and company, which Grace wouldn’t mind having these days. Especially with Jack out of her life again. For good this time.
The animal shelter was loud as Grace opened the metal entrance door. Various barks pierced her ears all at once.
“Do you mind if I look around?” Grace asked the young girl at the reception desk.
“Help yourself. We close in forty-five minutes, though.”
Grace nodded and headed toward a door that led to the kennels. She took her time walking past every cage and looking into the eyes of each dog up for adoption. A lot could be learned from looking into an animal’s eyes. Or a person’s. She’d known she’d love Jack as soon as she’d met his gaze at ten years old. She hadn’t known it’d be different from the brotherly love that was expected of her back then, but she’d known that he was special.
Grace stopped in front of every kennel. There was a pit bull. A shaggy mutt. A beagle. Some type of Doberman pinscher. Grace scooted past, feeling the need to apologize to all the animals she’d mentally turned down. Then she paused on a black miniature poodle. The fur looked touchably soft. The dog’s eyes were hopeful as she met them.
Hope.That’s what she was looking for in her life. Hope.
“Hey, there, girl,” she said, bending down and holding out her hand to the dog. The dog’s tail wagged as she sniffed Grace’s fingertips through the cage. “What’s your name? Huh?”
The dog’s tail wagged some more.
“I like you, too. Want to come home with me? Hope?”
The dog propped her front paws up on the door of the kennel, and Grace took that as a yes. Hurrying back to the lady behind the reception desk, she started the paperwork to bring Hope home. A college degree and a dog. This was a good start to chasing after the desires of her heart.
—
“You got a dog?” Krista asked on the phone the next afternoon.
“I did. Her name is Hope. She’s such a cutie,” Grace told her, sitting on her living room floor and running a hand over Hope’s back.
“Hold up. I’m coming over. I love dogs. Mind if I bring Abby? I’m supposed to stop by and pick her up from work. Her car is in the shop.”
“Sure. The more the merrier,” Grace said, surprising herself. She wasn’t the same girl she’d been a few months ago, overworked and doing everything on her own. Now she had friends. She had a new job with decent hours, a dog, and she was planning to finally go get that degree her grandmother had wanted her to have. She wanted that degree for herself, too.
Fifteen minutes later, the doorbell rang and Hope took off toward the sound.
Krista and Abby bypassed hellos with Grace and immediately dissolved into “Awws” over the fluffy black pup.
“She’s gorgeous,” Krista squealed, pulling the ball of fur into her arms.
Abby reached a hand over and petted the top of the dog’s head. “She’s such a sweetheart.”
The three sat on the floor and fawned over the dog as they took turns cuddling and cradling her like a little baby.
“Maybe I need a dog, too,” Krista said.
“It doesn’t take the place of a man,” Abby pointed out.
“Better in some ways.” Grace pulled the dog back to her. “She loves unconditionally. I bet Hope will even like my mother. It’s a great setup.”
“Still haven’t heard from Jack, huh?” Krista frowned.
“No, and I’m not going to. It’s over between us. I have my mom and a new dog to look after.” Grace smiled as the poodle’s tongue scraped along her cheek. “And I’m going to start online college classes soon.”
“What?” Krista and Abby said in unison.
“That’s amazing, Grace,” Krista added.
Grace nodded. “I’ll be too busy for a relationship anyway.”
