Page 51 of Daddy's Rules

“These are fantastic! How’d you learn to sew like this?” she’d asked with wide eyes. I only shrugged and she’d put her hands on her hips, her skinny but toned arms poised to scold.

“Must be natural, Beez. Never sewed a thing before. Never had to.”

“Can you make me ten of each of these by next week?” she’d asked, picking up two of the toys and the jacket I’d made for Beast to wear to the beach to keep the sand from plastering his body.

“I can, but you don’t even have a dog,” I’d said, my brows drawn in confusion.

“No, but I own a pet store and know quality products that’ll sell. Do some market research and give me a price.”

My brow had shot up, my heart quickening at both the compliment and the possibility. Finally, a way to sustain myself doing something I loved.

They’d been a huge success and people kept asking for more. I make something new for Beast each day and he struts his stuff around the store, melting hearts and getting me pre-orders.

I pick up the outfit I started that morning. It’s black tie. The little tuxedo vest and a ‘bone-tie’ are heart-meltingly adorable and when I put it on him, I ‘aw’ aloud.

“This will be a big seller, Beast.” I’m sure, since the fundraiser for ending puppy mills is this weekend and is sold out. Everyone who shops at Pets Are People Too will be bringing their pets to the fundraiser at the park so for the last week I’ve been making fancy party attire for dogs, cats, and even rabbits.

The bell on the door rings and I put Beast on the floor and head out to assist the customer.

I freeze at the office doorway when I see the look on the customer’s face. Her eyes well and her shoulders start to shake as her hand goes to her mouth. My eyes fall to Beast where the woman’s watery brown eyes are staring. My little cutie starts barking excitedly, spinning for a turn or two then running toward the woman, before spinning again and finally stopping to paw and lick the woman. I swallow hard, my own eyes brimming with tears. Only they aren’t tears of sadness like I thought they’d be when this moment arrived. I feel joy. I love Beast so much that my own loss is nothing compared to his happiness.

“Lady!” The woman’s voice shakes as she calls to Beast and then without thoughts of her expensive slacks she falls to her knees on the floor to scoop the Yorkie up in her arms.

“Oh, Lady, I’ve missed you so much!” Beast is bathing her in wet doggy kisses and wriggling like an itchy snake in the woman’s arms. She sets the pooch on the floor again and looks up at me. Beast turns to look at me too. Time seems to stop for a long moment before Beast runs back to my feet.

“Hi.” It’s all I can say.

“Are you the one that’s been taking care of Lady?”

I nod, confused as I look at Beast in his tux. Beast is a girl? Then suddenly, the woman’s arms are around me. “I’m Marcy and I can’t thank you enough!”

“Uh, you’re welcome,” I murmur into the taller woman’s shoulder. How come I didn’t know Beast was female?

“My husband has Alzheimer’s. He let Lady out accidentally.” Marcy pulls back and shakes her head, sadness replacing her delight. “He forgot our fence was broken so she escaped.” She turns and looks behind her, which is when I notice a bald man has come through the door. His smile is wide as Beast... er, Lady runs for him and starts jumping at his feet. He doesn’t look old enough to have Alzheimer’s and that makes my gut heavy.

“You were supposed to stay in the car,” she says to her husband. Marcy turns back to me. “I had to remind him at least ten times a day that she was missing and each time he relived the devastation of losing her like it was the first time. She’s been gone for months. I thought she’d been hit by a car.” Tears well once again in her eyes.

“Did you see her on our website?” I ask, feeling a mixture of emotions, but holding them in.

“She’s fat,” the man blurts and both his wife and I look at the dog. I bite my lip sheepishly. I had been feeding the dog more than the recommended amount, but only because he was always hungry.

“Sorry. She was so underweight when I found her, she always seemed hungry.”

“We saw your pictures in the paper.” Marcy looks awkward a moment before continuing. “You and your... gentleman friend were with a Yorkie. It was a long shot but she looked so much like Lady. I contacted the paper and found out where the pictures were taken and we drove straight here.”

The bell jingles again, making me glance up, still stunned. Kari-Anne saunters in and my jaw clenches.

“Oh, my God! Your dog is adorable, Marcy!” Kari-Anne crouches to scratch Lady’s head, but Lady backs away, coming to sit between Marcy and me. “And the outfit!” She laughs, pointing at the ‘bone-tie.’ “I love it!” She glances up at the rack with the rest of my stuff displayed on it and looks through the rack.

“Do you have a dog?” Marcy asks Kari-Anne, and my curiosity for the answer keeps me from kicking the reporter out.

“No, but I have three beautiful kitties and they would look so cute in these!” She holds up the pink and purple tutus I made three days ago. “And the prices are so reasonable. I have a friend who owns a pet store in Hollywood. Who manufactures these?”

As if the small store wasn’t crowded enough, Beezy burst through the door carrying an armful of bakery bags and three jars filled with gooey honeycombs.

“The talented owner of Fine, Furry, and Fabulous is standing right in front of you.” Beezy sets her armload on the counter and pulls off her beekeeper hat. I’d been mulling over names for the business for a while and Beezy had been helping but we hadn’t come close to something as perfect as that. She winks at me and I mouth the word ‘perfect.’

“You?” Kari-Anne looks at me and I can only nod. For the first time since I’ve known her, the reporter is looking at me with something resembling respect. “These’ll sell like crazy in Hollywood. You won’t need a penny of your daddy’s money and you won’t have to depend on guys like Owen.”

“You’re right, they do and I don’t. I never did. And being with Owen had nothing to do with dependence and everything to do with love. And frankly, Kari-Anne, I think you must be pretty jaded not to see it.” I turn my attention back to Marcy, my heart pounding. “Come on up to my place and I’ll get you Lady’s things.” My heart is flipping like a gymnast as I walk up the stairs, Lady prancing happily beside me.

I only wish Owen had been here to hear my words.

---