Page 23 of Since the Day We Kissed

Kara nodded, then glanced around. “Oh, what about the volunteer booth? I completely forgot about it with everything going on.”

“Don’t you worry about that. I took care of it, just like I promised. Come on, I’ll show you.”

She led Kara to a corner of the lawn where a tent was already set up. A banner readingVolunteer Informationhung across the front, and a table underneath was neatly arranged with clipboards, pens, and colorful flyers.

“Emma, this is amazing,” Kara breathed, taking in the professional setup. “When’d you do all this?”

“I pulled up just as you were heading into your house earlier from the rescue. Figured I’d get this done while you had a breather.”

“You’re a ninja and a lifesaver, truly.”

“That’s what friends are for. Now, let’s get the rest of this place ready for some adoptions.”

“Let’s do it.”

Kara and Emma fell into a rhythm, their movements a blur of efficiency as they transformed the space into an organized adoption venue. Tent poles clattered as they snapped into place, tables scraped across the ground as they were positioned, and the metallic clangs of cages and enclosures filled the air.

Charlotte arrived, greeting Emma with a warm hug. “Hey, Emma!”

“I heard about your wreck. You okay?”

Charlotte smirked. “Oh, you know me. I live on the dangerous side.”

The trio burst into laughter, Kara shaking her head.

With everything in place, they began bringing out the animals. Leashes jingled and paws pattered as dogs were led to their designated spots. One by one, they placed the animals in enclosures or cages, each labeled with a name.

Kara did a final check, ensuring water dishes were full and blankets were comfortable in each cage. As she passed the one with Benny’s name card, she stopped short. It was empty.

“Hey,” she called out. “Has anyone seen Benny?”

Like clockwork, Charlotte strode in with Benny in tow, going at a slightly slower pace than the other dogs.

“There’s my Benny,” Kara said, walking over and bending down to scratch behind his ears. “How are you doing today, buddy?”

Benny’s soft brown eyes darted from person to person, his ears perked forward as he absorbed the flurry of activity around him.

Charlotte joined Kara, crouching beside her. “He’s got beautiful eyes, don’t you think?”

“Mm-hmm,” Kara agreed with a smile, her gaze fixed on Benny. “He’s a handsome boy, and I’m sure someone will see that today. Maybe today’s the day you find your forever home. What do you think, Benny?”

Benny responded with a resounding bark as Charlotte and Kara stood back up.

Kara took a step back, her eyes marveling at the scene before her. The white tents, their fabric slightly muted under the overcast sky, formed a soft contrast against the grayish clouds. Rows of cages, their metal bars cool and reflective in the subdued light, were arranged meticulously along the lawn. Colorful adoption posters fluttered gently in the breeze, adding a touch of brightness to the surroundings. A small smile touched her lips as she thought of the new lives they might change today.

Turning to her friend and daughter, Kara’s expression softened. “Thank you both so much for all your help. Couldn’t have done this without you.”

“We do make a pretty good team,” Emma said, folding her arms.

Charlotte grinned, striking a superhero pose. “Yeah, we’re like the Avengers of animal rescue.”

Kara chuckled. “I always thought we were pretty amazing, but now it’s official.”

Just then, the first rays of sunlight broke through the clouds.

“Look,” Emma said, pointing toward the entrance. “I think we’ve got our first visitors.”

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