Page 114 of Devoted Enough

Sophia grinned and said, “Lenny is teaching me how to make some of the drinks.”

“I’m making the pupsicles!” Avery said as she held up one and smiled proudly.

Laughing, I said, “We may just hire you!”

“Did you guys need anything?” Nate asked.

Lenny shook his head. “We’re all good here. Some people stopped by earlier asking when the park would open. We told them today, and they promised to come back with their pups.”

“That’s wonderful!” I said, clapping my hands. “Are the gates unlocked?”

“They are,” Sophia replied. “I also checked the machine, and everything is working perfectly.”

“Wonderful. I’m sorry I’m late. I was…nervous.”

Sophia reached through the window for my hand. “No need to be, Haven. Everything is beyond amazing.”

Glancing around, I nodded. “I’m going to walk around and check everything before we officially open.”

Sophia smiled.

Turning to Nate, I exhaled. “Let’s go check it all out.”

Nate and I headed toward the large dog park. You had to walk through the first gate, where you entered your code. Then, down a sidewalk with donated bricks to another latched entrance. Once inside that area, there were two dog washing stations. I unlatched the third gate, and we entered the large dog park. Straight in front of us was the splash pad. Two dogs were already playing there. Lily and Maverick’s golden retriever, Winnie, and Doug and my mother’s boxer, Mr. Maple.

Turning to the right, you followed another sidewalk directly into the large dog park. The grass we had picked was hardy, and I hoped it would hold up with all the pups. Picnic tables were at the end of the park near the bar. Directly across from us were the cabanas that you could rent. They were covered with bench seating and a TV in each cabana. They were available for people to rent for parties and such. Opposite the picnic tables and at the other end of the park was a covered stage for live music on the weekends. A giant screen TV was at the back of the stage, and Nate and Josh had already purchased the NFL ticket so that they could play the football games come fall.Paw Patrolwas currently on the TV.

Four large troughs were filled with water for dogs to cool down in. An ice pool would also be filled with ice during the summer months.

“We need to remember to fill the ice pool before we open,” I said to no one in particular. The staff we hired to monitor the park were all wearing bright yellow shirts with The Cozy Pup Playground on them. It was the name that the community had voted to win.

Several Adirondack chairs were scattered throughout both parks for dog owners to sit and relax as their pups played. They were all made with poly lumber and would last much longer than wooden chairs. Nate suggested the chairs, and they were one of my favorite additions to the dog park, besides the cabanas that Doug suggested.

“Wow, everything looks amazing, Haven,” Nate said as he walked up to me holding a drink. “Want a taste of my puparita?”

Laughing, I nodded and took a sip. “That’s good.”

“I know. I also tried the bark and sip.”

“The one with the vodka and ginger beer?” I asked.

“Yes. It was good. Lenny informed me I had already met my two-drink limit.”

I laughed once again.

Spinning around, I took everything in. “Have we missed anything?”

Nate took another drink and looked around. “I don’t think so. The only thing you need to do is fill up the ice pool with ice, and I asked Bryson to help Josh get the ice.”

“Why didn’t you help him?” I asked with a grin.

Nate held up his drink. “I’m sampling the drinks.”

With a roll of my eyes, I walked over to the cabanas. “I’m not sure about the pillows. I have a feeling they won’t last long.”

Nate picked one up that had a paw print on it. “They’re cute. And when the cabanas aren’t rented out, these will be closed up, right?”

“Yes.”

---