Page 11 of Beautiful Dreamer

“I’ll freshen it up,” Elizabeth said, reaching for Devyn’s stillfull cardboard cup.

“No, no, no.” Devyn scooped it up first and took Elizabeth’s, too.“You don’t have to do that. You’ve been helpful enough and can pass the baton.I’ll get us both fresh cups.” She headed from the waiting room and then turnedback, feeling the need to ask the question that tugged. “Was I ever mean to youin high school?” Lord knew she’d had her awful moments that she very muchwanted to distance herself from now. She hadn’t been the happiest, which mostlystemmed from self-doubt and realizing she wasn’t like her friends, boy crazyand planning their future dream weddings.

Elizabeth shook her head and Devyn exhaled. Thank God. “We justexisted in different social stratospheres. Everyone wanted to be you. Not a lotof people noticed me.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t more. You’re a good person. You’ve proven thattoday.” Devyn wasn’t warm and fuzzy. She didn’t claim to be and she didn’t tryfor it. But Elizabeth and her selfless efforts since she arrived not only madea difference to Devyn, who’d felt supported and taken care of, but likely savedJill’s life. She would never know how to thank Elizabeth for that. She’d startby being the one to get the damn coffee.

Chapter Five

The animal shelter was closed for the night when Elizabeth drovepast on her way home to Whippoorwill Way. She stared at the building, hiddenbehind a grouping of live oaks, and noticed the warm light coming from what sheknew to be the administrative offices. If that light was on, it was likelyGreta Martin was inside finishing up some paperwork. Elizabeth occasionallyvolunteered at the shelter and knew Greta’s workload—it never seemed to end.

She was exhausted, emotionally drained, and should really just gohome. She’d sat with Devyn for a couple more hours until they moved Jill to aroom in ICU with a comfortable recliner for Devyn.

Somehow Elizabeth couldn’t drive away from the shelter. Not untilshe knew more.

Making a last-minute left turn into the shelter’s small parkinglot, she sighed. She’d only stay a moment, find out what she could, and then leave.She grabbed the bottle of Crown and two plastic cups from her stash in thetruck. She didn’t love the stuff, but she knew Greta did.

Greta squinted at her through the window of the locked door, whichprompted Elizabeth to stop knocking on it. She held up the bottle and cups,which earned her a grin.

“Well, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Greta asked, swinging openthe door.

“I was driving past and thought maybe you’d like a nightcap.”Elizabeth smiled her most friendly smile and walked past Greta. The normallyboisterous shelter was now mostly quiet. Once the lights went off, the dogsseemed to settle in with the giant dog biscuits Greta tossed into each run.

“I’m always up for a nip,” Greta said. She closed the door behindElizabeth and followed her to the small office behind the reception desk thatwas overrun with papers, photos, and a variety of knickknacks. Maybe too many.Elizabeth turned to face her friend, who appeared tired. Greta was a goodfifteen years older than Elizabeth and her shoulder-length brown hair was newlystreaked with gray. Elizabeth thought she wore it well.

“Did you hear the latest about Jill Winters?”

“Everyone’s heard. Such a blessing she was found in time.” Sheaccepted the plastic cup from Elizabeth, and they took a moment to toast. “Youdid good, Liz.”

“Not all me. The search team never would have found the carwithout pulling over for that white dog. She’s the reason Jill’s okay.” Sheglanced behind her, projecting that an idea had just occurred to her. “Oh, hey.Did they bring her here?” Yep, nonchalant. That was her.

Greta tossed back the rest of her whiskey and turned to herantiquated laptop, the screen attached to the keyboard with the aid of a littlebit of blue duct tape. “They did. Sweet girl, too.” She pulled up her intakeform and turned the laptop to face Elizabeth. A photo of the dog she’d seen atthe accident site lit up the top right corner of the screen. Her heartsqueezed.

“Would you look at that.” Elizabeth would just swear the dog wassmiling at the camera. She had the kindest eyes that seemed to say, “Hello,want to cuddle with me?”

“No microchip. No collar. The little girl’s pretty thin. I’mthinking she’s been on her own for a while.” Greta swung the laptop backaround. “I have her pegged at maybe four or five years old. Probably a Lab mix,though she’s smaller than a Lab. Why? You in the market for a best friend?”

“No,” Elizabeth said automatically, then took a sip of whiskey. “Imean, Iwasn’t.”

A pause as they stared at each other. Greta smiled a knowing smileand grabbed her keys. “Why don’t we just say hello? Can’t hurt to introduce thetwo of you.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “Yeah, okay. Hello couldn’t hurt. She’s ahero, right? She deserves a little attention.”

“And she loves it.”

Elizabeth followed Greta through the locked door to the dog wingand down the short hallway of indoor/outdoor dog runs, waving and allowingthe dogs they passed to lick her hand through the metal mesh gates. The wingwas now alive and loud again.

“Sorry to wake you all,” Elizabeth said, out of an innate need tobe polite. After all, this was their quiet time she was invading.

At the end of the hallway, Greta paused at the last run and turnedon the small night-light above. “Hey there, precious girl. I brought you avisitor,” she said. The dog stood from her blue dog bed and walked toward them,tail wagging slowly. Elizabeth smiled. So did the dog. “Why don’t you goinside?” Elizabeth hesitated, but when Greta opened the door to the run, sheslipped through.

“Hi, there,” she said, and instinctually took a seat on theconcrete floor. The dog slowly approached and climbed directly into her lap,taking up the entire thing, and curled into a ball. Elizabeth’s heart swelledand melted as she stroked the soft fur of the dog’s neck.

“I think that means she likes you,” Greta said with a laugh.

“I like her, too,” Elizabeth admitted, reluctantly. She reallyhadn’t planned on anything like this. Maybe she should get a hold of herselfand slow down and think. Yes, thinking was generally a good idea.

Greta shook her head at the pair of them. “I think you’re introuble now.”

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