were enclosures to be transported and set up, and a refreshment table to stock. Even when the event began, the work wasn’t done. Dogs needed to be walked and fed during and afterward. Potential adopters needed to be supervised socializing with the animals. Needless to say, there were a lot of moving parts involved in making the day a success.
Luckily, one of Bailey’s superpowers was guilting people into helping out. She usually brought Mr. Pickles with her when she was drumming up volunteers. He wasn’t much of a people person, but he could meow pitifully on command, which made him an invaluable member of Team Beg.
The entire staff was all-hands-on-deck and I’d given everyone instructions to make sure the senior dogs took top billing. We were all clad in khakis and blue T-shirts with Happy Paws scripted on the front in white writing, so it was easy to spot all the volunteers. I took no responsibility for the fact that a third of them had already signed up to adopt a pet. Why should I be the only soft-hearted fool living in a menagerie?
I was even happier to be working than usual. Anything to keep my mind off things was aces in my book. Anything to keep from remembering the day he left. I’d gotten up early and watched his yard like a hawk through my living room window. I’d seen Journey and his father in the semidarkness of the dawn, loading up the car with his bags. They were chatting as they disappeared in the house one last time and came out a little while later with travel mugs. Then I watched the taillights of his father’s Mustang as they drove off. A couple of hours later, Jack was back alone. He made his way into the house, a contraband bag of McDonald's clutched in his hand.
And that was that.
Kona had bumped my leg anxiously, and I’d rubbed her ears. Eventually, I’d let her get up on the seat with me, and she’d climbed her big, furry butt into my lap. That’s about how long it took me to process that Journey had left. I mean, yes, I’d told him to go. But who does the hurtful shit you goad him into doing? What happened to all those sweet things he’d said about loving me? You mean those things that you practically threw back in his face?
I winced. Well… yeah. Those things.
The town gossips had been hard at work since his departure. People were using their poor Cameron voices again. No one mentioned his name, as though it was an incantation. Mrs. Grimes had brought me a casserole to take home as if someone had died for Chrissake.
Well, if they were waiting for a show, they weren’t going to get one. I could be perfectly dead inside and pleasant on the outside. I was an excellent multitasker.
I leaned down and ruffled Daisy’s ears. The beagle had a sign on top of her enclosure that read Adopted! with a smiley face. “Susan lets her other dogs sleep on the bed,” I told her, as she looked up at me with doubtful eyes. “You’re going to love her pack, I promise.”
“I’m not sure you even know they’re not human at this point.”
I turned to see Rosy standing behind me, a little half smile on her face. I straightened as I turned to face her. “And you’re so much better? You bought your dog a monogrammed jacket.”
“Bella is a retired police officer, Cam. She has a fucking job.” Her blue eyes twinkled. “A dog with a pension is allowed to buy a damned jacket.”
I chuckled. “Speaking of which, where is she?” There was very little Bella liked more than a car ride and a trip into town, except maybe taking a bite out of a fleeing suspect’s ass.
“I left her at home. I got her a new Kong toy and couldn’t pry her away.” She shaded her eyes as she looked up at me with a frown. “How long have you been out here? You look a little flushed.”
“It’s hot,” I said, sidestepping her original question and the hand she tried to press against my forehead. It’s not as though I had a real answer anyway. I came early and stayed late until all the animals were adopted. “Of course I’m flushed.”
“Mm-hmm.” She gave me a knowing look, one that had broken me down many times over the years. “Why don’t I take over from here? You can go do… whatever it