Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
I look at it one more time and don’t see anyone sitting in it, so I shake it off, thinking I must be imagining any concerns I have. Reminding myself that it is a pretty standard vehicle, I let it go. There is no need for concern. I close her into the passenger side of my truck and walk around to get into the driver’s side.
“Hey, you like dogs, right?” I ask as I turn on the truck.
“Sure, who doesn’t like dogs?”
“Well, the SPCA has a program that allows you to go visit dogs and pet them, and sometimes they will even let you take them for a walk.” I glance at her, smiling. “You up for that?”
A beam lights up her face. “Heck yeah, I’m up for that. What kind of dog do we get?” Her energy becomes bouncy, and I’m glad to see I picked the right date. I went back and forth, trying to figure out what I should do. Jude is different than any of the other girls I’ve dated, and I didn’t want to give her a typical dinner and movie date. She deserves more than that, she deserves something special.
“They’ll give us whatever they’ve got. We don’t really get to pick when talking about a shelter, we just get to see what they have and pick from that group. That fair enough?” I hope that’s not a deal-breaker.
“I love it.” She smiles and looks out the window. “Is this what you would consider something ‘normal?’ Do people really do this for dates?”
“Not everyone, but we’re not really normal, you and I, Jude, and I don’t want to take you on the typical date. You deserve more than that. I want you to remember this, I want to see you smile, it’s the only thing that matters to me.”
Her head spins back to me, and I wink at her and grin. She tucks her head and goes back to looking out the window without responding, but in the reflection of the window, I can see her grinning from ear to ear, and that makes my day.
When we arrive at the shelter, we talk to the lady up front, and she takes us back to the animals. After we visit and pet all the available pouches, Jude finally settles on a fairly even-tempered beagle named, Lady Loo.
The dog is already in love with her, and I’m pretty sure it’s mutual. The name alone makes us giggle every time we say it, but it’s her backstory that is the real kicker.
Lady Loo was tied and left in a roadside gas station restroom for a day and a half, abandoned by her owners. She was mangy, had a heart full of worms, was pregnant with at least her third litter of pups, despite being less than two-years-old, and there were scars where someone had beat her multiple times. The extraordinary thing was that despite her horrendous conditions, and her cruel abandonment, she never once, in that day and a half, urinated or pooped inside the restroom where she was chained. She waited, like a lady, until someone came and took her outside. Hence, Lady Loo.
The SPCA had helped Lady Loo recover physically, but because of the scars on her back, no one wanted to adopt her.
Jude gives me one look, and I’m a goner. Lady Loo, it is.
Once we sign our lives away in blood, we head out, and I realize I could have not picked a better day, weather-wise. It’s sunny, and Jude tips her head back, basking in the warmth of the sun. After a moment, Jude, who is holding Lady’s red leash, turns to me, confused but happy.
“Where to?”
“Anywhere we want,” I chime back.
“I know, but where?” She laughs.
I look left and right, and an idea pops into my head.
“There is a park a couple of blocks over. We can start there and see what the day brings?”
“Yes.” Her blue eyes light up, and then we’re off.
Lady Loo immediately starts pulling us forward, eager to get on with whatever adventure we’re about to go on.
“Maybe she knows the way?”
I shrug and grin. “She’s a harlot, no loyalty whatsoever. I bet she goes anywhere with anyone,” I tease.
“No!” Jude’s laughter tinkles and expands around us. “She’s a lady!”
The day is easy and comfortable. We visit the park and let Lady Loo romp around off-leash for a bit, take her down to trail along the river, and then through the town center, where we stop and have some lunch at an outside café table as Lady snoozes at our feet.
It is as if we are a real couple, and Lady Loo is our dog.
Eventually, I get up the nerve to reach out for Jude’s hand, and she smiles at me before ducking her head shyly, which only serves to make my heart swell.