“I love that name.”
Just then, another woman came walking up to the counter. “It is a great name. Do you need a dog?” she asked, focusing her attention on me.
“Excuse me?” I sputtered.
Luna snorted a laugh, while Janet rolled her eyes but her smile was indulgent. “This is Tiffany,” Janet said. “She, among other things, helps run the local animal shelter.” With a tilt of her head toward me, Janet added, “Adele is moving out to Heartfire Falls to help lead hikes there.”
“That’s awesome! My primary job is office manager at the vet clinic,” Tiffany explained, “but my husband’s mother runs the shelter and I help. I’m constantly recruiting pet adopters.”
“I, um…” I began, hesitating.
“You know, I have zero doubt that Maggie will let you have a pet out there if you want one,” Tiffany added.
“I’m sure she would, but I’ll be hiking a lot.”
“Yes, so you need a hiking dog,” Tiffany said with gusto. She simply smiled at me, staying quiet, although it looked like she was about to burst.
Luna narrowed her eyes. “How about give her a minute? Maybe even a few weeks?”
Tiffany burst out laughing. “Fine. But we have a dog who would be perfect. Her name is Aspen and she loves a good hike. Ballpark?” She wiggled her hand back and forth. “She’s maybe like five. Very well trained.”
“How did she end up at the shelter?” I couldn’t help my curiosity.
Tiffany narrowed her eyes, pressing her lips together. “We don’t know. Someone picked her up as a stray on the highway. Here, let me show you her picture. Give me your number.”
Next thing I knew, Tiffany texted me a photo ofthecutest dog.
“She’s the perfect size for what you need.” Tiffany’s tone was encouraging.
“I didn’t say I needed a dog,” I couldn’t help but point out.
She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “Aspen is an adventurer. She weighs maybe thirty-five pounds, so not small, but not sobig you can’t pick her up and cart her around if you need to. I promise she’s awesome. Just think about it.”
My heart twisted as I looked down at the little dog. She had a mostly white face with a brown spot off-center above one of her eyes and ears that perked up and tipped down at the tops. “I’ll think about it.” I didn’t offer up that when I was a little girl, I had begged for a dog. I let out an internal sigh. My parents said we couldn’t have a dog because I was often too sick, and they didn’t have time to train it. They didn’t want to put the responsibility on my sister, which, to be fair, I understood.
Despite the emotional weight of that childhood wish, I still needed to get situated in my new place. I couldn’t make a decision like this now. “I promise I’ll think about it.”
Tiffany clasped her hands together, letting out a squeal. “Please. That would be amazing.”
Janet laughed softly as she tilted her head to the side. “Tiffany, you are special.”
“Everybody’s special,” Tiffany declared. “Meanwhile, I need my special coffee because I gotta get back to work.” Janet slid it over the counter without missing a beat. “Nice to meet you!” Tiffany called out as she left with coffee in hand moments later.
I turned back to Janet. “So I’m going to officially move. I gave you the keys, everything’s all set. If you inspect it and think I need to clean it more?—”
Janet cut me off. “Good grief, Adele. I’m sure it’s fine. That’s why I have a cleaner.”
“I know, but?—”
She arched a brow. “I’m not one of those crazy people with a whole-ass checklist. You stayed. If you cleaned it, I appreciate it, but it wasn’t necessary. Did you see one of those checklists there with a mile of things for you to do?”
“No,” I replied sheepishly.
“That’s correct. You did not because I’m a normal human being and treat guests like actual guests who are paying to stay there.”
A laugh sputtered out of me. “Okay.”
“Look, that online stuff is totally out of hand. You’re staying at a place and paying to be there. I’m grateful. My cleaning lady will be by.” A sly glint entered her gaze. “And now you can move into your new place. I hear Cole might have a thing for you.”
