Page 37 of Second to None
Chapter 11
“Mommy, Diego’s here with Mario.” Izzy had her hand hooked around the door frame as she swung herself halfway into Emily’s office. “He’s the first K-9 Angel. I hope he likes his crate and his new bed. Don’t you want to come see?”
Emily had heard the buzz of excitement but figured it was just the kids prepping for the upcoming holiday party. They got very hyped up because they’d concocted the holiday-themed snacks, under the supervision of the center’s chef, and they were encouraged to invite their parents to sample their creations. In addition, there were the gifts for every child to take home, thanks to the generosity of the community merchants.
Usually she loved the week leading up to the party, but her parting with Max three days earlier overshadowed the festive mood. Except for an outing with Diego, she’d holed up in her office, pleading paperwork and planning to get K-9 Angelz up and running. Which meant she needed to haul herself up and celebrate the arrival of their first dog, who would be convalescing at the center.
Her one bright moment had been taking Diego to the pet-supply store the day before to buy all the things necessary for making Mario comfortable in his new home. She’d felt a flash of joy at seeing the boy’s usually solemn face wreathed in smiles while he chose a bright red leash and collar, shiny silver bowls, and a chewy toy. She pictured the same happiness on the faces of the other children when they met their dogs at the local animal shelter and brought them back to the center. Her heart should have danced, but it was too battered.
Because right now she just felt sorry. For herself, because Max’s absence gnawed at her far more than it should, considering how brief their time together had been. Maybe he was right that knowing each other seven years ago allowed them a closeness beyond the usual. For six days, her world had sparkled with a sense of exciting possibility. Now it was flat and dull.
She felt sorry for Max, because he’d looked ashen when she’d told him she wasn’t going to attempt the stresses of a long-distance relationship.
She even felt sorry for Izzy, who wanted to hear more stories about her father from Max. Seeing how disappointed her daughter was when she told her Max was moving reinforced Emily’s conviction that she’d made the right decision.
It didn’t feel right, though. Especially when she lay in her bed in the middle of the night, remembering how it felt to have Max’s hands on her skin. Feeling the heat flare low inside her. Wondering what it would be like to snuggle up against his hard, warm body and fall asleep at night, only to wake up cradled in his arms the next morning.
She smacked her palms on the arms of her desk chair and shoved herself to her feet. “Let’s go!” she said, taking Izzy’s hand and heading for the main lounge.
Izzy pulled her through the crowd of kids and staff. Diego sat on the floor beside the bed where the little dog lay, his splint wrapped in bright purple tape today. The boy allowed one kid at a time to approach and pet Mario. The dog’s tail thumped nonstop as he basked in the attention. As Izzy and Emily got to the front of the crowd, Diego waved away the next kid in line.
“Ms. Emily, don’t ... doesn’t he look mad fine?” Diego beamed.
“He looks so fine that I hardly recognize him.” The former stray’s black coat shone now that he’d been bathed and fed regularly. Mario’s brown eyes were clear and alert, and he had the happy attitude of a dog who knew he was loved.
She knelt to smooth her palm over Mario’s head. “This is a banner day. As Izzy pointed out, Mario is our first K-9 Angel.”
Diego’s grin could have lit the whole building as he raised his voice to address his audience. “You hear that, yo? Mario be the first one!”
The kids responded with a chorus of “Facts, yo. That be crazy. You dead-ass?”
Emily let the slang flow without correction. Diego deserved to enjoy the moment. Watching him made her glad Izzy had dragged her out of the office.
But it also reminded her that Max was the reason Mario could be here. The blanket of wretchedness settled over her again.
She fought her way out from under it to smile at Diego. “I’m so proud of you for rescuing Mario. We wouldn’t have this happy, beautiful dog here without you.”
“I learned it from you,” Diego said. “You would have done the exact same thing.”
Emily had to swallow a surge of tears at his faith in her. “Thank you.” She didn’t tell him that she didn’t have anywhere near as much courage as he did.
“Can I pet him?” Izzy asked.
Emily stood and moved away to make room for her daughter. Forcing herself to stop wallowing, she walked around to inspect the holiday decorations the children had created. The artificial tree stood in the corner adorned with ornaments made from Popsicle sticks, uncooked pasta, tinfoil, and every other material the kids’ inventive minds could come up with. There were wreaths fashioned from cutout paper hands in the black, red, and green of Kwanzaa. A nine-candle menorah of blue-and-silver-painted wooden blocks stood next to a seven-candle Kwanzaa kinara. A nearly life-size Santa Claus made of fabric and stuffing lounged in one of the chairs. Paper chains in all the holiday color combinations draped the walls and windows.
And now they had their first canine resident. Her heart twisted with regret. She wanted to text Max to tell him what his support had already done for the center and how excited the other kids were about getting their own dogs. However, she hadn’t heard from him since Sunday night, and she figured it was better that way.
A clean break.
*
That night Emily was in her pajamas and brushing her teeth when she heard the ping of a text arriving on her cell phone. Her heart wobbled in her chest as she reminded herself that Max would not be texting her ever again. So she finished her bedtime washing up before strolling over to her bedside table to pick up her phone.
The text was from Diego.
Really cold here. Heat is broke again. Don’t want Mario to get sick.
“Not now!” The holiday party was only three days away. Even more problematic, the holiday break from school started next week. Most of the kids counted on being at the center all day when school was out of session.
