Page 39 of Love Story
After taking some food, treats, and vitamins from a table set up near the door, Andi moved to the next cage. She bent down and peered inside. Trembling against the side of the cage was an older black Labrador mix. He had gray around his mouth and chin, and he looked at Andi with the most trusting, concerned eyes. They seemed to say,My parents are missing. If you could so kindly help me find them... or just pet me. Either way.
She smiled at the dog. “It’s okay, boy. We’ll find your family.” The cage was unlocked, so she opened it and patted the top of the dog’s head. “You hurt, boy? How’d you make it through that flood?”
Tentatively the dog stepped out of the cage and nuzzled up against her. He made the slightest whimper. Andi stood and the Lab came to her. He wouldn’t put weight on his left leg. “Oh, no.” Andi kept her tone kind, comforting. “We’ll help you. It’s all right.”
She petted the dog some more and gave him vitamins and a good brushing, being especially careful with his left leg. Then she filled out a record of the dog’s condition and disposition.Lord, let his family find him. Let him get help. He’s such a sweet dog.She sighed. This job would be good for her heart, but it wouldn’t be easy.
Five cages down the row she felt her heart skip a beat. Inside was a female German shepherd and snuggled up beside her was a single puppy, not more than six weeks old. “Oh, honey...” Andi dropped slowly to her knees so she could see the two animals better. “What happened to your other babies?”
Caleb was working the far side of the room. He turned to her and sighed. “That’s all the rescuers found. They think the rest were lost.”
Andi looked again at the poor mama. The cage was a mess, and so were the dogs. “I’ll clean you two up, don’t worry.” She opened the door and slowly put her hand inside. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
The female dog stood and shuffled out of the cage. Like the Lab from earlier she dropped down to the ground and put her head on Andi’s knee. Her eyes lifted to Andi’s.
Andi looked intently at the mother dog. “I know.” She patted the messy fur on the mama’s back. The animal definitely seemed sick. Her nose was warm and she was panting harder than the other dogs. Andi had a bad feeling about her. She kept her tone calm and kind. “I’m sorry, girl.”
The dog closed her eyes and lay still.
The puppy wagged his tail and followed his mother.Just like a child,Andi thought.He has no idea how bad things are...The small dog frolicked around a bit and then found his way to his mama for some food. She might be wrong about the pup’s age. He might only be five weeks. Not quite old enough to be weaned, but old enough to survive if...
She couldn’t finish the thought. Again she ran her hand along the mother dog. “Your baby needs a good home. And he’ll get one.” She found the dog brush and started working it softly over the mama. “I’ll make sure.”
Andi and Caleb worked all afternoon, seeing to it that every animal had a cleanup and lots of love. Not all of the animals were sick—a few kitties were playful, and many of the dogs, too. They gave Andi plenty of reasons to smile. But by the time they went to leave their supervisor announced sad news.
The mama German shepherd had died. Sometime in the last hour. Death and loss were a part of her job. But the announcement hit Andi harder than she expected. She felt tears on her cheeks before she even realized she was crying. Then an idea hit her. “I’ll take the puppy.”
“You’ll take him?” Caleb looked at her, a slight smile on his face. He brushed his knuckles against her cheek, as if he couldn’t take his eyes off her. “That’s a beautiful gesture, Andi. From a profoundly beautiful human.”
Her heart skipped a beat, the feel of Caleb’s touch still working its way through her.Stay focused,she told herself. She sniffed a bit and smiled at him. “I promised his mama.”
Andi asked, and her supervisor agreed. “He’s too little to leave alone in the cage. He’d cry all night.”
Me, too,Andi thought. If she had to imagine the puppy here by himself. “I’ll keep him in a box at the hotel and bring him here each day until we find his family.”
Andi filled out some paperwork stating that she would release the dog as soon as the owner showed up. The supervisor provided Andi with puppy food and a pair of bowls, along with a small collar and a leash.
As they left the shelter, Caleb stopped her halfway to the shuttle. “Andi, you’re sweeping me off my feet. Like no other young woman ever has.”
Young woman. Andi smiled. No one had talked to her this way. His words were so different. So European. Combined with his accent, his words made Andi dizzy with attraction. More now than ever. “Thank you, Caleb.”
He looked from the puppy to Andi. “When we get back to the hotel, might I have the pleasure of taking you and the puppy out to dinner?”
She smiled, basking in the warmth of his expression. “Yes.” She patted the little puppy’s velvety soft ear. “Indeed, fine sir. The two of us would like that.”
Dinner was casual. Pizza at an outdoor restaurant across the street from the hotel. Caleb was kind, a brilliant conversationalist, for sure. Andi caught herself wishing the meal would never end.
“Tell me about Amsterdam.” She allowed a little flirt in her tone. “I want to picture you there.”
He grinned. “I thought you’d never ask.”
The puppy slept in his box while Caleb told her about the Netherlands and his flat on the edge of the city. “It is a refined culture. One that finds great joy in the arts.” He let his eyes hold hers. “You’d love it, Andi.”
Only after the puppy woke up and started crying did they agree it was time to turn in. Caleb picked up the puppy and handed him to Andi. She cradled him near her chin. “I won’t get attached.” Andi said the words more to herself than to Caleb. “He’s the cutest ever, right?”
“He’s a handsome fellow, yes.”
When they reached the lobby, Caleb hugged her and this time he ran his hand along the back of her head. When his mouth was near her ear he whispered, “This night was exquisite. Thank you.”
