“She won’t know.”
His response made her feel cheap. While she had been convinced that they were working toward something real, keeping their relationship a secret solidified Cora’s role as a sidepiece and nothing more. Cora typed and erased her thoughts several times, and she knew he could see the reply bubbles percolating on the screen. She settled on, “I’ll contact u for gala deets as date gets closer. Thx.”
She was angry at herself for not bowing out, but the attraction between them was messing with her head and convincing her to make stupid choices.You can still beat this,she thought.Just go to the gala, don’t drink, listen to Alice, focus on meeting new people, and it’ll be fine. Keep your distance from him. Simple.
Charlie replied with a thumbs-up emoji. Then a heart.
It wasn’t going to be simple.
THIRTY
“Hello? Hello? Is this Miss Cora the dog trainer?” an unfamiliar female voice with a slight twang asked.
Cora was just leaving her final client of the day and hadn’t planned on picking up her phone, but the 713 area code called and hung up three times in a row without leaving a message.
“Yes, this is Cora, how may I help you?”
“Hello, this is Beth Ann Devlin’s mother, Pamela. May I talk to you for a moment, please?”
Cora immediately knew that something was up and became flustered by the possibilities. “Oh, hi, Mrs. Devlin. Is everything okay?”
“No, actually it’s not at all. And I’m sorry to involve you, but I don’t know who to turn to about this ... . Beth Ann...” Pamela’s voice cracked. “Beth Ann had a pretty bad breakdown a few days ago, and we only just found out about it. Her daddy and I flew in from Texas as fast as we could. She’s not in good shape.” Cora heard Pamela take a shaky breath.
“Oh, Mrs. Devlin, I’m so sorry! Is she all right?” Cora’s heart pounded. What could she have done differently at their last session? Had Beth Ann hurt herself?
“She’s okay, she’s just in a bad place ... mentally.” Pamela Devlin audibly struggled to admit it out loud. “We’re getting ready to take her back home to River Oaks tomorrow, but we have to get a few things in order before we leave. Beth Ann thought you might be able to help with little Chanel.”
Could both Beth Ann and Chanel be about to be saved?
“We would take her ourselves, but I’m deathly allergic to dogs. I’m breaking out in hives as we speak,” Pamela continued.
“Of course, no problem, I’d be happy to take—” Cora stopped herself, remembering Josie. The week-long camp she’d proposed to Beth Ann would’ve been fine, but an extended stay with no end in sight was impossible. “Oh no. My roommate just adopted our foster dog and I can’t have three dogs at my place. Give me a second to think.” Cora racked her brain, trying to come up with a suitable alternative. She hesitated to get in touch with any of her rescue friends because she felt a special connection to Chanel. She desperately wanted to help the little dog herself, but she knew she couldn’t swing it with two other dogs in the house. Then it hit her.
“Mrs. Devlin, I think I have a solution that will work. Can you give me a few minutes to check with someone?”
“Of course, sweetheart. We’re not leaving until the morning. Just give me a call when you figure it out.”
“This is sort of an awkward question but ... are you looking to find a permanent home for Chanel? Or does Beth Ann want her back at some point once she’s ... feeling better?”
“Honey, I don’tknow,” Pamela’s Texas twang slipped out. “I don’t know anything right now. I’m thinking that Beth Ann is better off with us at home, and Lord knows I can’t have a dog in the house. So let’s call it permanent.”
“That’s fine then. I’ll call you when I know something.”
“Thanks, sweetheart. We’re at the Hay-Adams Hotel, and you have my cell number. Chanel is going to stay at Beth Ann’s apartment tonight, and we’ll be back in the morning to say good-bye to her and make the necessary arrangements with y’all.”
“Wait, you’re leaving Chanel there alone tonight?”
“Well yes, honey. My hives, I told you about these awful hives I’m getting.”
Cora had to think fast. “Oh, well, I bet Chanel is really scared about everything that’s going on. Is there any way that I could come and pick her up later today?”
“That would be fine, thank you. I’ll leave a key with the front desk, you can just let yourself in and out.” Pamela seemed eager to get off the phone, as if she’d already washed her hands of the responsibility of finding a home for Chanel.
“Mrs. Devlin, please send Beth Ann my best and ... and tell her ... I’m thinking of her,” Cora stumbled trying to find the right words.
“That’s so nice, sweetheart. She spoke very highly of you. She considers you a friend. I do hope y’all will keep in touch.” Cora was stunned and saddened by the revelation. What had Beth Ann told her mother about the three short hours they’d spent together?
“Of course. Take care, Mrs. Devlin.”
