“And Charlie’s owner sadly passed.”
“Oh,” Freya says sadly. When I glance at her, I find tears glittering in her eyes.
My girl is a sap. And I couldn’t imagine it being any other way.
“I don’t have any doubt that they’ll find new homes soon. They both have such great personalities.”
Freya agrees as we follow Lilah to an outside exercise area. It’s about the same size as a hockey rink, but it’s covered in some kind of green spongy flooring that I guess is meant to mimic grass.
“Okay, so there are a ton of toys over there for you to play fetch and tug with. Both of these fellas play well with each other, so you’ll have no issues taking them off their leashes. I’ll check in with you in ten minutes just to make sure everything is okay, but if it is, you guys can have an hour trying to burn some energy off them.”
“Sounds great,” Freya says happily.
Seeing the joy on her face does something to me I’m not sure I’ve ever felt before. As I gaze at her with a wide smile on her face and excitement glittering in her eyes, I swear my heart grows.
“Okay, enjoy, guys.” Lilah glances at me. “Hopefully, there will be no more accidents.”
In a heartbeat, she’s gone, leaving us all alone for the first time.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Freya asks.
“Yeah, I’m fine. You don’t need to worry. I’m pretty sure it’s still functioning as it should.”
“Cole,” she gasps as her cheeks heat.
“What? I thought that was what you were worried about.”
She laughs as she turns toward Charlie. “Are you ready for this, boy?” she asks.
He stares up at her with nothing but love and trust in his eyes. Honestly, I understand why she loves dogs so much. They’re nothing but unconditional love and support. Exactly what she craves.
“I’ve never seen a dog wag its tail so hard its head moves with it.”
Freya laughs as she reaches for his leash and sets him free.
It takes a couple of seconds for him to realize, but the instant he does, he takes off, bounding across the enclosure at top speed.
Beside me, Buddy whimpers in frustration, watching his friend enjoy his freedom.
“Did you want to join him?” I ask, reaching down to scratch his head before reaching for his leash. Just like Charlie, he takes off, his little legs moving so fast they’re practically a blur.
“It’s so sad they're stuck here, isn’t it?” Freya muses.
“Yeah. It’s only temporary, though,” I say, my heart aching for both of them.
I know exactly how it feels to be dumped in a place like this. Unloved and lonely.
Shaking my head, I march over to the toys Lilah pointed out. The less thought I put into the reasons they’re here and their lives at the shelter, the better.
“Buddy. Charlie,” I call, holding a tennis ball in each hand.
Charlie immediately looks over and then comes running. Buddy completely ignores me and continues racing around like a lunatic on a mission only he’s aware of.
“Buddy,” I call a little louder.
Still nothing.
“Buddy,” Freya tries, and to my utter amazement, he stops instantly, turns, and comes bounding toward her.
