Page 6 of Everlasting Promises

After I lock the house, we head through the front gate to the sidewalk and jog slowly for two blocks to warm up. The briny air fills my lungs with each breath, and my smile spreads. I look out across the horizon at the waves crashing and breaking as my feet pound the pavement. This never gets old. I’m so grateful my job gave me the opportunity to move here from Piney Lakes—it’s the fresh start I needed, and I haven’t looked back. Leaving everything behind, except for my best friend Sebastian, was the best decision I’ve ever made.

“I’m on Fire”—the ringtone Seb added when he officially became a firefighter—sounds from my pocket, and I slow to answer my phone with a grin; speak of the devil. I press the green button and hold it to my ear.

“I need a wingman next Saturday night. Tell me you’re not working,” he says before I can get a word out.

I chuckle warmly. “Depends,” I hedge. Not that I mind being his wingman. It’s always entertaining.

“We responded to a fire alarm in an apartment building last night, and this hot-as-fuck chick told me she’s going to be atBrady’s Pubnext Saturday night with her girlfriends. You gotta come, man. If Lucy’s friends look anything like her, you’ll be in luck.”

I enjoyBrady’s, and they often have a band playing on Saturday nights. “Sure. But I have an early shift on Sunday, so I can’t be out late.” I’m not looking for anything right now, and I’m not interested in one-night stands like he is.

“Yeah, yeah. No problem. Meet you there at eight.”

“Sounds good.”

“Thanks, man. Gotta go.” He disconnects the call before I can say goodbye.

Rex and I continue our run, enjoying the early morning sun and fresh air, then head home to get ready for our visit to the shelter. He leaps into my restored truck, and I climb in, roll the windows down, and pull onto the street.

When I park in front ofThe Paw Palace, Rex props his paws on the passenger door and almost hangs his whole body out of the window as his tail thumps wildly against the seat.

I chuckle at his excitement. “Yeah, boy, we’re here.” I attach his leash and lead him inside.

When Tori looks up, her smile is instant. “Ahhh, Rexy!” She steps out from behind the counter and drops her knees to the polished concrete to fuss over Rex.

“Hi, Tori. Nice to see you, too,” I joke, my voice thick with sarcasm.

“Oh, you big baby. I was getting to you.” She climbs to her feet, still fussing over Rex. Once he’s satisfied he’s said hello properly, he sits, his thick tail sweeping back and forth across the smooth floor. He loves coming here on our Saturdays off. “C’mon, I’ll show you who we have available for the kids today.”

Tori, Rex, and I make our way through to the back room to check who’s here. My black Converse squeak on the polished concrete, and the smell of disinfectant hangs heavy in the air as the dogs bark excitedly. Most of the dogs aren’t here long, but occasionally, there are one or two who take longer to find their forever homes. We stop at each door to meet the occupants, and Rex excitedly bounces on his paws as he says his hellos.

I usually let the kids and dogs figure out who wants to hang out with whom, then we head out back so the kids can play with the dogs. Some choose to stay inside if Tori has kittens. Sometimes, she even lets the kids bathe and groom the animals.

“Most of these dogs will be fine, but I’d steer the kids clear of those two.” She points to two of the dogs. They’ve been a little aggressive since coming in. I think they’ve been abused.”

Fuckers! My hands form fists at my sides, and Rex stills beside me. I abhor people who abuse animals. I push my shoulders back and stand tall. “Have the owners been charged?”

She curls her shoulders inward and shakes her head slowly as she watches the two dogs. “I don’t think so. There’s not enough evidence.” Damn. That pisses me off. “It’ll make it tough to find them new homes, but we’ll try to work with them and see if we can rehabilitate them.”

I nod, and we turn the corner to head through another door to see the cats and kittens. My eyebrows shoot up as I look around the space. “Not a single adult cat. That’s gotta be a first.”

Tori grins. “I know. How amazing is that? But we do have some six-week-old kittens. I think the kids will love them. They came in yesterday, and we’ve checked them all. We’ll need to keep them here for another two weeks before we can find them new homes.”

Two of my regular kids, Eva and Michael, are introverted and prefer to sit inside quietly with the kittens or smaller dogs, so they’ll probably hang out in here today.

The children who join me here are kids I’ve apprehended. They mostly come from broken homes, or they’ve lost a parent and are having trouble adjusting—hence acting out. They’re not bad kids, just misunderstood and struggling. Bringing them together with the cats and dogs waiting for their forever homes kills two birds with one stone. It gives the kids someone else to think and care about, while also giving the dogs and cats the one-on-one attention they need. It’s something they don’t get enough of. Tori and the team do their best, but they’re swamped with the day-to-day running of the place, and while they ensure the animals get regular time outside and snuggles, the kids providesomething a little extra. Both animal and child are always much happier by the end of our time here.

We head back toward the front, and Rex bounds away from me with a happy woof. When I look up, Donnelly’s walking toward us with a giant grin. He drops to his knees when Rex reaches him, and they greet each other like the old friends they are. Donnelly’s been with this program for the longest—two years. He was the first kid to join me when I had the idea to start this program and approachedThe Paw Palace. I chuckle as I watch them together. Rex is a fucking intimidating dog when he’s on the job, but here, with the kids, he’s a playful puppy.

“Hey, Ben,” he calls as he rests his cheek on Rex’s head.

I step closer. “Hey, Don. How are things with you?”

He looks up at me and swallows. “Not so great. I got suspended for a day last week for back talking and swearing at one of my teachers.”

I study him closely, noting the disappointment suffusing the surrounding air. Donnelly has trouble regulating his responses. “What brought that on?”

He shrugs and turns away from me. “Dunno. Just having a bad day, I guess.”

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