As soon as Agatha entered the foyer, the Gomez family of four let out gasps of adoration and dropped to their knees to greet her.
The son looked to be around twelve, the daughter a few years younger. Their dark-haired mother explained that she’d kept the kids home from school this morning because adopting a dog was such a big moment for all of them. She said that their fifteen-year-old Pomeranian had died nine months ago. They’d been mourning his loss and struggling to live in a house that suddenly felt too empty and too quiet. This was the first time the kids would have the chance to raise a puppy.
Luke nodded and put on what he hoped read as a pleasant expression.
Finley went into raptures with the Gomezes, clearly delighting in her matchmaking skills. “Luke is the one who’s been fostering Agatha.”
“It looks like you did a great job,” the dad said. “She seems happy and healthy.”
She’s awful, and she ruined my life.
“You must have had so much fun with her,” the daughter said.
If you consider cleaning dog accidents to be fun.
Finley answered the family’s questions and gave them encouragement and suggestions. The parents signed the paperwork. As they gathered up Agatha’s gear in preparation to leave, the puppy positioned herself between Luke’s legs. She eyed the others suspiciously, as if he were her protector and they were her abductors.
When the mom came forward to pick Agatha up, the puppy placed her front feet as high on his pants leg as she could reach,which was only about five inches. Her eyes said,Save me. I don’t want to go anywhere with these strangers. Which proved how unintuitive Agatha was. She didn’t have enough sense to recognize the gravy train that had just pulled to a stop in front of her.
He leaned over and placed her front feet on the ground. Agatha plopped down and rested her chin on his boot.
“Aw,” the girl said. “She loves you.”
“She definitely does,” Finley agreed. “She’s such a gifted little dog. I think you’ll find that she has the capacity to do a lot of things well—including forming bonds and giving affection. With your care and training, she’ll become a treasured member of your family.”
Spare him. He didn’t like this kind of sentimentality. If he’d just met Finley, he would’ve concluded that she was faking it, laying it on thick. But she wasn’t. Her excitement was genuine. She spent hours ensuring that the adoptions overseen by the Center resulted in what she’d classify as “happily-ever-afters.”
Luke lifted Agatha, feeling her slight weight in his hand for the last time. He handed her to the girl.
“Thank you for taking care of her.” She cuddled the puppy against her chest.
“You’re welcome.”
“She’s so cute!” she cooed.
If your taste runs to tiny devils.“Enjoy,” Luke said, when what he wanted to say was,I’m very sorry for you all.
The Gomezes gave another round of gratitude and then good-byes. Luke knew with certainty that Finley had succeeded at finding Agatha her ideal family. She would be much, much better off with the Gomezes.
The girl turned, stealing the puppy from view as the family ushered themselves outdoors.
What he mostly felt was relief. But a surprising amount of sorrow pierced him, too. It had been what felt like a lifetime since he’d taken care of anyone the way he’d taken care of Agatha.
He was glad to see the puppy go.
But also, a little bit sorry to see her go.
He could feel Finley’s attention on him. He looked over at her, and the force of their eye contact clanged in his gut.
He wasn’t a fan of messy emotions. He didn’t like experiencing grief. Or tenderness for Finley. Or protectiveness of Finley. Or guilt. In no way did he want to set himself up for pain.
He liked simplicity. In the years since he’d left home, he’d been happiest when he’d done his job and spent the rest of his hours alone, free from being taken hostage by his feelings.
“Are you okay?” Finley asked.
“I’m better than I’ve been since the day that you gave me that high-maintenance rodent.”
“But also slightly sad?”
