one minute late, but God forbid he should wait in the air-conditioning like a reasonable human being. He’d rather risk heatstroke to prove a point.
I got out of the car, holding up a hand in warning. “I’m not in the mood for it,” I informed him.
He closed his mouth and made a harrumph. I got him settled in the car and went back around to the driver’s side. I slid in, only to find him looking in the back seat warily. He reached down slowly and pulled off his slipper.
“JJ, I think there’s some sort of opossum in the car.”
“Will you put your shoe back on?” I asked exasperatedly. “It’s a dog.” I think.
His face screwed up. “Well, whaddya get a damn dog for?”
“I couldn’t afford a helper monkey for you.”
“You’re my helper monkey,” he informed me. “A little chattier than I bargained for, but beggars can’t be choosers, and all that.”
“Hardy har har,” I said dryly. “You’re so hilarious.”
“I know.” He eyed the dog again, who smiled at him, her tongue hanging out as if to prove, yes, I am a dog. “Since you have time to rescue animals, you have time to take me to the store.”
“Yes, master,” I grumbled, putting the car in Drive. “Right away, master.”
He didn’t answer my sass, but his mouth twitched. I wasn’t sure what tickled his funny bone more, my grousing or the fact that he got to ride me like a Grand Canyon pack mule. No matter. I drove him to the nearest Pick-n-Save and made the mistake of helping him find a riding cart. Once he got the hang of the controls, he couldn’t shoo me and Thing One away quickly enough.
I huffed. “Good luck reaching anything on a high shelf,” I called as he motored into the store.
“How’s a short thing like you going to help me with that anyway?” He hit top speed, which I could still probably pass crawling on my hands and knees. He looked like a contestant in NASCAR for the Elderly.
Thing One and I got back in the car. After a few minutes of tapping my fingers on the wheel, I decided to make a quick stop at Wendy’s. I picked up a plain hamburger and a cup of water for Thing One, and a combo meal for myself. Then I pulled back into the parking lot of the Pick-n-Save and rolled the windows down.
I set the dog up with a hamburger and occupied myself by trying to find her a groomer on my phone. There were only three in town, and I called them all as she sat in the passenger seat, looking perfectly at peace with life in general.
I hung up with the last groomer on the list. Like the rest, she needed a rabies certificate first. I sighed. It was stunning how a footloose and fancy-free life could be bogged down so quickly. Now, not only was I responsible for taking care of a grouchy old man, but I’d also acquired a dog-maybe-opossum.
“Well, I guess I need to take you to the vet,” I informed her. “Fortunately, I have a good one on speed dial. I guess they can also check you for a microchip.”
She didn’t seem perturbed.
“You’re not staying,” I reminded her, “so don’t unpack your Chewy box just yet.”
She sniffed my hand for more hamburger. I opened my palm to show her that she’d cleaned me out, and she licked my palm once for good measure. I chuckled and scratched her ear.
“Is it strange that you’re the most pleasant person in my life right now?” I asked. “Maybe I need to run with better company.”
She gave me a happy doggy smile as if she agreed.
At least I got to see Cam. I wasn’t going to hit on him again because I could take a hint, but seeing him was always a bright spot in my day. I had no intention of dissecting that feeling, though. Not even a little bit.
Chapter 11
Cameron
I was halfway through my third appointment of the morning before I realized something important: Kimble, a poodle mix, and his owner, Netta, were starting to look alike. They both had fluffy white hair, large dark eyes, and a little overbite. They seemed to realize it, too, because they’d started to dress alike. Today, they were both in white-and-pink striped shirts. All Kimble needed was a pair of small eyeglasses hanging from a pearl chain to complete the look.
“How’re the seizures?” I asked, holding his muzzle still, so I