“Are you ready?” Rita asked.
“Ready for what?”
She smiled and turned the doorknob. The tiniest little fur ball ran out, nipping at my legs.
“Puppies?” I reached down and picked him up in my arms.
“Puppies.” She repeated and ushered me in.
The room was filled with dogs ranging in all sizes and interest levels. Some were lying in the corner sleeping, otherswere yelping and jumping toward us, and there were a few that looked at us with suspicion in their gaze.
“What is this place?” I asked for what had to be the third or fourth time.
“It’s an animal shelter that also operates as a puppy and kitten cafe.” Rita explained, taking a seat on the one couch in the room. “They allow people to come in and enjoy the animals without feeling the pressure of having to adopt any of them. They also have warm drinks if you would like.” She used her chin to point out a table off to the side with what looked like a coffee or hot chocolate bar. Maybe even both.
“How did I not know this place existed?” I sat beside her, but on the floor.
“Most people don’t.”
“That’s too bad.” Another puppy had snuggled his way into my lap. “Hey little guy.” I put the first dog down and petted the new one. “You remind me of Ranger.”
“Who’s Ranger?” She slid off the couch and down to the floor beside me.
“My dog back home.” I kept petting the puppy. “I got him right before I left for college.”
“So you did know you wanted to be a Ranger before you signed up.”
I thought about what Rex had said. “Maybe.”
“Hey, where did you go?” Rita put her hand on my leg.
“Sorry.” I let my left hand take over stroking the back of the dog and put my right one over hers. “Did you know I almost joined the Air Force before becoming a medic?”
“Really?” She seemed to relax. “What happened?”
“One of my friends in high school convinced me we should enlist right after graduation.” I shook my head and laughed. “He had this idea of us learning to fly and then retiring to become commercial pilots and see the world.”
“I take it that didn’t work out the way he planned.”
“Damn fool lied on his paperwork.” I told her.
“What?” Her eyes went wide.
“He couldn’t see for shit, and he wrote down he had twenty-twenty vision like they wouldn’t figure it out when they did the physical.”
“Is that why you decided to join the Rangers?” She asked.
I shrugged. “Without him around it made more sense. I joined the reserves in college and then after everything just moved on to the Rangers. It was the only way to specialize in all the areas that interested me.” I looked over at her. “We lead the way.”
“My father was a Ranger.” She swallowed and stood. She went over to the drinks and started making one.
I put the dog down and went to join her. “Is he retired?”
“He actually passed on a few years ago.” She stirred the liquid in her cup.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I wanted to reach out and hold her.
“It’s okay.” She flashed a smile. “He lived a full life.”
