Um, what? She decided ages ago to remain single.
Bridget
Situations change. God’s will for us changes. You have to give yourself permission to change, too, Finley.
Meadow
Because she’s feeling hormones for a man? I’d stay committed to singlehood if I were you. Trust me when I say hormones are liars.
Bridget
Whatever you choose to do, we’ll support you 100%.
That night, Agatha continued to act like a diva.
Luke spent his whole evening trying to find the set of conditions that would cause her toshut up. Or sleep without him holding her. Or eat.
“Look at this delicious piece of food,” Luke said from his position inside her cramped playpen. He held out a piece of kibble. She sniffed it. He waited for a chance to stuff it in her mouth.
She turned and padded away.
He pretended to pop the kibble into his mouth and chew. “Mmm.”
She tilted her baby head to the side, then poked at one of her toys with her paw.
He extended the kibble to her again. “Please give it a try. Growing dogs need nutrition.”
He ended up chasing her around and around the pen with the hand holding the piece of food.
She did not eat it.
Later, when he was about to get in bed, she ran over to his mattress. Placing her front feet on it, she said without words,Lift me up, sucker.
He set her on top, flipped off the lights, and lay down.
Immediately, she burrowed next to him as she had the previous night. She yawned loudly, then made a weird little smacking sound. He braced for more frantic movement and noises.
But none came. The holy terror went to sleep. He’d never appreciated quiet this much.
Agatha’s new owners were going to inherit a dog who was used to sleeping in human beds. But, for those poor fools, that was going to be the least of their worries.
Can you close the window?” Kat asked Luke the next day.
“No.”
“The optimal indoor temperature in the winter is sixty-eight degrees.” She walked over to consult the thermostat.
“It’s my window.” They each had one in front of their desk. “And it’s only cracked half an inch.”
“Yes, but it’s freezing outside, and the cold air coming in through the crack has lowered the temp to sixty-seven.”
“The window stays like it is.” In prison, he had almost no control over his environment—other than behaving in a way that ensured he’d never get sent to solitary confinement. Here, he could keep his window open, and so he did. Less claustrophobic that way.
Trish entered, holding Agatha. Finley had led him to believe he wouldn’t have to deal with the puppy while at work. Wrong. The gluttons for punishment frequently brought the puppies into their workspace.
“You know, Luke,” Kat said in her lecture tone, “it would be best if you could expose Agatha to cars, sounds, different walking surfaces, people of all ages, and retail environments. Pet stores and some home-improvement stores allow animals.”
“I will be exposing her to none of those things.”
