Page 65 of The Love Shack

“There are quite a few people in this town who would strongly disagree with you.”

“So?” Berkley said, drawing her inside and closing the door. “Who cares? I think you’re perfect.” When Hero snuffled against Betty and received a friendly pat, Berkley added, “Hero agrees that you’re perfect. Best of all, Gladys, who has the most important opinion in this scenario, loves you so much. If you want her, and if you’re sure you can handle it, I’d be happy to process the adoption.”

Until Betty’s face lit up, Berkley hadn’t realized there’d been any doubt on the matter, and now she felt terrible. She and Hero both lavished the woman with affection. Even Cheese sauntered in, brushing Betty’s legs once to let her know she approved, as well.

Hands clasped tightly together, Betty asked, “Could I take her now?”

Oh, boy. Erin and Whitley had already left for the day, and Lawson was due any second now—but Berkley couldn’t disappoint Betty. “Of course you can. We just need to fill out the paperwork.”

“Already done,” Betty said, opening her small white purse and digging inside to produce a folded sheet of paper. “I got this from Erin a few days ago, and yesterday I went shopping. I have a big cushy dog bed for my Gladys, piddle papers randomly placed around, dog brush, two dishes, the food Erin said she prefers and—”

Another knock sounded at the door, and Hero abandoned Betty so he could bark and turn a few circles in glee.

“That’ll be Lawson,” Berkley whispered. “We have adate.” She bobbed her eyebrows.

Betty blinked at her. “You do?” In a rush, she said, “Well, for heaven’s sake. Of course you do. Look at you! You look incredible, all fixed up and...” She leaned in with a sniff. “Young lady, is that perfume?”

“Cherry blossom body mist. Do you like it?”

“Yes, I do. Lawson will love it.” Turning away in a flurry, Betty said, “Let’s not keep him waiting.”

Berkley caught Hero’s collar again as Betty opened the door.

To his credit, Lawson barely missed a beat at finding Betty instead of Berkley, even when she said, “And look at you, all handsome and—” again she leaned in to sniff “—also smelling good.”

Lawson grinned at her. “I’m not wearing cologne.”

“Mmm. Apparently, you don’t need to.”

Seeing Betty with her nose near Lawson’s chest sent Berkley into snickers of hilarity. There were times when Betty could be so outrageous, and it seemed to be happening more as time went by.

As Lawson stepped in, he dipped his appreciative gaze over Berkley and whistled. “Nice.”

She felt like doing a curtsy or something, and instead she shifted her feet. “I felt like wearing a dress.”

“Good choice.”

Betty’s gaze bounced back and forth between them. “I have rotten timing, clearly.”

“Oh.” With Lawson looking at her like that, she’d almost forgotten herself. “No, your timing is never off. We can get Gladys right now.” Quickly, she explained the situation to Lawson.

Pleased with Betty’s decision, he jumped right in, offering his help. “I can go with you, Berkley, while you get Gladys, or I can visit with Hero and Cheese a few minutes so they don’t feel left out. Your pick.”

For once, Betty appeared humbled. “Seriously, you don’t mind?”

“It’s only six-thirty and Berkley isn’t a teenager. She can stay out late, so a half-hour delay isn’t a big deal, especially when it means Gladys gets a forever home.”

“I’ll be eighty-eight soon,” Betty pointed out. “Not sure how long forever will be, but—”

“No, don’t say that,” Berkley protested, her chest going tight. “You have years and years yet.” Both Betty and Lawson watched her, and she realized she’d almost shouted. Forcing her lips into a smile, she added, “You were just sniffing Lawson. Obviously you have a lot of life in you yet.”

That got the response she wanted, with Lawson grinning and Betty laughing.

“Both of you wait here. The less confusion, the better, because the dogs are already settled in. I’ll only be a minute.” Grabbing up her keys, she slipped out the door. At the shelter, she entered as quietly as possible. She wrote out an adoption slip with a note and left it on the desk for Erin in case she forgot to tell her right away.

Gladys was sound asleep when Berkley silently opened her individual kennel, but the dog jerked awake with a start when Berkley whispered her name. Poor thing. It was rare for them to be disturbed once they’d been put to bed, and Gladys gave a cautious woof, her ears flat and her belly to the floor. The second she recognized Berkley, she jiggled with relief but still seemed really confused.

The dog had been using the same bed since she arrived, so Berkley scooped it up, along with a couple of Gladys’s toys, as she led the dog out on a leash. In her mind, she was already listing all the suggestions she routinely gave to new dog owners. She trusted Betty completely, and she knew Gladys would be far better off in a real home than at the shelter, but that didn’t seem to matter. In Berkley’s heart, Gladys had become her own, and Berkley felt wholly responsible for her well-being.

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